Alumni

A breeding ground for talent

Since its founding in 2012

The Emotion Regulation Lab, led by Prof. Dr. Sander Koole, has supported the successful graduation of 15 PhD students. Among them, 4 achieved Cum Laude or Summa Cum Laude honors. Out of these graduates, 7 have become professors, with 6 holding tenured or tenure-track positions.

Zihao Zheng

Graduated from Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam in 2024

Project Title:

Interpersonal Emotion Regulation among Cancer Survivors

Involvement:

Co-supervision with Dr. Karen Holtman & Prof. Dr. Irma Verdonck-de Leeuw, promotors

Current Position:

Assistant Professor

Sophie Hendrikse

Graduated from Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam/Trier University in 2023

Project Title:

Methods of Interpersonal Synchrony Dynamics

Involvement:

Co-supervision with Prof. Dr. Jan Treur and Dr. Tom Wilderjans, promotors

Current Position:

Assistant Professor (Tenure Track), Tilburg University

Artur Czeszumski

Graduated from Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam/University of Osnabrück in 2023

Project Title:

Brain-to-Brain Synchrony during Emotional Sharing

Involvement:

Co-supervision with Dr. Suzanne Dikker and Prof. Dr. Peter König, promotors

Current Position:

Postdoctoral Researcher, University of Bielefeld, Germany

Tobias Maldei-Gohring

Graduated from Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam/Trier University in 2020 (Summa cum Laude)

Project Title:

Meaningful Themes: The Role of Thematic Processing in the Intuitive Detection of Semantic Coherence

Involvement:

Co-supervision, promotor

Current Position:

Licensed Psychotherapist in Hamburg, Germany

Nicole van den Bogerd

Graduated from Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam in 2020 (joint degree with Health Sciences)

Project Title:

Fostering a Supportive Study Environment: Promoting Student Health and Well-being through Fruit and Vegetable Interventions and through the Availability and Integration of Nature

Involvement:

Co-supervision, promotor (with Dr. Jolanda Maas and Prof. Jaap Seidell)

Current Position:

Assistant Professor (Tenured), Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam

Mandy Tjew A Sin

Graduated from Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam in 2020

Project Title:

Contact Comfort: Psychological Effects of Actual and Simulated Affectionate Touch

Involvement:

Daily supervision, promotor

Current Position:

Freelance Researcher

Dalya Samur

Graduated from Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam in 2018

Project Title:

From Reading to Feeling: How Literary Fiction May Enrich Socio-Emotional Understanding among Alexithymic Individuals

Involvement:

Daily supervision, promotor

Current Position:

Data Scientist at Human Total Care

Caroline Schlinkert

Graduated from Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam/Trier University in 2018

Dissertation:

Minding the Body: The Impact of Rumination and Stress on Bodily Information Processing

Involvement:

Daily supervision, promotor

Current Position:

Senior Researcher at Nivel Institute, Utrecht, the Netherlands

Hester A. Ruigendijk

Graduated from Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam in 2018

Dissertation:

On the Psychology of Volition: Linking Action versus State Orientation to Cognitive Control Processes and Their Neuroarchitecture

Involvement:

Daily supervision, promotor (co-promotor Prof. Dr. Paul van Lange)

Current Position:

Lecturer (Tenured) at Leiden University

Lotte Veenstra

Graduated from Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam in 2017 (Cum Laude)

Dissertation:

Taming Tempers: A Situated Motivational Approach to Anger Management

Involvement:

Daily supervision, promotor (co-promotor Dr. Iris K. Schneider)

Current Position:

Senior Advisor Social Safety, University of Amsterdam, the Netherlands

Monischa Chatterjee

Graduated from Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam/University of Trier in 2014 (Summa Cum Laude)

Dissertation:

Relatedness as a Resource in State Orientation

Involvement:

Co-supervisor, co-promotor (promotor Prof. Dr. Nicola Baumann)

Current Position:

Federal Institute for Occupational Safety and Health in Dortmund, Germany

Awards:

Award for Excellent Dissertations, University of Trier (see here)

Lotte F. van Dillen

Graduated from Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam in 2008 (Cum Laude)

Dissertation:

Dealing with Negative Feelings

Involvement:

Daily supervision, co-promotor (promotor Prof. Dr. Gün Semin)

Current Position:

Associate Professor (Tenured) at Leiden University, the Netherlands

Daniel A. Fockenberg

Graduated from Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam in 2008

Dissertation:

Between Good and Evil: A Dynamic View on Affective Priming

Involvement:

Daily supervision, co-promotor (promotor Prof. Dr. Gün Semin)

Current Position:

Psychotherapist in Correctional Facility, Germany

Arnaud Wisman

Graduated from Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam in 2007

Dissertation:

Terror and the Need to Belong: The Role of Belongingness Strivings in Coping with Existential Threat

Involvement:

Daily supervision, co-promotor (promotor Prof. Dr. Paul van Lange)

Current Position:

Lecturer (Tenured) at the University of Kent, UK

Nils B. Jostmann

Graduated from Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam in 2007

Dissertation:

Coping with Demanding Situations

Involvement:

Daily supervision, co-promotor (promotor Prof. Dr. Gün Semin)

Current Position:

Assistant Professor (Tenured) at the University of Amsterdam