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Dr Anne-Laura Van Harmelen promoted to full Professor at Leiden University

Leiden University, Netherlands, will appoint Dr Anne-Laura van Harmelen as Professor of Brain, Security and Resilience at the Institute of Education and Child Studies with effect from 1 September 2020. She will focus on the brain in relation to the development of transgressive behaviour and its prevention and treatment.

This chair is one of two set up as part of the Social Resilience and Security programme that brings together interdisciplinary scientific insights in the field of the brain, security and interventions. She will collaborate with Dr Marieke Liem Professor in Security and Interventions at the Institute for Security and Global Affairs - Faculty of Governance and Global Affairs.

Anne-Laura van Harmelen will contribute to the scientific and social debate on issues relating to and the relationship between brain and security. She contributes to knowledge and insights about the interactions of social determinants - such as family of origin, influence of peers - neurobiological processes and various aspects of forensic care, such as diagnostics, prevention and treatment of transgressive behaviour. Furthermore she will provide clear insights into academic findings and collaborating with social partners.

About Dr Van Harmelen

Anne-Laura van Harmelen is a Royal Society Dorothy Hodgkin Fellow and Senior Research Associate at the Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge and a Fellow at Lucy Cavendish College. She directs the Risk and Resilience Group. The group aims to investigate why some children and adolescents develop mental health problems, and others do not. She is particularly interested in which mechanisms reinforce resilience; how the brain deals with social aspects, such as friendships and warm family ties. Her work is funded by the Royal Society and MQ.