
Anne-Laura van Harmelen
Professor Brain, Safety and Resilience
- Name
- Prof.dr. A. van Harmelen
- Telephone
- +31 71 527 2727
- a.van.harmelen@fsw.leidenuniv.nl
- ORCID iD
- 0000-0003-1108-2921
Short CV
- Sept 2020-: Professor of Brain, Safety and Resilience, Education and Child studies, Leiden University, Netherlands & Honorary Senior Affiliate, MRC CBU & Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge
- 2016-2020: Royal Society Dorothy Hodgkin Fellow/Senior Research Associate, Psychiatry, University of Cambridge
- 2015-2020: Fellow, Lucy Cavendish College Cambridge
- 2015-2017: Tutor and Director of Studies PBS, Lucy Cavendish College Cambridge
- 2014-2016: Rubicon Research Fellow, Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge
- 2008-2013: PhD, Psychology, Leiden University, Netherlands. Viva/Defense date: 10 December 2013
- 2006-2008: Master of Science (Cum Laude: Highest Honours), Psychology; VU University Amsterdam, Netherlands
- 2003-2006: Bachelor of Science, Psychology, University of Groningen, Netherlands
- 1999-2003: Bachelor of Physical Education, Specialization in Special Needs, Windesheim College, Zwolle, Netherlands
Research
One in three children and adolescents experiences childhood adversity, such as child abuse or bullying. Childhood adversity is one of the strongest predictors of many behavioral and mental problems in adolescence. To counter these problems, Anne-Laura van Harmelen's research focuses on a better understanding of the complex social, psychological and neurobiological mechanisms of risk and resilience in adolescence. For example, van Harmelen has shown that childhood adversity is related to changes in the structure and functioning of the brain, which make people vulnerable to mental problems and that the same neurobiological mechanisms make people vulnerable to suicide. She also showed that there are important factors that increase resilience in youth with childhood trauma experiences, such as friendships and support from the family, recall of positive memories and stronger regulation of stress responses in the brain. Her research has also shown that these factors strongly influence each other. These findings have led Van Harmelen to propose that resilience can best be described as a complex and dynamic system.
Grants and Fellowships
- 2019 Returning Carer’s scheme, University of Cambridge (£10K). PI
- 2018 Royal Society Research Grant (£103K) PI. The resilient adolescent brain
- 2018 Royal Society Enhancement Award (£98K) PI. The resilient adolescent brain
- 2017 MQ Brighter Futures Award (£548K) PI. Help overcome and prevent the emergence of suicide.
- 2016 Royal Society Dorothy Hodgkin Fellowship (£417K) PI. The neurobiology of resilience after child maltreatment.
- 2015 Additional Rubicon Fellowship (£12K) PI
- 2014 Returning Carer’s Scheme, University of Cambridge (£7K) PI.
- 2013 Rubicon Fellowship, Netherlands Organization for Scientific Research (£140K) PI. Does friendship support reduce the neurobiological effects of childhood emotional maltreatment?
Awards
- 2020 Rising Star Award. Association for Psychological Science
- 2019 Society of Biological Psychiatry travel fellowship award ($2000)
- 2019 Master of Arts, University of Cambridge.
- 2018 Emerging Leader in Adolescent Mental Health prize, Medical Research Foundation MRC (£5000)
- 2018 Nominated for the University of Cambridge Vice Chancellors award for Public engagement with research.
Professor Brain, Safety and Resilience
- Faculteit der Sociale Wetenschappen
- Instituut Pedagogische Wetenschappen
- Forensische gezinsped. en Jeugdhulpverl.
No relevant ancillary activities