Nieke Elbers

Dr. Nieke Elbers is an Associate Professor at the Faculty of Law, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, and Senior Researcher at the Netherlands Institute for the Study of Crime and Law Enforcement (NSCR). She specializes in victimology, restorative justice, and procedural justice, with a focus on improving victims’ rights and legal empowerment. She leads the Empirical Legal Studies help desk at VU Law School and co-chairs the Amsterdam Law and Behaviour Institute (A-LAB). Her work integrates interdisciplinary research with policy collaboration, addressing topics like victim compensation, mediation, and psychosocial recovery after trauma.

Education:

• PhD in Law/Empirical Legal Studies (2013) – Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam
• Master's in (Neuro)Psychology (2006) – Maastricht University
• Work disability prevention traineeship (2015) – University of Toronto

Research Interests: Elbers investigates victim recovery dynamics, restorative justice mechanisms, and procedural fairness in legal systems. Her projects include evaluating the EU’s compensation frameworks for sexual violence victims and designing restorative practices for universities. She emphasizes methodological rigor, combining qualitative and quantitative approaches.

Grants & Awards:Recipient of NWO Aspasia (2023), Gezina van der Molenfonds (2021), and the Jan van Dijk Award (2014). Active in grants from the Dutch Ministry of Justice and EU-funded initiatives.

Teaching & Mentorship:Coordinates courses on Restorative Justice and Scientific Interviewing. Supervises four PhD students and advocates for inclusive academic practices through initiatives like WO&MEN@VU.

Community Engagement:Volunteers as a neighbourhood mediator in Amsterdam and participates in policy advisory roles for victim rights at national and EU levels.