Merel Keijzer

Prof. Merel Keijzer holds the position of Professor of English Linguistics and English as a Second Language (ESL) at the University of Groningen's Faculty of Arts. She is also a Rosalind Franklin Fellow. Her research focuses on bilingualism, cognitive aging, and second language pedagogy, with a particular emphasis on how multilingual experiences impact cognitive health in later life. She leads an NWO Vidi project exploring language learning as a tool for promoting healthy aging, involving both epidemiological studies and experimental interventions targeting older adults. Keijzer serves on the Nuffic accreditation panel for bilingual secondary education and contributes to the BALAB research group.

Her work integrates linguistics, psychology, and gerontology, addressing topics like first language attrition, cognitive flexibility, and the neurocognitive benefits of language acquisition. Current projects investigate the effects of bilingualism on delaying age-related cognitive decline and improving psychosocial well-being through structured language learning programs.

Recent publications highlight methodologies linking multilingual experience factors to cognitive outcomes in aging populations, as well as pedagogical approaches to late-life language learning. She collaborates with interdisciplinary teams including neuroscientists and educators to advance translational research in aging studies.