Marie-Anne Vanderhasselt

I am a principal investigator and co-founder of the Ghent Experimental Psychiatry (GHEP) lab (2015-current) at the faculty of medicine and health sciences (Ghent University).

I first pursued a master’s degree in clinical psychology and a PhD in psychological sciences. Academic research became my true passion. As a postdoctoral fellow I have performed three one-year research stays in laboratories worldwide (Harvard University, University of São Paulo, National University of Singapore) to develop my skills in psychophysiology and neuromodulation. I got a tenure track position at the faculty of medicine and health sciences (2015, tenured in 2020, Ghent University). 

Together with my post-doc and PhD students, we aim for high-quality research which is supported by weekly lab meetings to discuss insights/statistics/results, the regular invitation of (inter)national domain experts, attendance at top conferences, and high-impact papers written by many lab members. I am very proud of the motivated and talented PhD students in our young team at Ghent University. We all work hard but have a joint passion driven by affective neuroscience and mental health. 

Having an impact is my key motivator as a scientist. Based on my academic work, I am actively involved in the public debate regarding emotional well-being. I highly value the translation of research to the broader public, evidenced by my recent publication of the book “Ouders onder hoogspanning”, where I explain the topic of stress based on evidence-based research. Recently, I also published a book regarding the importance of friendship and social connection on our physical and mental health. In addition to my work as a scientist, I am a proud and grateful mother of three wonderful young children. I strive to inspire them by sharing my passion for science and stimulating their natural curiosity every day.