Isabela Graniconline
Short bio
Professor and Chair of the Developmental Psychopathology department in the Behavioural Science Institute; writer; voracious podcast consumer; mother of two upstanding little gamers
Top-3 games
- Journey
- Thumper
- Inside
Real science studies and makes accessible that knowledge which people at that period of history think important, and real art transfers this truth from the domain of knowledge to the domain of feelings.
Leo Tolstoy
About me
I got my PhD at the University of Toronto in developmental psychology. I am currently a Professor and Chair of the Developmental Psychopathology department in the Behavioural Science Institute at Radboud University, in the Netherlands. My research focuses on the cognitive, emotional and social benefits of playing video games. By integrating clinical and developmental research with interactive media design, we are creating a suite of evidence-based games. These games can be used for intervention purposes, as well as to study emotion-regulation processes more rigorously, in contexts that are motivationally compelling for children. Critically, we are committed to commercially deploying our evidence-based games so that they can be widely disseminated, with unprecedented potential to slash the prevalence rates of anxiety and depression in youth. These same games can make an enormous impact in school settings where socio-emotional learning methods are being sought, yet so few validated games exist.
Projects I’ve worked on
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CategoryResilienceDate01/02/2017Study/CourseLocation
Can I Play Some More? Promoting Adolescent Wellbeing Through Engaging Video Games
About the projectCommercial video games may offer a cheap and readily available way to help us understand in what way video games can be used to promote adolescent wellbeing. Excellent targets for this are games that involve social interaction, encourage both positive and negative emotions and are identified by youth themselves as potentially beneficial. By letting youth play several commercial video games in different settings, we can learn how games interact with wellbeing in both short and long-term.
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CategoryAnxietyDate16/12/2018Study/CourseLocation
Are Improvements in Anxiety Associated with How Children Play MindLight?
About the projectThe video game MindLight has been found to be an effective anxiety prevention program (see project: MindLight - Childhood Anxiety Prevention). However, we don’t know whether the clinical techniques incorporated in the game were responsible for the observed changes in anxiety symptoms. In this project we examined how children play MindLight, to what extent they interact with the clinical techniques in the game and how that relates to their anxiety improvements.
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CategoryAnxietyDate16/12/2018Study/CourseLocation
Biofeedback Videogames for Anxiety Regulation
About the projectThis project aims to develop and assess the use of biofeedback videogames to help youth cope with stress and anxiety. In addition it aims to identify physiological markers and patterns of emotion regulation. The current studies within this project focus on exploring the potential of the virtual reality biofeedback game DEEP where players use deep diaphragmatic breathing to move through a beautiful underwater world.
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CategoryAnxietyDate16/12/2018Study/CourseLocation
Gaming Against Anxiety: New Methodology for Personalized Game Interventions
About the projectAnxiety disorders are among the most common psychopathologies in children. This project investigates the effects of a biofeedback virtual reality game (DEEP) on breathing and anxiety-related symptoms in anxious children and develops new algorithms to detect changes in the player’s behavior during the game. The aim is to enable game interventions that are personalized to each individual child.
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CategoryAnxietyDate16/12/2018Study/CourseLocation
MindLight - Childhood Anxiety Prevention
About the projectMany children have difficulties with fearful situations and are anxious. Interventions can help to teach children to cope effectively with anxiety-inducing situations. In our project, we rigorously tested whether an intervention in the form of a video game (MindLight) is effective in significantly reducing anxiety symptoms in children 8-12 years old. We did this by comparing MindLight to 1) a commercial game and 2) the gold-standard, cognitive-behavioural therapy for anxiety (Coping Cat). Furthermore, we aim to evaluate the reasons for why MindLight is effective (e.g., what kinds of mechanics work) and for whom (e.g., age and gender differences).
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CategorySubstance AbuseDate16/12/2018Study/CourseLocation
Designing and Testing a Video Game to Help Youth Quit Smoking
About the projectSmoking is one of the leading public health problems in the world. Currently, there is no evidence-based intervention program available to help youth and young adults quit smoking. Besides the lack of high-quality research, recruitment and retention of youth and young adults are two of the most challenging aspects of the implementation and evaluation of smoking cessation interventions. We argue that limitations in current smoking cessation interventions for youth can be maximally addressed by using video games as interventions. In the current project a video game will be developed and tested on its effectiveness and mechanisms of change to help youth and young adults quit smoking.
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CategoryAnxietyDate16/12/2018Study/CourseLocation
The Effect of the Game "MindLight" on Anxiety Symptoms of Children with an Autism Spectrum Disorder
About the projectBecause anxiety is an important cause of impairment for children with an Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), it is necessary that effective anxiety interventions are implemented for these children. Recently, a serious game called "MindLight" has been developed that is focused on decreasing anxiety in children. It is expected that MindLight is an effective anxiety treatment for children with an autism spectrum disorder.
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CategoryDepressionDate16/12/2018Study/CourseLocation
Social Games as Prevention Tools for Depression in Young Adolescents
About the projectIn my PhD project I study social games for the prevention of depression. In my project I take part in both the development and testing of games. I want to use video games to help youth become more emotionally resilient and to decrease the stigma that surrounds depression. I do this in close collaboration with other researchers and game designers. I am particularly interested in games that are played in a social context, because I believe that both social threat and social support are key factors in the development and maintenance of depression.
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CategoryGamingDate16/12/2018Study/CourseLocation
A Full-Body Videogame Intervention for Decreasing ADHD Symptoms
About the projectThis project is focused on assessing the feasibility and effectiveness of a full-body-driven intervention videogame targeted at decreasing attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) symptoms.
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CategoryGamingDate16/12/2018Study/CourseLocation
Gaming and Children's Psycho-Social Development
About the projectDespite widespread claims that video gaming is harmful for children's social and emotional development, hardly any research has tracked children over time to verify these claims. Moreover, such claims run contrary to the importance which psychologists have given to play. This project aimed to address these matters.
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CategoryGamingDate16/12/2018Study/CourseLocation
Nonspecific Factors in Video Games for Mental Health
About the projectMore and more games are designed to promote mental health. If these games are found to be effective, it is important to investigate which factors are responsible for the improvements in mental health. Most often, this type of research focuses on the specific clinical techniques that were designed into the game. However, from the clinical literature it is known that, for instance, expectations, motivation, and one’s mindset about the malleability of symptoms play a major role in positive intervention outcomes. In my project I aim to investigate these nonspecific factors and examine how we can manipulate these factors in order to optimize video games for mental health.
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CategoryGamingDate23/04/2018Study/CourseLocation
Control Over Automatic Action Tendencies Under Threat: A Biofeedback Training in Virtual Reality
About the projectFast and accurate decision making in threatening situations is vital for police officers on duty. However, under threat, people tend to react impulsively and lack cognitive control. This is why police officers need to train control over their responses to threat as much as possible. To enable this, we develop a virtual training environment with real-time biofeedback. We combine virtual reality and biofeedback to create a personalized, realistic training experience, while honing state-of-the-art technology and psychophysical theory.
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CategoryResilienceDate24/04/2018Study/CourseLocation
Facing the Challenge Together: a Social Game for Emotional Resilience
About the projectOur research aims to transform young people’s mental health by developing and testing a social game for resiliency when facing stress events. Working in collaboration with the Award winning studio Aardman Animations, we want to harness the important mental health implications of both social support and mindsets, to develop a fun and engaging intervention.
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CategoryResilienceDate16/12/2018Study/CourseLocation
Creating a Feeling of Social Support in Virtual Reality
About the projectPeople with large social networks on average live longer, happier, less stressed lives. We can potentially leverage virtual reality to increase the experience of social support and impact daily stress and anxiety. Therefore, this project aims to pinpoint which aspects of virtual social interaction are needed to convey a sense of social support.
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CategoryDepressionDate30/10/2017Study/CourseLocation
Information Sampling in Depression
About the projectIn this project, we aim to take a closer look at the way in which information is being sampled and integrated in individuals suffering from or at risk for depression. Since human beings are only able to perceive and process a limited amount of information, we have evolved to sample parts of information instead and attempt to draw accurate and workable conclusions based on the sample available to us. We have reason, however, to think that this process may be affected in depression, and aim to find out how exactly using methods such as behavioural computational modeling.
My updates
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@Isabela Granic - 18-09-2018
Great list of streamers (YouTube / Twitch) who’ve opened up about their own mental health challenges. Thanks… https://t.co/nz9DQfZ5a4
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@Isabela Granic - 16-09-2018
RT @Elina_ma: Incredible new directions! #game s supporting #mentalhealth thank you @GEMH_Lab @anouk_tuijnman @yoanneke @AniekWols #eara201…
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@Isabela Granic - 16-09-2018
Go @GEMH_Lab ! Sorry to have missed it. Would love to hear about any new insights from the audience, if you got som… https://t.co/I12M5SjMJn
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@Isabela Granic - 10-09-2018
Congrats to @GEMH_Lab members for getting this experimental paper published: Mental health messages don't turn yout… https://t.co/gqH0SxGD8P
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@Isabela Granic - 04-09-2018
As a lifer in academia, Fall always feels like the real "new year." Come check out what we're up to in the… https://t.co/tTSSMovM8I
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@Isabela Granic - 04-09-2018
As a lifer in academia, Fall always fells like the real "new year." Come check out what we're up to in the… https://t.co/gP4RGtbk7x
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@Isabela Granic - 02-09-2018
RT @NevermindGame: ICYMI, there’s a fantastic new article on @nbcnews about #biofeedback in games - discussing games such as @ @GEMH_Lab’s…
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@Isabela Granic - 25-08-2018
GEMH Lab - Using video games to cope with anxiety and depression - feature by DidYouKnowGaming? | GEMH Lab https://t.co/JeZYLUhVmm
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@Isabela Granic - 17-08-2018
Thanks @didyouknowgamin for highlighting our research on games for emotional and mental health to a your awesome co… https://t.co/qRP8RDjOuI
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@Isabela Granic - 31-07-2018
See, @GEMH_Lab, I'm WORKING on my sabbatical as well as sunning myself on the Canadian lake shores. https://t.co/QvlWgVo0B0
Events View all events
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09MarchAbout the event
Symposium: Serious Games en Cognitief Trainen
LocationUniversiteit van Amsterdam
prof. dr. Isabela Granic gives a talk at the Serious Games for Cognitive Training Symposium
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UNTILL23March25MarchAbout the event
International Convention of Psychological Science
LocationVienna, Austria
A large group of GEMH Lab members will be presenting our various study findings in a series of symposia, talks and poster sessions. We'll be sharing our latest findings, our challenges, our breakthroughs and, of course, our games!
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UNTILL07April08AprilAbout the event
Society for Research on Child Development (SRCD)
LocationAustin, Texas
GEMH Lab will be at the most gigantic developmental conference in the world! Come see talks and posters showcasing our latest research findings.
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UNTILL08June10JuneAbout the event
Jean Piaget Society
LocationHilton San Francisco Financial District
JPS 2017 this year focuses on the concept “technology", offering an analytic lens that will not become obsolete with the next new widget.
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UNTILL16November17NovemberAbout the event
Virtual / Mixed / Augmented Reality for Impact
LocationAix-en-Provence
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26FebruaryAbout the event
Games for Mental Health in the Lowlands
LocationKU Leuven
The symposium will be held in the renovated building 'Collegium Veteranorum'
My publications
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Videospellen: De Positieve Effecten
Granic, I., Lobel, A., Poppelaars, M., & Engels, R. C. M. E. (2015). Kind en Adolescent, 36 (1), 1-22. doi:10.1007/s12453-014-0066-8
Author: Marlou Poppelaars
Upload date: 03-01-2015
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A Randomized Controlled Trial Comparing Two Cognitive-Behavioral Programs for Adolescent Girls with Subclinical Depression: A School-Based Program (Op Volle Kracht) and a Computerized Program (SPARX)
Poppelaars, M., Tak, Y. R., Lichtwarck-Aschoff, A., Engels, R. C. M. E., Lobel, A., Merry, S. N., Lucassen, M. F. G., & Granic, I. (2016). Behaviour Research and Therapy, 80, 33-42. doi: 10.1016/j.brat.2016.03.005
Author: Marlou Poppelaars
Upload date: 05-01-2016
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Autonomous and Controlled Motivation in a Randomized Controlled Trial Comparing School-based and Computerized Depression Prevention Programs
Poppelaars, M., Tak, Y. R., Lichtwarck-Aschoff, A., Engels, R. C. M. E., Lobel, A., Merry, S. N., Lucassen, M. F. G., & Granic, I. (2014). In Schouten, B., Fedtke, S., Schijven, M., Vosmeer, M. & Gekker, A. (Eds.), Games for Health 2014 (pp. 125-135). Germany: Springer Fachmedien Wiesbaden. doi: 10.1007/978-3-658-07141-7_17
Author: Marlou Poppelaars
Upload date: 10-29-2014
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Explicit Mental Health Messaging Promotes Serious Video Game Selection in Youth with Elevated Mental Health Symptoms
Poppelaars, M., Wols, A., Lichtwarck-Aschoff, A., & Granic, I. (2018). Frontiers in Psychology.
Author: Marlou Poppelaars
Upload date: 09-10-2018
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In-Game Play Behaviours during an Applied Video Game for Anxiety Prevention Predict Successful Intervention Outcomes
Wols, A., Lichtwarck-Aschoff, A., Schoneveld, E. A., & Granic, I. (2018). Journal of Psychopathology and Behavioral Assessment, 1-14. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10862-018-9684-4
Author: Aniek Wols
Upload date: 06-11-2018
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DEEP: A Biofeedback Virtual Reality Game for Children At-risk for Anxiety
van Rooij, M., Lobel, A., Harris, O., Smit, N., & Granic, I. (2016). CHI'16 Extended Abstracts, May 07-12, 2016, San Jose, CA, USA
Author: Marieke van Rooij
Upload date: 05-07-2016
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A Randomized Controlled Trial to Test the Effectiveness of an Immersive 3D Video Game for Anxiety Prevention among Adolescents
Scholten, H., Malmberg, M., Lobel, A., Engels, R. C. M. E., & Granic, I. (2016). PloS One, 11(1), e0147763. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0147763
Author: Hanneke Scholten
Upload date: 01-27-2016
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The Sims: A Social Improvement Mechanism for Adolescents
Lobel, A., Engels, R., Tuijnman, A., de Valk, T., & Granic, I. (2013, April). Poster presented at the biennial meeting of the Society for Research in Child Development, Seattle, WA.
Author: Adam Lobel
Upload date: 04-15-2013
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Designing and Utilizing Biofeedback Games for Emotion Regulation: The Case of Nevermind
Lobel, A., Gotsis, M., Reynolds, E., Annetta, M., Engels, R. C.M.E., & Granic, I. (2016). CHI'16 Extended Abstracts, May 07-12, 2016, San Jose, CA, USA
Author: Adam Lobel
Upload date: 05-07-2016
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Nevermind: Emotion Regulation in a Biofeedback Video Game
Lobel, A., Gotsis, M., Reynolds, E., Annetta, M., Engels, R.C.M.E., & Granic, I. (2015). ESConS Neurogaming Conference. [Poster presentation].
Author: Adam Lobel
Upload date: 05-05-2015
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Stressful Gaming, Interoceptive Awareness, and Emotion Regulation Tendencies: A Novel Approach
Lobel, A., Granic, I., & Engels, R. C. (2014). Cyberpsychology, Behavior, and Social Networking, 17, 222-227.
Author: Adam Lobel
Upload date: 04-03-2014
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The Benefits of Playing Video Games
Granic, I., Lobel, A., & Engels, R. C. (2014). American Psychologist, 69, 66-78.
Author: Isabela Granic
Upload date: 12-16-2018
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Preventing Childhood Anxiety Disorders: Is an Applied Game as Effective as a Cognitive Behavioral Therapy-Based Program?
Schoneveld, E. A., Lichtwarck-Aschoff, A., & Granic, I. (2017). Prevention Science, 1-13.
Author: Elke Schoneveld
Upload date: 09-27-2017
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Exploring the Role of Self-efficacy in Biofeedback Video Games
Weerdmeester, J., van Rooij, M., Harris, O., Smit, N., Engels, R. C., & Granic, I. (2017, October). Exploring the role of self-efficacy in biofeedback video games. In Extended Abstracts Publication of the Annual Symposium on Computer-Human Interaction in Play (pp. 453-461). ACM.
Author: Joanneke Weerdmeester
Upload date: 10-15-2017
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A Neurofeedback Video Game (MindLight) to Prevent Anxiety in Children: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Schoneveld, E. A., Malmberg, M., Lichtwarck-Aschoff, A., Verheijen, G. P., Engels, R. C., & Granic, I. (2016). Computers in Human Behavior, 63, 321-333.
Author: Elke Schoneveld
Upload date: 10-01-2016
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Preventing Childhood Anxiety Disorders: Is an Applied Game as Effective as a Cognitive Behavioral Therapy-Based Program?
Schoneveld, E. A., Lichtwarck-Aschoff, A., & Granic, I. (2017). Prevention Science, 1-13.
Author: Elke Schoneveld
Upload date: 09-27-2017
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The Effect of the Video Game Mindlight on Anxiety Symptoms in Children with an Autism Spectrum Disorder
Wijnhoven, L. A. M. W., Creemers, D. H. M., Engels, R. C. M. E., Granic, I. (2015). BMC Psychiatry, 15:138.
Author: Lieke Wijnhoven
Upload date: 07-01-2015
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A Feasibility Study on the Effectiveness of a Full-Body Videogame Intervention for Decreasing Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Symptoms
Weerdmeester, J., Cima, M., Granic, I., Hashemian, Y., & Gotsis, M. (2016). A Feasibility Study on the Effectiveness of a Full-Body Videogame Intervention for Decreasing Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Symptoms. Games for Health Journal, 5(4), 258-269.
Author: Joanneke Weerdmeester
Upload date: 08-01-2016
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Video Gaming and Children’s Psychosocial Wellbeing: A Longitudinal Study
Lobel, A., Engels, R. C.M.E., Stone, L. L., Burk, W., & Granic, I. (2017). 46, 884-897.
Author: Adam Lobel
Upload date: 02-21-2017
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Associations Between Children's Video Game Playing and Psychosocial Health: Information from Both Parent and Child Reports
Lobel, A., Granic, I., Stone, L. L., & Engels, R. C.M.E. (2014). Cyberpsychology, Behavior, and Social Networking, 17, 639-643
Author: Adam Lobel
Upload date: 10-01-2014
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“Dojo”: A Videogame Intervention for Youths with Externalizing Problems and Anxiety. [A Pilot Study]
Schuurmans, A. T., Nijhof, K. S., Vermaes, I. P. R., Engels, R. C. M. E., & Granic, I. (2015). “Dojo”: a Videogame Intervention for Youths with Externalizing Problems and Anxiety. A Pilot Study. Games for Health Journal, 4, 401-408.
Author: Angela Schuurmans
Upload date: 10-01-2015
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Explicit Mental Health Messaging Promotes Serious Video Game Selection in Youth with Elevated Mental Health Symptoms
Poppelaars, M., Wols, A., Lichtwarck-Aschoff, A., & Granic, I. (2018). Frontiers in Psychology.
Author: Marlou Poppelaars
Upload date: 09-10-2018
Worked together with
PhD-candidate interested in how and why applied games for mental health work.
PhD-Candidate
In house game designer, artist, producer and lover of games. I bring diversity, design experience and the NOISE!!!!
Creative Director
Clinical child psychologist and PhD Candidate interested in gamedesign, -research and –play. Also known as: Game Night General; World Traveler; Pokémon Master.
PhD-Candidate
Researcher, psychologist, PhD-candidate, gamer, language enthusiast and lover of all things geeky.
PhD-Candidate
User Research Analyst at Ubisoft Montréal. My favorite games tell emotionally rich stories and challenge me to think differently
User Research Analyst
Researcher, multidisciplinary work and collaboration, wants to understand the how's and why's, loves her high heels and coffee in the morning, walks and talks too fast.
PhD-Candidate
PhD-candidate and psychologist interested in the effect of games on mental health in youth. Likes why-questions, social impact and multidisciplinary collaboration. Bubbly, (not so crazy) cat lady and outdoor enthusiast.
PhD-Candidate
Assistant Professor at the Developmental Psychopathology Department, mainly interested in general processes and principles of clinical change; mother of two wild boys.
Assistant Professor
Clinical therapist and external PhD-student at GGZ Oost Brabant and the Radboud University.
PhD-Candidate
PhD Candidate passionate about psychopathology prevention, intrinsic motivation and the use of video games for this purpose. Loves to read, cook and making sure that bomb does not explode.
PhD-Candidate
Assistant prof. and data geek at the GEMH lab, dynamical modelling, personalisation, wants to put the I back into AI, news junkie, cat lover.
Assistant Professor
Researcher with a focus on the social development of teens, interested in the effects of average, day-to-day video game use. enthusiastic board gamer & self-proclaimed institutional champion of Super Smash Brothers.
PhD-Candidate
PhD candidate interested in using social regulation of emotion and multidisciplinary game design to promote mental health in youth. Disheveled multi-tasker and provider of snacks.
PhD-Candidate
PhD candidate with a background in neuroscience, now combining her love of gaming with her interest in the brain and human behaviour. Collector of useless skills, photographer, illustrator, and ukulele player.
PhD-Candidate
Laurie Buitenhuis
Research Master's Student
Shengnan Chen
Research Master's Student
Rutger Engels
CEO at Trimbos Institute / Professor Developmental Psychopathology Utrecht University
Niki Smit
Game Designer & Artist
Owen Harris
Game Designer, Teacher & Human
Maartje Luijten
Assistant Professor
Daan Creemers
Research Coordinator
Toon Cillessen
Research Director - Behavioural Science Institute
Marientina Gotsis
Research Assistant Professor
Marloes Kleinjan
Program Head Epidemiology & Research support at Trimbos Institute / Professor Youth Mental Health Promotion Utrecht University
My research focuses on targeting obesity among adolescents, as this maintains to be a growing problem (World Health Organization, 2000).
PhD-Candidate
Lisanne Stone
Senior Researcher at Centre for Anxiety Disorders
William Burk
Assistant Professor
Andrea Samson
Senior Researcher - Swiss Center for Affective Sciences
Game designer, VR-guru, mocap artist, animator, video editor and all-round problem solver. Avid gamer, movie lover and dabbling photographer.
Game Designer
Moniek Buijzen
Professor
Jonathan van 't Riet
Assistant Professor
Associate Professor in Developmental Psychology at Queen's University in Kingston, Ontario, Canada.
Associate Professor - Collaborator
Nerd, loves the brain even more than your average zombie, into etymology and reading, wants to explore information sampling in depression using neuro and computational methods.
PhD-Candidate
I work with clients to design ecosystems, adapt bleeding edge research and develop end-to-end strategies that help improve the lives of their patients, practitioners and users.
Executive Creative Director - Collaborator
Phd student working on a training program for Dutch Police incorporating Virtual Reality and Biofeedback.
PhD-Candidate
Karin Roelofs
Professor of Experimental Psychopathology at the Behavioural Science Institute (BSI) and chair of the PI-group “Affective Neuroscience” at the Donders Centre for Cognitive Neuroimaging (DCCN), Radboud University Nijmegen (RU)
Professor
Assistant Professor within the Developmental Psychopathology group of the Behavioural Science Institute
Assistant Professor