Short CV

Holding degrees from Maastricht Conservatory and Temple University (Philadelphia, PA), Niels van Doesum started working in the performing arts as an opera singer, without forgetting the theoretical perspective following a degree in Arts and Sciences from Maastricht University. After a while of studying people from the inside to characterize them on stage, he decided to study human behaviour in a more systematic way as a social psychologist. Niels van Doesum then graduated cum laude from the Research Master Program in Social Psychology at the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, and continued to pursue his PhD at the same institute. In September 2016 he successfully defended his dissertation. Currently, Niels van Doesum works as Assistant Professor at the Social and Organizational Psychology unit of Leiden University.

Research

How do people define and maintain their position in a fundamentally social environment, in a world they almost always have to share with others? Niels van Doesum's general research interest goes out to human cooperation, prosociality, and social decision making in the broadest sense. More specifically, he works on the novel construct of social mindfulness in domains like social class, intergroup relations, individual differences, and cross-cultural comparisons. His scientific curiosity further extends to obedience to authority and social influence in general.

Teaching

• Coordinator Culture and Diversity at Work  
• Lecturer Intergroup Relations and Psychology of Media and Communication 
• Thesis supervisor 
• Mentor 

Grants

• Gratama/LUF (2018). Playing with the enemy. The impact of collaborative musical performance as arts-based peace-building. In collaboration with Dr. G. Hirschmann. 

Awards

• APS Rising Star 2017

Relevant links

• nielsvandoesum.com
• socialmindfulness.nl

Publications