Thijmen Jeroense, PhD: Postdoc 2024-2026

  • PhD, Radboud University Nijmegen, 2025, Supervisors: Niels Spierings and Jochem Tolsma

Xingna Qin, PhD: In Connection: The Role of Peers, Parents, and Teachers in Adolescent Friendship Dynamics 

  • Funding: Chinese Scholarship Council. Thesis defense: September 9, 2024
  • Supervisors: René Veenstra, Lydia Laninga-Wijnen, and Christian Steglich (RUG).
  • Manuscript committee: Tom Snijders (RUG), Jelle Sijtsema (Tilburg University), and Matteo Giletta (Ghent University, Belgium)
  • Currently employed as postdoc at Department of Behavioral Sciences, Linköping University, Sweden
Media

Sofie Lorijn, PhD: Peer Relationships in the Transition from Primary to Secondary Education

  • Funding: NRO. Thesis defense: July 11, 2024
  • Supervisors: René Veenstra and Lydia Laninga-Wijnen (RUG)
  • Manuscript committee: Tina Kretschmer (RUG), Thijs Bol (University of Amsterdam), and Diane Felmlee (Pennsylvania State University, USA)
  • Traineeship: Allison Ryan (Michigan State University, USA)
  • Currently employed as researcher at the lectorate of Addiction Studies, Hanze University of Applied Sciences
Media

Dilara Karaagac, PhD: Understanding Syrian parents’ perspectives and experiences of their children’s primary schooling in Turkey

  • Thesis defense: May 6, 2024
  • Supervisors: René Veenstra and Basak Bilecen (RUG)
  • Manuscript committee: Ahmet Içduygu (Koç University, Turkey), Margrite Kalverboer (RUG), Liesbet Heyse (RUG)
  • Currently employed as co-founder of Yuffi & Lawyer

Simon Venema, PhD: Paternal Imprisonment, Fatherhood, and Family Relationships

  • Funding: Dienst Justitiële Inrichtingen; FNO GeestKracht; Verslavingszorg Noord Nederland; Hanzehogeschool Groningen. Thesis defense: January 29, 2024
  • Supervisors: Eric Blaauw (Research Group on Addiction Science and Forensic Care, Hanze University of Applied Sciences), René Veenstra, and Marieke Haan (RUG)
  • Manuscript committee: Peter Scharff Smith (Oslo University), Veroni Eichelsheim (NSCR / RUG), Jochem Tolsma (RUG)
  • Currently employed as researcher at Addiction Mental Health Care Northern Netherlands
Media

Eleonora Marucci, PhD: Antecedents and Consequences of Teacher Attunement in Primary and Secondary School Classrooms

  • Funding: NWO VICI Program; Thesis defense: June 12, 2023
  • Supervisors: René Veenstra, Beau Oldenburg (RUG), and Davide Barrera (Università degli Studi di Torino, Italy)
  • Manuscript committee: Jennifer Watling Neal (Michigan State University), Herman van de Werfhorst (European University Institute), Marijtje van Duijn (University of Groningen)
Eleonora Marucci

Sanne Kellij, PhD: I see, I see what you don’t see: Four studies on victims of bullying, social cognitions, and brain activity

  • Funding: NWA (National Science Agenda); Thesis defense: June 8, 2023
  • Supervisors: René Veenstra, Berna Güroglu (Leiden University), and Gerine Lodder (Tilburg University)
  • Manuscript committee: Siegwart Lindenberg (RUG), Eveline Crone (Erasmus University Rotterdam), and Kate Mills (University of Oregon)
  • Currently employed at TNO, Defence, Safety, and Security
Media
Sanne Kellij

Chloé Tolmatcheff, PhD: Postdoc 2022-2023

  • PhD, UC Louvain (Belgium), 2021, Supervisors: Benoît Galand and Isabelle Roskam
  • Currently employed as assistant professor at the Department of Psychology, Radboud University Nijmegen

Wouter Kiekens, PhD: Sexual and Gender Minority Youth’s Mental Health and Substance Use

  • Funding: PhD Fund Faculty BSS; Thesis defense: September 19, 2022
  • Supervisors: René Veenstra and Laura Baams (RUG)
  • Traineeship: Stephen Russell (University of Texas at Austin)
  • Manuscript committee: Paul Poteat (Boston College, USA), John de Wit (Utrecht University), and Anna Lichtwarck-Aschoff (University of Groningen)
  • Currently employed as assistant professor at the Department of Sociology, University of Groningen

Media

Defense Wouter Kiekens, September 19, 2022

Danelien van Aalst, PhD: Elements Contributing to Teachers’ Role in Bullying

  • Funding: NWO VICI Program; Thesis defense: June 2, 2022
  • Supervisors: René Veenstra and Gijs Huitsing (RUG)
  • Manuscript committee: Sebastian Wachs (Universität Potsdam, Germany), Hilde Colpin (KU Leuven, Belgium), and Nardi Steverink (University of Groningen)
  • Currently employed as data analyst at ASR Insurance (domain healthcare)

Media

Lydia Laninga-Wijnen, PhD: They get the power! Consequences and antecedents of aggressive, prosocial and academic popularity norms in adolescent’ classrooms

  • Funding: NWO (PROO); Thesis defense: Utrecht, November 27, 2020
  • Supervisors: Wilma Vollebergh, Zeena Harakeh (UU), Jan Kornelis Dijkstra, and René Veenstra (RUG)
  • Traineeship: Allison Ryan (Michigan State University, USA)
  • Manuscript committee: Susan Branje (Utrecht University), Toon Cillessen (Radboud University Nijmegen), Maja Dekovic (Utrecht University), Geertjan Overbeek (University of Amsterdam), and Jaana Juvonen (UCLA)
  • Currently employed as postdoc, Department of Psychology, University of Turku
  • Winner of EARA Young Scholar award 2020, the CAS Dissertation Award 2021, and the Alberti Center Early Career Award 2024
  • Winner of a 2-year Rubicon Grant 2021 and a 3-year grant from the Research Council of Finland to work with Christina Salmivalli (Turku, Finland) on whether it helps or hurts when victims of bullying are defended by their peers

Media

Diego Palacios, PhD: How Context and the Perception of Peers’ Behaviors Shape Relationships in Adolescence: A Multiplex Social Network Perspective

  • Funding: CONICYT; Thesis defense: August 24, 2020
  • Supervisors: René Veenstra, Jan Kornelis Dijkstra, Mark Huisman (RUG), and Christian Berger (Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile)
  • Manuscript committee: Tom Snijders (RUG), Herman van de Werfhorst (University of Amsterdam), and Toon Cillessen (Radboud University Nijmegen)
  • Currently employed as assistant professor at the Society and Health Research Center at the Universidad Mayor (Santiago, Chile)
  • Winner of a FONDECYT 2023 grant for his project titled It takes two for substance use: Peer mechanisms in adolescents’ substance use.
Defense Diego Palacios, August 24, 2020

Tessa Kaufman, PhD: Toward Tailored Interventions: Explaining, Assessing, and Preventing Persistent Victimization of Bullying

  • Funding: NWO VICI Program; Thesis defense: Groningen, February 27, 2020 (cum laude)
  • Supervisors: René Veenstra, Gijs Huitsing, Tina Kretschmer (RUG)
  • Traineeship: David Yeager (University of Texas at Austin, USA)
  • Manuscript committee: Lucy Bowes (University of Oxford), Maja Dekovic (Utrecht University), and Siegwart Lindenberg (RUG)
  • Cum laude committee: Dorothy Espelage (University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill) and Anthony Volk (Brock University, Canada)
  • Currently employed as Assistant Professor, Department of Pedagogy, Utrecht University

Media

Defense Tessa Kaufman, February 28, 2020

Marianne Hooijsma, PhD: Clashrooms: Interethnic Peer Relationships in Classrooms

  • Funding: PhD Fund Faculty BSS; Thesis defense: February 13, 2020
  • Supervisors: René Veenstra, Jan Kornelis Dijkstra, Gijs Huitsing, and Andreas Flache (RUG)
  • Traineeship: Jaana Juvonen (University of California, Los Angeles, USA)
  • Manuscript committee: Maarten van Zalk (Universität Osnabrück, Germany), Maykel Verkuyten (Utrecht University), and Tom Snijders (RUG)
  • Currently employed as researcher at the Netherlands Youth Institute (NJi), Utrecht

Media

PhD Defense Marianne Hooijsma, February 13, 20200

Ashwin Rambaran, PhD: The classroom as context for bullying: A social network approach

  • Funding: NWO (PROO); Thesis defense: September, 23, 2019
  • Supervisors: René Veenstra, Jan Kornelis Dijkstra, and Marijtje van Duijn (RUG) 
  • Manuscript committee: Christina Salmivalli (University of Turku, Finland), Wilma Vollebergh (Utrecht University), and Tom Snijders (RUG)
  • Currently employed as Assistant Professor at the Department of Sociology, Radboud University Nijmegen
  • Winner of a Marie Curie grant in 2021

Media

PhD defense Ashwin Rambaran, September 23, 2019

Chaim la Roi, PhD: Stigma and Stress : Attitudes towards Sexual Minority Orientations and the Association between Sexual Orientation and Mental Health

  • Funding: NWO Graduate Program. Thesis defense: January 10, 2019
  • Supervisors: René Veenstra, Jan Kornelis Dijkstra, and Tina Kretschmer (RUG)
  • Traineeship: Carina Mood (Stockholm University, Sweden)
  • Manuscript committee: Stephen Russell (University of Texas at Austin, USA), Marcel Lubbers (Radboud University Nijmegen), and Melinda Mills (Oxford University)
  • First job after PhD: Postdoc, Institute for Future Studies, Stockholm University
  • Currently employed as senior researcher at Fries Sociaal Planbureau

Media

Mariola Gremmen, PhD: Social Network Processes and Academic Functioning: The Role of Peers in Students’ School Well-Being, Academic Engagement, and Academic Achievement 

  • Funding: NWO (PROO). Thesis defense: Groningen, November 1, 2018
  • Supervisors: René Veenstra, Jan Kornelis Dijkstra, and Christian Steglich (RUG) 
  • Traineeship: Allison Ryan (Michigan State University, USA) and Christian Berger (Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile)
  • Manuscript committee: Robert Crosnoe (University of Texas at Austin, USA), Toon Cillessen (Radboud University Nijmegen), and Tom Snijders (RUG)
  • Currently employed as Associate Lector “Leren met ICT” at HAN – University of Applied Sciences

Media

Loes van Rijsewijk, PhD: Antecedents and Consequences of Helping among Adolescents 

  • Funding: NWO (Research Talent Grant). Thesis defense: October 18, 2018
  • Supervisors: René Veenstra, Jan Kornelis Dijkstra, and Christian Steglich (RUG)
  • Traineeship: Mara Brendgen (Université du Québec à Montréal, Canada) and Richard Fabes (Arizona State University, USA)
  • Manuscript committee: Allison Ryan (University of Michigan, USA), Beate Volker (University of Amsterdam), and Siegwart Lindenberg (RUG) 
  • First jobs after PhD: Researcher at Onderzoek Informatie en Statistiek Groningen and researcher at RIEC Oost-Nederland
  • Currently employed as Lecturer Criminology at Saxion University of Applied Science (Integrale Veiligheidskunde). 

Media

Beau Oldenburg, PhD: Bullying in Schools: The Role of Teachers and Classmates

  • Funding: Onderwijs Bewijs. Thesis defense: Groningen, January, 19, 2017
  • Supervisors: René Veenstra and Marijtje van Duijn (RUG)
  • Traineeship: DANS, Data Archiving and Networked Services
  • Manuscript committee: Wendy Troop-Gordon (North Dakota State University, USA), Beate Volker (University of Amsterdam), and Roel Bosker (RUG) 
  • Currently employed as Senior officer, Research Support, University of Groningen

Media

Mariola Gremmen
Chaïm La Roi
Beau Oldenburg
Loes van Rijsewijk

Gerine Lodder, Postdoc 2015-2019

  • PhD, Radboud University Nijmegen / University of Leuven (Belgium), 2016, Supervisors: Rutger Engels, Luc Goossens, Ron Scholte, and Maaike Verhagen
  • First job after postdoc: assistant professor at the Department of Psychology, Tilburg University
  • Currently employed as senior consultant at Northwave. Intelligent Security Operations
  • Winner of a VENI grant for her project titled The Proximity Project: Loneliness in Adolescence Explained by Social Relations and Social Appraisals
  • Winner of the BSS Science for Society Award, January 2018  

Media

Rozemarijn van der Ploeg, PhD: Be a Buddy, Not a Bully? Four Studies on Emotional and Social Processes Related to Bullying, Defending, and Victimization

  • Funding: Onderwijs Bewijs. Thesis defense: Groningen, April 14, 2016
  • Supervisors: René Veenstra, Christian Steglich (RUG) and Christina Salmivalli (University of Turku)
  • Traineeship: Christina Salmivalli (University of Turku, Finland)
  • Manuscript committee: Anthony Volk (Brock University, Canada), Toon Cillessen (Radboud University Nijmegen) and Siegwart Lindenberg (RUG)
  • Currently employed as Assistant Professor, Department of Sociology, University of Groningen

Media

Kim Pattiselanno, PhD: At Your Own Risk: The Importance of Group Dynamics and Peer Processes in Adolescent Peer Groups for Adolescents’ Involvement in Risk Behaviors

  • Funding: NWO (Youth & Family). Thesis defense: Groningen, March 10, 2016
  • Supervisors: Jan Kornelis Dijkstra, Christian Steglich, René Veenstra (RUG), and Wilma Vollebergh (UU) 
  • Manuscript committee: Wayne Osgood (Pennsylvania State University), Rutger Engels (Radboud University Nijmegen), Tom Snijders (RUG)
  • Currently employed as Lecturer, Stenden University of Applied Sciences, Leeuwarden

Media

Britta Rüschoff, PhD: Peers in careers: Peer relationships at the transition from school to work 

  • Funding: ICS. Thesis defense: Groningen, June 4, 2015 
  • Supervisors: Jan Kornelis Dijkstra, Siegwart Lindenberg, and René Veenstra (RUG)
  • Traineeship: Katariina Salmela-Aro (University of Helsinki, Finland)
  • Manuscript committee: Jari-Erik Nurmi (University of Jyväskylä, Finland), Marcel Van Aken (Utrecht University), and Andreas Flache (RUG)
  • Currently employed as Lecturer, FOM University of Applied Sciences for Economics and Management, Düsseldorf, Germany

Media

Tinka Veldhuis, PhD: Captivated by Fear: An Evaluation of Terrorism Detention Policy

  • Funding: ICS/Faculty. Thesis defense: Groningen, March 26, 2015 
  • Supervisors: Siegwart Lindenberg, Ernestine Gordijn, and René Veenstra (RUG) 
  • Traineeship: Clingendael Institute, The Hague
  • Manuscript committee: Arie Kruglanski (University of Maryland, USA), Mark Hamm (Indiana State University, USA), and Rafael Wittek (RUG) 
  • First job after PhD: Assistant Professor, Department of Criminology, Leiden University. Currently living in Wales and a research fellow at ICCT

Media

Kim Pattiselanno
Tinka Veldhuis
Britta Rüschoff
Rozemarijn van der Ploeg

Gijs Huitsing, PhD: A Social Network Perspective on Bullying 

  • Funding: NWO Toptalent 021.002.022. Thesis defense: Groningen, December 4, 2014
  • Supervisors: Marijtje van Duijn, Tom Snijders, and René Veenstra (RUG) 
  • Traineeship: Christina Salmivalli (University of Turku, Finland)
  • Manuscript committee: Clemens Kroneberg (University of Cologne / MZES Mannheim, Germany), Toon Cillessen (Radboud University Nijmegen), and Siegwart Lindenberg (RUG)
  • Currently employed as Assistant Professor, Department of Sociology, University of Groningen
  • Winner of a VENI grant in 2017 for his project titled Network Interventions in the Peer Context
  • Winner of the Alberti Center Early Career Award 2020

Media

Marina Verlinden, PhD: Population-Based Studies of Bullying in Young Children 

Miia Sainio, PhD: Same- and Other-Sex Victimization: Risk Factors, Consequences, and Protection by Peers 

  • Funding: Academy of Finland. Thesis defense: Turku, Finland, September 20, 2013 
  • Supervisors: Christina Salmivalli (University of Turku) and René Veenstra (RUG)
  • Manuscript committee: Philip Rodkin (University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, USA), and Noel Card (University of Arizona, USA)
  • Currently employed as researcher at the University of Jyväskylä, Finland 

Anke Munniksma, PhD: Crossing Ethnic Boundaries: Resistance to and Consequences of Adolescents’ Cross-Ethnic Peer Relations

  • Funding: ICS. Thesis defense: Groningen, January 17, 2013
  • Supervisors: Andreas Flache (RUG), René Veenstra (RUG), and Maykel Verkuyten (UU)
  • Traineeship: Jaana Juvonen (University of California, Los Angeles, USA)
  • Manuscript committee: Adam Rutland (Kent University, UK), Frank van Tubergen (UU), and Sabine Otten (RUG)
  • Currently employed as Assistant Professor, Department of Educational Sciences, University of Amsterdam

Media

Gijs Huitsing
Anke Munniksma
Miia Sainio
Marina Verlinden

Katya Ivanova, PhD: From Parents to Partners: The Impact of Family on Romantic Relationships in Adolescence and Emerging Adulthood 

  • Funding: ICS. Thesis defense: Groningen, March 5, 2012
  • Supervisors: Melinda Mills and René Veenstra (RUG)
  • Traineeship: Geertjan Overbeek (Radboud University Nijmegen)
  • Manuscript committee: Wendy Manning (Bowling Green State University, USA), Maja Dekovic (UU), and Siegwart Lindenberg (RUG)
  • Currently employed as Assistant Professor, Department of Sociology, Tilburg University

Media

Tobias Stark, PhD: Integration in School Classes: Students’ Interpersonal Attitudes and Interpersonal Relationships 

  • Funding: ISW. Thesis defense: Groningen, September 8, 2011 (cum laude)
  • Supervisors: Andreas Flache, Roel Bosker, and René Veenstra (RUG) 
  • Traineeship: Daniel McFarland (Stanford University, USA)
  • Manuscript committee: Daniel McFarland (Stanford University, USA), Maykel Verkuyten (UU), and Sabine Otten (RUG) 
  • Cum laude committee: Ken Frank (Michigan State University, USA) and Frank Kalter (Universität Mannheim, Germany) 
  • Currently employed as Associate Professor at the European Research Centre on Migration and Ethnic Relations, Utrecht University
  • Winner of a Marie Curie grant for his project titled Networks and Prejudice
  • Winner of a Research Prize of Praemium Erasmianum
  • Winner of the NSV Dissertation Prize for the best dissertation of 2011-2012
  • Winner of a VENI grant for his project titled Interethnic Attitudes and Social Influence within Social Networks: Towards an Intervention Program for Ethnically Segregated Schools 
  • Winner of the ERC Consolidator Grant 2021 for his project titled DualNets: Bridges in Social Networks: Harnessing Dual Identity to Improve Interethnic Relations

Media

Tina Kretschmer, Postdoc 2011-2015

  • PhD, University of Sussex (UK), 2010, Supervisor: Alison Pike 
  • Currently employed as Professor of Pedagogical Sciences, especially individual differences in social and behavioural development, Department of Pedagogy and Educational Sciences, University of Groningen
  • Winner of a College for Life Sciences Fellowship at the Wissenschaftskolleg – Berlin Institute for Advanced Study 2015.
  • Winner of a Teaching Excellence Fellowship at the University of Groningen 2015
  • Winner of the ERC Starting Grant 2017 for her project titled Ghosts from the past: Consequences of Adolescent Peer Experiences across social contexts and generations
  • Winner of the ERC Consolidator Grant 2023 for her project titled A new science of parenthood: How does a person change when they become a parent?

Jelle Sijtsema, PhD: Adolescent Aggressive Behavior: Status and Stimulation Goals in Relation to the Peer Context 

  • Funding: ICS. Thesis defense: Groningen, October 7, 2010 (cum laude)
  • Supervisors: Siegwart Lindenberg and René Veenstra (RUG)
  • Traineeship: Dianna Murray-Close (University of Vermont, USA)
  • Manuscript committee: Noel Card (University of Arizona, USA), Pol van Lier (Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam), and Tom Snijders (Oxford University / RUG)  
  • Cum laude committee: Michel Boivin (Universite Laval Quebec, Canada) and Bruce Ellis (University of Arizona, USA)
  • Currently employed as Associate Professor, Department of Psychology, Tilburg University and as Professor at the University of Applied Sciences KPZ, Zwolle
  • Winner of ISSBD Young Scientist award 2014

Media

Miranda Sentse, PhD: Bridging Contexts: The Interplay between Family, Child, and Peers in Explaining Problem Behavior in Early Adolescence

  • Funding: NWO. Thesis defense: Groningen, March 4, 2010 (cum laude)
  • Supervisors: Siegwart Lindenberg and René Veenstra (RUG)
  • Traineeship: Robert Laird (University of New Orleans, USA)
  • Manuscript committee: John E. Bates (Indiana University, USA), Marcel van Aken (UU), and Melinda Mills (RUG)
  • Cum laude committee: Karen Bierman (Pennsylvania State University, USA) and Brett Laursen (Florida Atlantic University, USA)
  • Currently employed as Associate Professor, Department of Criminology, Leiden University

Media

Jan Kornelis Dijkstra, PhD: Status and Affection among (Pre)adolescent Peers and their Relation with Antisocial and Prosocial Behavior

  • Funding: ICS. Thesis defense: Groningen, October 22, 2007
  • Supervisors: Siegwart Lindenberg and René Veenstra (RUG)
  • Traineeship: Toon Cillessen (University of Connecticut, USA)
  • Manuscript committee: Ernest Hodges (St Johns University, USA), Terrie E. Moffitt (King’s College London, UK), Sijmen A. Reijneveld (RUG), and Rafael Wittek (RUG)
  • Former position: Associate Professor, Department of Sociology, University of Groningen
  • Currently employed as senior researcher at RIEC Noord-Nederland
  • Winner of a VENI grant for his project titled Belonging and Status in Peer Networks as Crucial Factors for Understanding Peer Influence Processes in the Realm of Adolescent Risk Behavior

Media

Katya Ivanova
Miranda Sentse
Jelle Sijtsema
Tobias Stark