Natasja Delbar is a PhD researcher at the Leiden University Centre for Linguistics (LUCL) under the Graduate School for Humanities at Leiden University. She is actively involved in the NWO-funded project "The role of self-monitoring in the development of word production in young children" and the PerPLex initiative, focusing on speech production mechanisms in toddlers and their connection to speech perception. PhD candidate (2023–present) Research MA in Linguistics (2019–2022) BA in English Language & Culture (2016–2019) Her research explores how young children revise speech errors, update phonetic encoding, and specify neutralized voicing contrasts in language production. Key projects include investigating links between speech production and perception in two-year-olds and mechanisms of self-monitoring. Supervised by Prof. Claartje Levelt (Leiden University) and Prof. Paula Fikkert (Radboud University) Research interests span first language acquisition, phonological structure, experimental linguistics, code-switching, and syntax
Milco Wansleeben is a Lecturer at the Faculty of Archaeology, Leiden University , specializing in digital archaeology and statistical analysis. He has been affiliated with Leiden University since 1987. Educational Background: B.A. in Physical Geography, Utrecht University M.A. in Prehistory, Leiden University His research focuses on integrating GIS , artificial intelligence , and data science into archaeological workflows, particularly for spatial analysis, predictive modeling, and digital archiving. He leads the EXALT project, which explores computational methods for archaeological literature retrieval. Scientific Contributions: Developed ArcheoBERTje , a BERT model for named entity recognition in Dutch archaeological texts (2022) Collaborated with DANS on the EDNA-project to standardize digital archiving in archaeology Contributed to national projects like ArchWEB, Archeonet, and the Archis database Teaching: Instructs courses on GIS, statistics, spatial analysis, databases, and predictive modeling, combining theoretical and practical approaches for archaeological applications. Projects & Collaborations: Served as IT coordinator for archaeological excavations, notably the Meuse Valley Project studying the transition from hunter-gatherers to farmers using GIS.
Vinicius Stein Dani is a Researcher and Lecturer in Process Science at Utrecht University's Faculty of Science. His work focuses on advancing process mining methodologies and their practical applications in business process management, with particular emphasis on bridging the gap between technical capabilities and organizational implementation. Dr. Stein Dani's research expertise spans several key areas: Process Mining methodologies and applications Business Process Redesign and optimization Systematic literature reviews in process science Information Visualization techniques for process models Applied Data Science approaches to business processes With strong technical skills in R and Python programming languages, Dr. Stein Dani specializes in addressing the practical challenges organizations face when implementing process mining insights. His research particularly examines event log extraction challenges, the translation of mining insights into actionable business improvements, and visualization techniques that enhance process model understanding. An analysis of Dr. Stein Dani's publication record reveals consistent focus on the practical implementation challenges of process mining. His work frequently addresses the 'last mile' problem - how to transform technical process mining insights into actual business process improvements. The research shows particular attention to human factors in event log extraction, organizational resistance to process changes, and visualization techniques that effectively communicate process issues to stakeholders. Dr. Stein Dani has received significant recognition for his contributions: Best Paper Award at CoopIS 2024 for innovative work on LLMs for event log extraction Best Paper Runner-up at CoopIS 2023 for research on the implementation gap in process mining As an active member of the Process Science research group, Dr. Stein Dani collaborates extensively with colleagues including Henrik Leopold, Hajo A. Reijers, and others, contributing to Utrecht University's strong reputation in process mining research. His work demonstrates a consistent commitment to making process mining methodologies more accessible and actionable for real-world business applications.
Dr. Tessel Boerma is an Assistant Professor at the Department of Languages, Literature and Communication, Faculty of Humanities, Utrecht University, and a researcher at the University Medical Center Utrecht. Her work focuses on language development in challenging contexts, including environmental factors and congenital conditions like 22q11.2 deletion syndrome, with a strong emphasis on clinical linguistics and early childhood development. Investigated language and cognitive development in monolingual/multilingual children with/without developmental language disorders (DLD). Developed and implemented the online test battery LITMUS-NL for diagnosing DLD in multilingual children. Explores the interplay between language skills, cognitive development, and mental health in adolescents with 22q11.2 deletion syndrome. Her research bridges linguistics, psychology, and medical sciences, often in interdisciplinary collaborations under the Dynamics of Youth (DoY) initiative. She supervises PhD projects and contributes to improving clinical diagnostic tools for language disorders. Scientific Awards: VENI-grant from NWO (project: language ability in 22q11.2 deletion syndrome and mental health). Open Competition-XS grant from NWO (project: language skills in preterm children). Anéla-AVT Dissertation Prize (for her PhD thesis on multilingual DLD). Boerma lectures on clinical linguistics, language and cognition, and multilingual development, while organizing conferences like TaalStaal and BiSLI to advance research in bilingual language disorders.
Dr. Marco Bril is an Assistant Professor in Psycholinguistics and French Linguistics at Utrecht University's Faculty of Humanities, affiliated with the Department of Languages, Literature and Communication and the Institute for Language Sciences. His research focuses on grammatical development in second language learners, examining how cognitive, linguistic, and educational factors influence language acquisition. He teaches BA and MA courses in language acquisition theory and experimental research methodologies, and supervises student research projects across multiple programs including the Educational Master and Multilingualism & Language Acquisition. Education PhD Psycholinguistics (VU Amsterdam, 2013-2017) Master French: Education and Communication (Utrecht University, 2012-2013) Master French Linguistics (University of Amsterdam, 2009-2011) Bachelor French Language and Culture (University of Amsterdam, 2008-2009) Bachelor Education of French Language (Rotterdam University of Applied Sciences, 2005-2008) Research Focus Bril's work centers on the psycholinguistic mechanisms of second language acquisition, particularly grammatical development in French learners. He investigates the relationship between grammatical knowledge and language production/comprehension, leveraging interdisciplinary methods from linguistics and social sciences. His research themes include the effects of syntactic complexity, working memory, and social factors on language processing, with applications to foreign language pedagogy and educational policy. Recent publications demonstrate a strong emphasis on experimental approaches to language acquisition, including self-paced listening/reading experiments and meta-analyses. His work consistently explores cognitive-linguistic interfaces, with recurring investigations into gender agreement processing, vocabulary acquisition, and the impact of multilingualism on learning outcomes. Projects & Advising Bril leads several funded research initiatives including an NWO project (2025-2026) examining multilingual pedagogy for AI literacy development, and a community-engaged study connecting university students with secondary school teachers. He supervises BA, MA, and PhD research related to his core interests and serves as MA thesis coordinator for the Educational Master program. Professional Engagement Bril holds multiple institutional roles: Ethics Assessment Committee member for Linguistics, steering board member for the Going Romance Conference, and board member for Dutch/international linguistics associations. He actively reviews for journals including Language Acquisition and International Journal of Listening.
Dr. Michel Buijs is an Assistant Professor at Utrecht University's Department of Languages, Literature and Communication within the Humanities. His work bridges Classical Philology, Ancient Greek Linguistics, and Latin Literature through narrative analysis and linguistic theory. Key research themes include: Narrative techniques in Greek and Latin texts Historical present tense in Thucydidean battle scenes Spolia interpretation in Greco-Roman literature Aspectual markers in Xenophonic writings Classical reception in modern contexts His publications focus on: Ancient Greek syntax (participle, genitive absolute) Classical references in pop music Didactic approaches to classical languages Textual strategies in war narratives A dedicated academic, Buijs serves as editor for Hermeneus journal and organizes conferences like the Textual Strategies in Greek and Latin War Narrative series. His work combines rigorous linguistic analysis with innovative cultural interpretations.
Dr. Tejaswini Deoskar serves as an Associate Professor in the Department of Languages, Literature and Communication at Utrecht University's Faculty of Humanities, where she leads the Language, logic and information research group within the Institute for Language Sciences. Her core research expertise spans: Natural Language Processing Computational Linguistics Human-centered Artificial Intelligence Machine Learning for linguistic modeling Deoskar specializes in data-driven approaches to syntax and semantics, developing machine learning methods that produce linguistically rigorous computational models. Her work bridges theoretical linguistics with practical AI applications, emphasizing human-centric design principles in language technology development. She previously held academic positions as Assistant Professor at the University of Amsterdam's Institute of Logic, Language and Computation (ILLC) and as a post-doctoral research associate at the University of Edinburgh's School of Informatics. Her doctoral training in Linguistics and Cognitive Science was completed at Cornell University. Academic leadership roles include: Coordinator of the Natural Language in AI Special Interest Group (Focus Area HAI program) Track coordinator for Language Processing in the MSc Artificial Intelligence program Program committee member for the MSc Artificial Intelligence curriculum Her public engagement includes media commentary on emerging AI technologies, notably expert analysis of ChatGPT's societal impact published in De Ingenieur (January 2023).
Dr. Jacqueline Evers-Vermeul is an Associate Professor at the Department of Languages, Literature and Communication at Utrecht University, specializing in Language and Communication within the Humanities Institute for Language Sciences. Her academic career spans over two decades since her promotion at Utrecht University in 2005, with a consistent focus on text structure, comprehension, and language education. Her research interests center on the comprehensibility of texts, reading and writing skills development, subject didactics, methods for document design and evaluation, and testing and assessment. She investigates how textual features affect comprehension across different educational contexts, with particular emphasis on discourse structure, connective use, and the relationship between text structure and content knowledge acquisition. Her work bridges theoretical linguistics with practical educational applications, particularly in primary and secondary education settings. Analysis of her recent publications reveals a strong trajectory toward integrating text structure instruction across disciplines, especially in science education. Her research shows increasing focus on practical applications for teachers, with numerous publications in both academic and professional journals. She has developed a significant body of work examining how explicit instruction in text structure enhances reading comprehension, writing skills, and content knowledge acquisition, with particular attention to vulnerable student populations. Dr. Evers-Vermeul serves in several important educational roles, including as Chair of the committee for the final examinations of Dutch for havo and vwo since 2020, Member of the Dutch Masters Team since 2019, and Member of the Advisory Board for the Recalibration of the Knowledge Base Teachers' College for Primary Education since 2024. Her current research projects include 'Bewust geletterd in het VO: lezen en schrijven met genres' (2024-2029), a large-scale NWO-funded study examining how genre-based approaches can improve reading and writing instruction in secondary education. Chair of the final examination committee for Dutch pre-university education (havo and vwo) since August 2020 Member of the Dutch Masters Team since January 2019 Member of the Advisory Circle for the Recalibration of Knowledge Bases for Primary Education since July 2024 Member of the Steering Committee for the Research Agenda for Primary Education Testing since January 2025 Former Chair of the Association Interuniversity Consultation on Language Proficiency (VIOT; 2018-2022) Her collaborative approach is evident in her numerous research partnerships across Dutch universities and educational institutions. She frequently works with colleagues from Groningen, Amsterdam, Nijmegen, and various teacher training colleges, demonstrating her commitment to bridging research and practice in language education.
Sybolt Friso is a researcher and PhD candidate at Utrecht University within the Humanities department and the Department of Languages, Literature and Communication. He concurrently serves as a philosophy teacher at Hanze University of Applied Sciences Groningen (Minerva Academy) and the Foundation for Pedagogical Education (SPO) in Groningen, contributing to both academic research and practical pedagogy. His academic foundation includes: BA in Philosophy from the University of Groningen MA (Research) in Philosophy from the University of Groningen MSc in Pedagogical Sciences from the University of Groningen Erasmus exchange at Durham University Friso's research centers on teacher subjectification in higher education, investigating how educators develop as autonomous subjects through linguistic interactions with students, particularly during contentious classroom discussions. Grounded in Gert Biesta's educational-philosophical framework, his work examines tensions between teachers' professional socialization and their emergence as self-directed individuals, employing discourse analysis of real-world teaching scenarios. His 2024 publication on teacher subjectification demonstrates his interdisciplinary approach, merging educational philosophy with linguistic methodology to argue that teacher subjectification is an inevitable pedagogical dimension. This research highlights critical connections between instructor identity formation and student subjectification processes within higher education contexts. Friso actively teaches the 'Writing, reasoning & presenting' course at Utrecht University while delivering philosophy instruction at his external appointments, bridging theoretical research with classroom practice across multiple institutions.
Lotte Henrichs is an Assistant Professor at Utrecht University's Department of Education , with affiliations in the Social and Behavioural Sciences domain. She teaches in the Graduate School of Teaching and the Primary Education Teacher Education Programme, focusing on student-teacher interaction, relationships, and equitable educational opportunities for diverse learners. PhD in Educational Sciences (University of Amsterdam, 2010) Visiting Fellowship at Harvard Graduate School of Education (2008-2009) Research Assistant at Utrecht/Amsterdam Universities (2002-2004) Her research concentrates on Culturally Responsive Teaching (CRT) and inclusive education, particularly in heterogeneous Dutch elementary classrooms. She investigates how CRT can extend evidence-based practices to improve student outcomes, and has led studies on the impact of school closures during the COVID-19 pandemic . Her work emphasizes school-university partnerships through initiatives like the Educational Research Workshop Utrecht (WOU) and its equity-focused extension WOU-GO . Recent publications analyze CRT implementation in secondary education, pandemic learning loss, and professional development in early childhood education. She received the Outstanding Teacher Award 2021 for her innovative teaching methods that activate and empower students.
Dr. AF (Floor) Haalboom is a part-time Assistant Professor at Utrecht University's Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and a university lecturer at Erasmus MC 's Department of Medical Ethics, Philosophy and History. Her work bridges history, philosophy of science, veterinary medicine, and environmental humanities through research on zoonoses, animal feed systems, and One Health frameworks. PhD in Medical and Veterinary History (2017), Utrecht University BKO Basic Teaching Qualification (2016), UMC Utrecht MA Historical and Comparative Studies of Sciences and Humanities (2012), Utrecht & University of Minnesota BA Dutch Language and Culture (2010), Utrecht University BSc Biology (2009), Utrecht University Research Focus: Modern environmental history of animals , livestock farming , veterinary medicine , and zoonoses within the Pathways to Sustainability and Critical Pathways themes. Her NWO Veni project "What do you eat chicken fillet?" (2021-2025) examines Dutch animal feed's global environmental impact from 1954 to present. Publications reveal recurring themes in zoonotic disease politics , historical epidemiology , agricultural sustainability , and science-activism intersections . She contributes to environmental humanities through collaborative networks like the Descartes Centre and Network for Environmental Humanities .
Dr. M. (Michiel) Veldhuis is an Assistant Professor in Mathematics Education at the Freudenthal Institute , Utrecht University. His research focuses on higher-order thinking skills in mathematics, inquiry-based learning , and ICT integration in educational settings. He is actively involved in projects like Beyond Flatland , which explores dynamic data processing in primary mathematics, and serves as a board member for the Dutch Association for Mathematics Education (NVORWO) and European Association for Research in Mathematics Education (ERME). PhD in Mathematics Education (2015), Utrecht University MSc (Research) in Cognitive Psychology (2011), University of Toulouse-II BSc in Applied Mathematics (2011), University of Toulouse-II Veldhuis’ research emphasizes embodied learning and representational redescription to enhance mathematical understanding. His work spans primary to secondary education , addressing cultural diversity and sustainability in STEM. He collaborates with institutions like the Leibniz Institute IPN Kiel and contributes to EU-funded initiatives such as Erasmus+ TIME. Recent publications analyze growth mindset cultivation in Dutch classrooms and mathematical origami for secondary education. His Beyond Flatland project (2016–2020) received NWO funding (€700k) and focused on algebraic reasoning and probability theory through ICT interventions .
Matthijs Vákár is an Assistant Professor at the Department of Information and Computing Sciences , Utrecht University , focusing on the software foundations of machine learning . He actively develops the Stan language , a state-of-the-art probabilistic programming language. Areas of Expertise: Bayesian Statistics, Category Theory, Compiler Construction, Machine Learning, Programming Languages. Research Themes: Probabilistic programming languages, differential programming languages, separation of modeling from algorithmic tasks, automatic differentiation in ML-family languages. His research bridges theoretical computer science and practical machine learning, emphasizing logical relations, monoidal structures, and efficient compiler designs for differentiable programming. His recent publications explore correctness proofs, category-theoretic models, and optimization techniques in automatic differentiation. Scientific Awards: ERC Starting Grant NWO Veni Fellowship Marie Sklodowska-Curie Fellowship Academic Journey: PhD from the University of Oxford (dependent types and computational effects), MSc in Pure Mathematics (University of Cambridge), and BScs in Mathematics and Physics (Utrecht University). Prior roles include postdoctoral research at Columbia University and the University of Oxford. Industrial Experience: Build systems at Microsoft Research, NLP at Linguamatics, and compiler design for Stan.
Dr. Catalina Goanta is an Associate Professor in Private Law and Technology at Utrecht University's School of Law, where she is affiliated with the Molengraaff Institute for Private Law. She serves as Principal Investigator for the ERC Starting Grant HUMANads (2022-2027), which examines content monetization on social media and reinterprets private law fairness within platform governance contexts. Previously, she was an Assistant Professor at Maastricht University (2016-2021) and held fellowships at Harvard University and the University of St. Gallen. Her research centers on two main themes: content/web monetization and social media governance, and digital monitoring tools for consumer protection. Goanta employs doctrinal legal methods to critically analyze regulatory frameworks surrounding online harms, including content moderation, platform discretion, and misleading advertising. She collaborates with experts in Natural Language Processing and Privacy and Security to develop enforcement tools for public institutions. Goanta's scholarly work reveals a strong focus on the intersection of law, technology, and digital governance, with particular emphasis on influencer marketing regulation, platform accountability, and consumer protection in digital spaces. Her recent publications demonstrate growing attention to the Digital Services Act implementation, cross-border regulatory challenges, and the legal status of content creators within digital marketplaces. Scientific Awards: ERC Starting Grant (HUMANads) As a dedicated educator, Goanta teaches courses including EU Digital Innovation and Regulation and Regulating Big Tech. She has supervised numerous PhD students including Margje Camps, Jacob van de Kerkhof, Haoyang Gui, and others who have completed or are working on research related to digital governance, influencer marketing, and platform regulation. She also serves on editorial boards including the Journal of Law, Market & Innovation and is a member of Consumer Lab, contributing to the development of research agendas at the intersection of law, technology, and consumer protection.
Dr. Caroline Junge is an Associate Professor at the Department of Experimental Psychology , Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences , Utrecht University. Her research focuses on early child development , particularly the interplay between brain development and environmental factors in predicting language acquisition and social competence . She leads neurocognitive tasks in the large-scale YOUth cohort studies and serves as contact person for EEG/ERP and language studies . Academic Rank: Associate Professor Department: Experimental Psychology University: Utrecht University Her work spans psycholinguistics , neurocognitive development , and methodology . She examines individual differences in infants' speech segmentation , word recognition , and social cognition , often using cross-linguistic and multidisciplinary approaches. Articles show trends in neurodevelopmental markers , infant language assessment , and Covid-19 impact on face processing . Scientific awards include a VIDI-grant (2023-2027) for studying individual differences , a VENI-grant for maternal voice research , and a replication grant (NWO 401.18.044) for infant methodology . She actively contributes to replication studies through the ManyBabiesConsortium and Babylabs consortium .
