His first appointment was as a research assistant with Peter Hagoort at the Max Planck Institute. Shortly thereafter, he became part of the F.C. Donders Centre, where de Lange began his doctoral research with Ivan Toni in 2003. After working abroad for several years, he returned to the Donders Institute in 2009. He is now a principal investigator and a well-known name in the field of cognitive neuroscience. “What I find unique about the Donders is the broad expertise, from molecule to human, and the way that allows us to collaborate and strengthen each other's research. That is a strength I want to continue to nurture and encourage as theme leader.”
The broad nature of theme 2
The theme “Perception, Action and Decision Making” covers a broad scientific field, from how we perceive to how we make complex choices. That broad nature is both a challenge and a strength, Floris explains: “I embrace that breadth. It ensures that we are not only working on very specific questions, but that we also have room for interdisciplinary research. That often leads to surprising new insights.”
In addition, Floris sees a future in further strengthening collaborations between different research groups. He points to the recent introduction of focus groups: smaller meetings around specific subthemes, such as perception or decision-making. “Those groups bring together researchers from different centers and provide space for in-depth discussions. This type of initiative helps us strengthen the interconnections within the theme.”
This is not at the expense of the theme meeting, which gives researchers a chance to share knowledge and explore new collaborations. Floris: “In the early years, those meetings were busy and important to bring researchers together. Now that the Donders has grown so large, that is less obvious. Still, I think there is a lot of value in maintaining this tradition, for example by combining them with presentations from the focus groups. That way we can offer a broad overview of what is going on within the theme.”
More than the sum of its parts
The first theme meeting led by Floris is scheduled for Jan. 16, 2025. This meeting will provide an opportunity to further discuss plans and meet researchers active within the theme. De Lange is looking forward to it: “The Donders has always been a place where the whole is more than the sum of its parts. That is something we should continue to cherish together.”
