Loïs Schenk

Loïs Schenk is an Assistant Professor at the Interdisciplinary Social Science Department of Utrecht University, specializing in the Dynamics of Youth research program. Her work focuses on marginalized youth, examining how societal systems, social networks, and perceptions of fairness and opportunity intersect with mental health and future perspectives.

• PhD in Social Sciences (Erasmus University Rotterdam, 2021)
• Focus areas: mentoring programs, social capital, psychopathology, and self-reliance among vocational education students

Her research combines qualitative and quantitative methods to address challenges faced by at-risk youth, particularly regarding their limited ability to seek support and the structural barriers they encounter. She advocates for personalized mentoring approaches and the importance of dismantling assumptions about self-reliance in youth policy.

• Key projects: recognition among vocational students, JIM-approach for mentorship
• Teaching involvement: Wild Years (youth in different cultures), Youth culture in a digital world