Our lead scientists
Donders Institute research is divided into four main themes and several research groups. These groups are headed by the following research fellows and (associate) Principal Investigators.
A-B-C-D-E-F-G-H-I-J-K-L-M-N-O-P-Q-R-S-T-U-V-W-X-Y-Z
Esther Aarts
Principal Investigator
Food & Cognition
Theme: Perception, Action and Decision-making
Piray Atsak 
Associate Principal Investigator
(under construction)
Theme: Development and lifelong plasticity
Alejandro Arias Vasquez
Principal Investigator
Genetic Epidemiology of Brain Traits and Neuropsychiatric Disorders
Theme: Development and lifelong plasticity
Francesco Battaglia 
Principal Investigator
Neuronal Networks of Memory
Theme: Development and lifelong plasticity
Christian Beckmann 
Principal Investigator
Statistics Imaging Neuroscience
Theme: Natural Computing & Neurotechnology
Harold Bekkering
Principal Investigator
Learning & Motivation (LAM) & Artificial Intelligence (AI)
Theme: Perception, Action and Decision-making
Bas Bloem 
Principal Investigator
Neurological Movement Disorders
Theme: Perception, Action and Decision-making
Hans van Bokhoven
Principal Investigator
Molecular Neurogenetics
Theme: Development and lifelong plasticity
Hans Rutger Bosker
Principal Investigator
Speech Perception in Audiovisual Communication (SPEAC)
Theme: Language and Communication
Inti Brazil 
Associate Principal Investigator
Systems Approach to Maladaptive Behaviour & Antisociality (SAMBA)
Theme: Development and lifelong plasticity
Han Brunner
Principal Investigator
Human Genetics
Theme: Development and lifelong plasticity
Jan Buitelaar 
Principal Investigator
Developmental Neuropsychiatry
Theme: Perception, Action and Decision-making
Jurgen Claassen
Principal Investigator
Cerebral Circulation and Cognition in Aging Humans
Theme: Development and lifelong plasticity
Rob Collin
Principal Investigator
Molecular Therapy for Inherited Eye Disorders
Theme: Perception, Action and Decision-making
Ton Coolen 
Principal Investigator
Physics of Machine Learning and Complex Systems
Theme: Natural Computing & Neurotechnology
Roshan Cools 
Principal Investigator
Motivational & Cognitive Control
Theme: Perception, Action and Decision-making
Frans Cremers 
Principal Investigator
Blindness Genetics
Theme: Perception, Action and Decision-making
Peter Desain 
Principal Investigator
Brain Computer Interfacing
Theme: Natural Computing & Neurotechnology
Ton Dijkstra
Principal Investigator
Cognitive Aspects of Multilingualism
Theme: Language and Communication
Martin Dresler
Principal Investigator
Sleep and Memory
Theme: Development and lifelong plasticity
Linda Drijvers 
Principal Investigator
The Communicative Brain
Theme: Language and Communication
Baziel van Engelen 
Principal Investigator
Neuromuscular Diseases
Theme: Perception, Action and Decision-making
Bernhard Englitz 
Associate Principal Investigator
Computational Neuroscience Lab
Theme: Natural Computing & Neurotechnology
Guillén Fernández 
Principal Investigator
Memory and Emotion
Theme: Development and lifelong plasticity
Stephanie Forkel 
Principal Investigator
Theme: Language and Communication
Simon Fisher
Principal Investigator
Neurogenetics of Speech and Language
Theme: Language and Communication
Barbara Franke 
Principal Investigator
Genetics of Brain Function and (Psychiatric) Malfunction
Theme: Development and lifelong plasticity
Surya Gayet 
Research fellow
Theme: Perception, Action and Decision-making
Linda Geerligs
Principal Investigator
Dynamic and naturalistic cognitive neuroscience
Theme: Natural Computing & Neurotechnology
Lisa Genzel 
Principal Investigator
Networks of memory and sleep
Theme: Development and lifelong plasticity
Marcel van Gerven 
Principal Investigator
Artificial Cognitive Systems
Theme: Natural Computing & Neurotechnology
Alexander Geurts 
Principal Investigator
Neurorehabilitation
Theme: Perception, Action and Decision-making
Corina Greven 
Principal Investigator
Positive Developmental Psychopathology
Theme: Development and lifelong plasticity
Joanes Grandjean 
Research Fellow
Preclinical Neuroimaging
Theme: Development and lifelong plasticity
Koen Haak 
Associate Principal Investigator
Vision and Imaging Neuroscience
Theme: Natural Computing & Neurotechnology
Peter Hagoort
Principal Investigator
Neurobiology of Language
Theme: Language and Communication
Saskia Haegens 
Associate Principal Investigator
Brain Rhythms
Theme: Natural Computing & Neurotechnology
Anne-Sophie Hafner 
Principal Investigator
Molecular dynamics of the Synapse
Theme: Natural Computing & Neurotechnology
Pim Haselager
Principal Investigator
Theoretical Cognitive Science
Theme: Perception, Action and Decision-making
Rick Helmich 
Associate Principal Investigator
Systems Neurology
Theme: Perception, Action and Decision-making
Marloes Henckens 
Associate Principal Investigator
Stress-related psychopathology
Theme: Development and lifelong plasticity
Erno Hermans 
Principal Investigator
Cognitive Affective Neuroscience
Theme: Development and lifelong plasticity
Tom Heskes 
Affiliated Principal Investigator
Machine Learning (iCIS)
Theme: Natural Computing & Neurotechnology
Max Hinne
Associate Principal Investigator
The Uncertain Systems Lab
Theme: Natural Computing & Neurotechnology
Anneke den Hollander 
Principal Investigator
Multifactorial eye diseases
Theme: Perception, Action and Decision-making
Judith Holler
Principal Investigator
Communication in Social Interaction (CoSI)
Theme: Language and Communication
Judith Homberg 
Principal Investigator
Behavioural Neurogenetics
Theme: Development and lifelong plasticity
Carel Hoyng 
Principal Investigator
Macular Degeneration and Ophthamogenetics
Theme: Perception, Action and Decision-making
Sabine Hunnius 
Principal Investigator
Baby Research on Action, Interaction & Neurocognition
Theme: Perception, Action and Decision-making
Gabriele Janzen 
Associate Principal Investigator
Neural Correlates of Spatial Memory
Theme: Development and lifelong plasticity
Janneke Jehee 
Principal Investigator
Visual Computation
Theme: Perception, Action and Decision-making
Bert Kappen 
Principal Investigator
Machine Learning (Biophysics)
Theme: Natural Computing & Neurotechnology
Roy Kessels 
Principal Investigator
Neuropsychology and Rehabilitation Psychology
Theme: Development and lifelong plasticity
Tim Kietzmann 
Associated Principal Investigator
Cognitive Computational Neuroscience
Theme: Natural Computing & Neurotechnology
Rogier Kievit 
Principal Investigator
Developmental Neuroscience
Theme: Perception, Action and Decision-making
Amanda Kiliaan 
Principal Investigator
Cerebral Circulation and Cognition in Mice and Men
Theme: Development and lifelong plasticity
Caroline Klaver
Principal Investigator
Genetic-epidermiologic studies of various
complex and Mendelian eye disorders
Theme: Perception, Action and Decision-making
Tjitske Kleefstra 
Associate Principal Investigator
Psychopathology in rare genetic neurodevelopmental disorders
Theme: Development and lifelong plasticity
Jeroen Klevering
Associate Principal Investigator
Retinal Dystrophies
Theme: Perception, Action and Decision-making
Karin Klijn
Principal Investigator
Intracerebral haemorrhage and stroke
Theme: Perception, Action and Decision-making
Nils Kohn 
Associate Principal Investigator
Brain Networks in Regulation
Theme: Development and lifelong plasticity
Sharon Kolk 
Associate Principal Investigator
Neurodevelopment
Theme: Development and lifelong plasticity
Raymond Koopmans 
Principal Investigator
Long-term dementia
Theme: Development and lifelong plasticity
Hannie Kremer
Principal Investigator
Usher syndrome: Genetics and Functional Genomics
Theme: Perception, Action and Decision-making
Marijn Kuijpers 
Principal Investigator
Molecular Mechanisms of Neurodegeneration
Theme: Development and lifelong plasticity
Johan Kwisthout 
Principal Investigator
Foundations of Natural and Stochastic Computing
Theme: Natural Computing & Neurotechnology
Nanda Lambregts-Rommelse 
Principal Investigator
Bridging the gap between science and practice for ADHD
Theme: Development and lifelong plasticity
Floris de Lange
Principal Investigator
Predictive Brain
Theme: Perception, Action and Decision-making
Frank-Erik de Leeuw 
Principal Investigator
Cerebrovascular disease
Theme: Perception, Action and Decision-making
Dirk Lefeber
Principal Investigator
Glycosylation Disorders in Neurology
Theme: Perception, Action and Decision-making
Tessa van Leeuwen
Research fellow
Theme: Perception, Action and Decision-making
Kristin Lemhöfer
Principal Investigator 
Neurocognition of bilingualism
Theme: Language and Communication
Rob van Lier 
Principal Investigator
Perception and Awareness
Theme: Perception, Action and Decision-making
Principal Investigator
Neurophysiology of Active Perception
Theme: Natural Computing & Neurotechnology
André Marquand 
Principal Investigator
Predictive Clinical Neuroscience
Theme: Natural Computing & Neurotechnology
José P. Marques 
Associate Principal Investigator
MR Structural Quantitative Imaging
Theme: Natural Computing & Neurotechnology
Rogier Mars 
Principal Investigator
Cognitive Neuroecology Lab
Theme: Perception, Action and Decision-making
Andrea Martin 
Principal Investigator
Language and Computation in Neural Systems
Theme: Language and Communication
James McQueen
Principal Investigator
Sound Learning
Theme: Language and Communication
Pieter Medendorp 
Principal Investigator
Sensorimotor Control
Theme: Perception, Action and Decision-making
Antje Meyer
Principal Investigator (Affiliated)
Theme: Language and Communication
Uta Noppeney
Principal Investigator
Multisensory perception, learning and attention
Theme: Perception, Action and Decision-making
Nael Nadif Kasri 
Principal Investigator
Molecular Neurophysiology
Theme: Development and lifelong plasticity
David Norris 
Principal Investigator
MR Techniques in Brain Function
Theme: Natural Computing & Neurotechnology
Freyja Ólafsdóttir 
Research Fellow
Neural Mechanisms of Episodic and Spatial Memory
Theme: Natural Computing & Neurotechnology
Theme: Perception, Action and Decision-making
Marcel Olde Rikkert 
Principal Investigator
Alzheimer Center Nijmegen
Theme: Development and lifelong plasticity
Robert Oostenveld 
Associate Principal Investigator
MEG methods
Theme: Natural Computing & Neurotechnology
Joukje Oosterman 
Associate Principal Investigator
Cognitive Aging
Theme: Development and lifelong plasticity
John van Opstal 
Principal Investigator
Auditory System, Gaze Control & Executive Function
Theme: Perception, Action and Decision-making
Hanneke den Ouden 
Principal Investigator
Learning & Decision-making
Theme: Perception, Action and Decision-making
Asli Özyürek
Principal Investigator
Multimodal Language and Cognition
Theme: Language and Communication
Marius Peelen 
Principal Investigator
Visual Cognitive Neuroscience
Theme: Perception, Action and Decision-making
Vitória Piai
Associate Principal Investigator
Language Function and Dysfunction
Theme: Language and Communication
Wim Pouw
Research Fellow
Dynamic Signs and Signals (Dynamos)
Theme: Language and Communication
Edo Richard
Principal Investigator
Prevention of Dementia
Theme: Perception, Action and Decision-making
Ardi Roelofs
Principal Investigator
Attention and Language Performance
Theme: Language and Communication
Karin Roelofs 
Principal Investigator
Affective Neuroscience
Theme: Perception, Action and Decision-making
Susanne Roosing 
Associate Principal Investigator
Blindness Genetics
Theme: Perception, Action and Decision-making
Iris van Rooij 
Principal Investigator
Computational Cognitive Science
Theme: Perception, Action and Decision-making
Benno Roozendaal
Associate Principal Investigator
Behavioural Neuroscience
Theme: Development and lifelong plasticity
Caroline Rowland
Principal Investigator (Affiliated)
Language Development
Theme: Language and Communication
Eric Ruhe (personal page under construction) 
Associate Principal Investigator
Recurrence and treatment-resistance of unipolar depression
Theme: Development and lifelong plasticity
Alan Sanfey 
Principal Investigator
Decision Neuroscience
Theme: Perception, Action and Decision-making
Hans Scheffer 
Associate Principal Investigator
Clinical Molecular Genetics of Heterogeneous Genetic Disorders
Theme: Perception, Action and Decision-making
Annette Schenck
Principal Investigator
Drosophila Models of Brain Disorders
Theme: Development and lifelong plasticity
Herbert Schriefers
Principal Investigator
Contextual Flexibility in Language Processing
Theme: Language and Communication
Anne Speckens 
Principal Investigator
Affective disorders
Theme: Development and lifelong plasticity
Eelke Spaak
Research fellow
Prediction and Consciousness
Theme: Perception, Action and Decision-making
Emma Sprooten 
Associate Principal Investigator
Psychiatry and Neuroimaging Genetics
Theme: Development and lifelong plasticity
Wouter Staal 
Associate Principal Investigator
Translational research in Autism Spectrum Disorders
Theme: Development and lifelong plasticity
Erik Storkebaum 
Principal Investigator
Molecular Neurobiology
Theme: Development and lifelong plasticity
Michael Tangermann 
Associate Principal Investigator
Data-driven Neurotechnology lab
Theme: Natural Computing & Neurotechnology
Indira Tendolkar
Associate Principal Investigator
Clinical neuroscience in psychiatry
Theme: Development and lifelong plasticity
Serge Thill
Principal Investigator
Foundations of Intelligent Technology (FoundIT)
Theme: Natural Computing & Neurotechnology
Paul Tiesinga 
Principal Investigator
Neuroinformatics
Theme: Natural Computing & Neurotechnology
Ivan Toni 
Principal Investigator
Intention and Action
Theme: Perception, Action and Decision-making & Language and Communication
Anil Tuladhar 
Associate Principal Investigator
Cerebrovascular disease
Theme: Perception, Action and Decision-making
Joris Veltman 
Principal Investigator
Genomic Diseases
Theme: Development and lifelong plasticity
Marcel Verbeek 
Principal Investigator
Neurochemistry of Neurodegeneration
Theme: Development and lifelong plasticity
Lennart Verhagen 
Associate Principal Investigator
Cognitive Neuromodulation
Theme: Perception, Action and Decision-making
Robbert-Jan Verkes
Associate Principal Investigator
Disorders in Impulse- and Aggression Regulation
Theme: Perception, Action and Decision-making
Paul Verschure 
Principal Investigator
SPECS-lab
Theme 4: Natural Computing & Neurotechnology
Lisenka Vissers 
Associate Principal Investigator
Translational Genomics
Theme: Development and lifelong plasticity
Bert de Vries 
Principal Investigator
Genomic profiling in intellectual disability
Theme: Development and lifelong plasticity
Nienke de Vries
Associate Principal Investigator
Disorder of movement
Theme: Perception, Action and Decision-making
Marc van Wanrooij
Principal Investigator
Multisensory Integration
Theme: Perception, Action and Decision-making
Bart van de Warrenburg
Principal Investigator
Rare and Genetic Movement Disorders
Theme: Perception, Action and Decision-making
Richard van Wezel 
Principal Investigator
Visual Neuroscience
Theme: Perception, Action and Decision-making
Vivian Weerdensteyn 
Principal Investigator
Mobility and neurological diseases
Theme: Perception, Action and Decision-making
Carolina de Weerth
Principal Investigator
Developmental Psychobiology Lab
Theme: Development and lifelong plasticity
Roel Willems
Research fellow (Affiliated)
Theme: Language and Communication
Corette Wierenga 
Principal Investigator
Molecular mechanisms underlying the formation
and plasticity of inhibitory synapses
Theme 3: Plasticity and Memory &
Theme 4: Molecular mechanisms underlying the
formation and plasticity of inhibitory synapses
Gert Jan van der Wilt (pages under construction)
Associate Principal Investigator
Theme: Development and lifelong plasticity
Erwin van Wyk
Associate Principal Investigator
Theme: Perception, Action and Decision-making
Fleur Zeldenrust
Research fellow
Biophysics of neural computation
Theme: Natural Computing & Neurotechnology