Professor
My research explores how social and policy changes affect inequalities in social relationships, loneliness and health. I connect these to individual experiences, especially among marginalized communities, to improve interventions for ageing populations.
Professor in Ageing and Social Change and serves as the program director of the Master Program in Ageing and Social Change.
I am also a fellow at the Longitudinal Aging Study Amsterdam (LASA) within the Department of Epidemiology and Data Science, Amsterdam Medical Center.
Previously, I was Associate Professor and led the Social Functioning Group at LASA, affiliated with the Department of Sociology at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, where I also served as the head of research.
My interdisciplinary research integrates life course theory with sociological perspectives, drawing also from psychology, health sciences, and other disciplines, to investigate key topics in ageing.
These include social relationships and isolation, loneliness, social exclusion, informal and formal care, and the impact of social relationships on health.
I have (co)authored over 50 refereed journal articles and multiple book chapters, publishing in journals such as Journals of Gerontology, Psychology & Aging, Ageing & Society, and Journal of Marriage and Family.
I am involved in funded research initiatives focused on the impact of societal and policy change on care use and reducing loneliness among older migrants through effective interventions.
I am dedicated to education, I have developed and taught numerous undergraduate and graduate courses on ageing, social change, care, welfare, social networks, and quantitative research methodology.
I have Basic and Senior Qualifications in teaching, reflecting my commitment to pedagogical excellence.
I am actively engaged in national and international boards and policy advising, I aim to enhance social inclusion, reduce isolation and loneliness, and optimize health and care services for older adults.
My goal is to translate impactful research into policies and interventions that significantly improve the quality of life for ageing populations.
