Carlijn Bergwerff works as an associate professor at the Institute of Education and Child Studies. Since September 2024, she has been the director of studies of this institute.

More information about Carlijn Bergwerff

Short CV

Carlijn obtained a master's degree in Child & Adolescent Psychology at Leiden University (2012), after which she started her PhD project at VU University Amsterdam. Within this research project she focused on the role of nutrients in children with ADHD. She also investigated neurocognitive profiles and sleep problems in children with ADHD and developed an emotion recognition task for children. In 2017, Carlijn defended her PhD thesis entitled “Food for thought: Novel insights into childhood ADHD”.

Carlijn has been working at Leiden University since 2017. As part of her teaching activities she is particularly involved in clinical courses for bachelor's and master's students. She also provides internship and thesis supervision. Besides, Carlijn is coordinator of the master specialization Applied Neuroscience in Human Development.

Carlijn is enthusiastic about educational innovation. In 2018 she received a Grassroots grant for innovation in the Practicum Conversation Techniques 2 through interactive 360° videos. A year later she received a Comenius Teaching Fellow grant to implement Virtual Reality in education. In 2021, Carlijn was the winner of the Henk Dekker Award, an important prize for educational innovation.

In recent years, Carlijn has been involved in several lines of research, in collaboration with various researchers. Central to the research is the use of new technologies within clinical populations. For example, she investigates the application of Virtual Reality as an intervention for children with trauma and the use of technology in higher education. Furthermore, Carlijn has started a collaboration with the Leo Kanner Onderwijsgroep, in which she, together with dr. Marga Sikkema-de Jong and dr. Rachel Plak, is conducting research into the behavior and neurocognitive functioning of children in special education.

In recent years, Carlijn has held various administrative roles within the institute and the faculty. From 2018 to 2023, she was a member of the Ethics Committee of Education and Child Studies, and she also served as a member and chair of the Institute Council. Additionally, she was a member and chair of various faculty working groups, including chairing the Vision on Blended Education working group. From 2022 to 2024, Carlijn was the chair of the program group Clinical Neurodevelopmental Sciences. She is now primarily active as the director of studies.

In addition to her work at Leiden University, Carlijn works as a child psychologist in mental health care.

Grants

• Stichting Universitas (2021; €400,000 awarded) – Grant for a PhD project into trauma treatment for children through Virtual Reality.
• Comenius Teaching Fellow grant (2019; €50,000 awarded) – Grant for innovation of a course on communication skills through virtual conversations. Nationaal Regieorgaan Onderwijsonderzoek.
• Grassroots grant (2018; €1,000 awarded) - Grant for innovation of a course on communication skills through interactive 360° videos. University of Leiden.
• Innovatiefonds zorgverzekeraars (2016; €250,000 awarded) - Grant for a PhD project into reducing and optimizing methylphenidate use in children and adolescents with ADHD.
• LUF International Study Fund (LISF) (2012; awarded €250). Travel grant for congress visit in Geneva. Leids Universiteits Fonds.

Prices

Winner Henk Dekker Award (2021) – Prize for the most successful innovator in higher education. Leiden-Delft-Erasmus Centre for Education and Learning.

Registrations

• Master psychologist SKJ
• Basisaantekening Psychodiagnostiek
• University Teaching Qualification
• English Language Proficiency Qualification

PhD candidates

• Nina Krupljanin (2021–present)

Working days

Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday