Dr. Yara Toenders has been awarded a KNAW Early Career Award by the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences, recognising her as one of the most promising young researchers in the Netherlands. The award honours innovative scientific talent and supports the further development of early career researchers across disciplines.

Toenders, a researcher in Clinical Psychology at Erasmus University Rotterdam and affiliated with the SYNC lab, studies the mental well-being of young people from a neurobiological to a societal level. Her work examines how factors such as sleep, social media use, music, and role models shape mood, resilience, and self-perception during adolescence.

A distinctive feature of her research is its interdisciplinary and participatory approach: young people are actively involved as partners in the research process rather than only as participants. By connecting fundamental neuroscience with lived experiences and policy contexts, her work contributes to actionable knowledge on strengthening youth mental health and well-being.

This recognition highlights the importance of youth-centred, transdisciplinary research on mental health.

Prof. René Veenstra has been appointed as a member of the Social Sciences Council of the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences.

The Social Sciences Council promotes the social sciences at both national and international levels. It provides strategic advice, proposes new research topics, contributes to peer review processes, and fosters collaboration between researchers and institutions. The council also organizes plenary conferences that bring together scholars from across the social science disciplines.

René Veenstra is Professor of Sociology at the University of Groningen and is internationally known for his research on peer relations, bullying, and social networks in adolescence. His appointment strengthens the representation of youth and developmental research within the council and contributes to the visibility of this field in broader social science agendas.

March 27, 2025

Establishment of the Societal and Ethical Advisory Board for GUTS

We are proud to announce the establishment of our new Societal and Ethical Advisory Board.

This advisory board will play a crucial role in supporting the Growing Up Together in Society (GUTS) research program by providing strategic guidance and valuable insights from society. The board consists of a diverse group of experts and professionals who will contribute their knowledge and experience to ensure that the societal perspective of and for young people remains central to our research program.

Board members

Margrite Kalverboer, Children’s Ombudsperson

Jane Murray Cramm, Chief Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Access Center; Professor of Person-Centered Care

Sicco de Knecht, Director, National Expertise Center for Science and Society

Frederieke Vriends, Director, MIND Us

Roline de Wilde, Director, Kindertelefoon (Children’s Helpline)

Marie-José van Tol, Chair, Steering Committee National Mental Health Plan

Linda Kroeskop-Bossenbroek, Manager of Knowledge & Innovation, Dutch Brain Foundation

Katy de Kogel, Senior Researcher, Scientific Research and Data Center

Jolien Dopmeijer, Senior Researcher, Trimbos Institute

Neeltje van den Bedem, Senior Advisor, Development and Upbringing, Netherlands Youth Institute

Frank Kupper, Athena Institute; Theater Maker

The advisory board will focus on enriching the GUTS research program, critically evaluating the design of our studies, and contributing ideas on how research outcomes can be integrated into society and policy. The goal is to make informed decisions that safeguard the rights, opportunities, and well-being of young people.

We are confident that the establishment of this advisory board will have a tremendously positive impact on our science-society approach, and we look forward to working with this dedicated group of professionals.

For more information about the advisory board members and their roles, please visit the advisory board page or contact us.

Photo by Marvin Meyer on Unsplash

In the new book Generatie Zelfvertrouwen, Eveline Crone explores how young people today can build a healthy self-image amidst social media pressures, academic expectations, and other modern challenges.

Co-authored with Renske van der Cruijsen, the book is based on extensive research and offers insights for both youths and parents on fostering resilience and confidence. Perfect for anyone working with or raising adolescents, Crone’s optimistic approach sheds light on the unique strengths of the current generation.

Read more about the book here.

“Do teenagers only think about themselves, or does it just seem that way?”

Last week, SYNC researcher Suzanne van de Groep had the opportunity to discuss her research on the (pro)social behavior of adolescents and how it works in the brain on NPO Radio 1.

You can listen to the interview here.

About Suzanne van de Groep

Dr. Van de Groep’s research examines the psychological and neural processes involved in social development, self-regulation, and wellbeing in adolescence. In her work, she employs a variety of methods, including fMRI, behavioral experiments, questionnaires, and youth participation.

Mark de Rooij (Leiden University) and Hilde Huizenga (University of Amsterdam) have been awarded the Open Competition SGW L Grant from NWO!

Mark’s project focuses on: Linking brain function and structure to phenotypes: does more data in fixed sample sizes lead to higher replicability?

Hilde’s research examines: How intentions and outcomes shape adolescents’ climate friendly choice: A reinforcement learning approach.

Congratulations to our awardees—we look forward to the shared insights and innovations this opportunity will bring!

Learn more about the SGW Open Competition here.

Explore Your Brain: Empowering Adolescents with Growth Mindset through Neurofeedback.

Curious about how adolescents can build confidence in their learning potential? Researchers from Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam have been piloting Explore Your Brain, an innovative tool that uses neurofeedback to help young people understand their brain’s adaptability. Led by Nienke van Atteveldt and Tieme Janssen, this project combines neuroscience with practical experience, encouraging a growth mindset and supporting mental well-being.

Read more on the project here.

We are excited to announce that our new website for young people is now live!

Visit the links below to find all the information you need about participating in the GUTS project:

• GUTS Amsterdam & Rotterdam
• GUTS Leiden
• GUTS GO

In August, Lysanne te Brinke appeared on TV as an expert in the MAX show “Tieners tegen kwalen.”

This unique social experiment brought together eight teenagers and eight seniors to see how their interactions could positively impact their lives. The program aired starting August 14 at 9:30 PM on MAX, NPO 1.

Read more about the TV show here.

About Lysanne te Brinke

Lysanne te Brinke is an Assistant Professor at the Clinical Psychology section of Erasmus University Rotterdam. Her research focuses on understanding how adolescents contribute to societal challenges as ‘agents of change’. As lead of the transdisciplinary Healthy Start ambition youth participation and involvement, and co-founder of the YoungXperts platform she actively involves the perspectives of youth in her work. As collaborator in the GUTS consortium (WP1), Lysanne supervises a GUTS-Healthy Start PhD candidate (together with Anita Harrewijn).