MYA members

MYA comprises 18 selected members, three from each of Maastricht University's (UM) faculties. Members are appointed for four years. We hold an open application round when a vacancy becomes available. Our members are passionate about our university and wish to make an impact on academia beyond their research and education activities. Want to know more about our alumni? Visit the MYA alumni page.

We recently selected 7 new members to join the MYA beginning in February 2024. Our congratulations and warmest welcome to: André Nunes Chaib (FoL), Dani Shanley (FASoS), Dave Vliegenthart (FSE), Jonas Heller (SBE), Mahardhika Sjamsoeoed Sadjad (FASoS), Mathijs de Rijk (FHML), Nele Ewers-Peters (FASoS)!

Meet the MYA Members and their research

Contact information of the members

Research field: Cognitive and computational neuroscience, auditory cortical and subcortical processing, functional MRI, ultra-high field MRI

Michelle Moerel (Chair)

Research field: Cognitive and computational neuroscience, auditory cortical and subcortical processing, functional MRI, ultra-high field MRI

Department: Maastricht Centre for Systems Biology; Faculty of Science and Engineering
Projects: Interdisciplinary Grant, Growing up in Science
MYA term: 01/02/2024 – 31/01/2028

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Research field: Work and organizational psychology, sustainable employability

Bram Fleuren (Vice Chair)

Research field: Work and organizational psychology, sustainable employability

Department: Work and Social Psychology; Faculty of Psychology and Neuroscience
Projects: Work Pressure & Well Being, MYA x Lumière
MYA term: 01/02/2024 – 31/01/2028

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Research field: Religious Studies

Dave Vliegenthart

Research field: Religious Studies

Department: University College Maastricht; Faculty of Science and Engineering

Projects: Grants, Outreach
MYA term: 24/01/2026 – 24/01/2030

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A video about his research is coming soon

Research field: Technology & Society Studies

Mahardhika Sjamsoeoed Sadjad

Research field: Technology & Society Studies

Department: Technology & Society Studies; Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences

Projects: Growing up in Science, Internationalization
MYA term: 24/01/2026 – 24/01/2030

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A video about her research will be available soon

Research field: Investigations in body functionality and development of techniques to improve body image

Jessica Alleva

Research field: Investigations in body functionality and development of techniques to improve body image

Department: "Sectie Eetstoornissen en Obesitas" at the Faculty of Psychology and Neuroscience
Projects: TBD
MYA term: 01/01/2025 – 31/12/2028

Jessica's profile

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Research field: Faculty Development, inclusive learning environments, teacher identity

Boukje Compen

Research field: Faculty Development, inclusive learning environments, teacher identity

Department: Educational Development and Research; Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences
Projects: Recognition & Rewards, Training & Workshops, Work Pressure & Well Being
MYA term: 01/02/2024 – 31/01/2028

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Research field: Foundations of Law

André Nunes Chaib

Research field: Foundations of Law

Department: Foundations of Law; Faculty of Law
Projects: MYA x Lumière, Future of the University, Recognition & Rewards
MYA term: 24/01/2026 – 24/01/2030

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A video about his research will be coming soon

Research field: International criminal law, international human rights law, international humanitarian law

Skander Galand

Research field: International criminal law, international human rights law, international humanitarian law

Department: International and European Law; Faculty of Law
Projects: Recognition & Rewards, Outreach
MYA term: 01/02/2024 – 31/01/2028

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Research field: Science and Technology Studies (STS), critical technology governance, and public engagement with technology

Dani Shanley

Research field: Science and Technology Studies (STS), critical technology governance, and public engagement with technology

Department: Philosophy; Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences
Projects: Internationalization, Future of the University
MYA term: 24/01/2026 – 24/01/2030

Read Nele's profile

A video about her research will be available soon

Research field: Paleontology

Jesse Hennekam

Research field: Paleontology

Department: Paleontology; Faculty of Science and Engineering
Projects: TBD
MYA term: 01/01/2025 – 31/12/2028

Jesse's profile

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Research field: European Human Rights Law, European and Comparative Constitutional Law

Šejla Imamović

Research field: European Human Rights Law, European and Comparative Constitutional Law

Department: Public Law; Faculty of Law
Projects: Recognition & Rewards, Internationalization
MYA term: 01/02/2024 – 31/01/2028

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Research field: Organizational change, digitalized workplaces, working conditions, employee adaptation, leadership, organizational climate, employee well-being

Irina Nikolova

Research field: Organizational change, digitalized workplaces, working conditions, employee adaptation, leadership, organizational climate, employee well-being

Department: Organisation,Strategy & Entrepreneurship; School of Business and Economics
Projects: Recognition & Rewards, Work Pressure & Well Being
MYA term: 01/02/2024 – 31/01/2028

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Research field: Medical imaging, 3D printing, robotics, electronics

Gabriel Paiva Fonseca

Research field: Medical imaging, 3D printing, robotics, electronics

Department: Radiotherapy (GROW School for Oncology & Reproduction), MAASTRO Clinic; Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences
Projects: Internationalization, Training & Workshops
MYA term: 01/02/2024 – 31/01/2028

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Portrait of Gabriel Paiva-Fonseca, MYA member

Research field: Immersive technology and consumer decision-making

Jonas Heller

Research field: Immersive technology and consumer decision-making

Department: Marketing & Supply Chain Management; School of Business and Economics
Projects: MYA x Lumière, Future of the University, Outreach
MYA term: 24/01/2026 – 24/01/2030

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A video about his research is coming soon

Research field: European security and global governance

Nele Ewers-Peters

Research field: European security and global governance

Department: Political Science; Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences
Projects: Future of the University, Internationalization
MYA term: 24/01/2026 – 24/01/2030

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A video about her research will soon be available

Research field: Motor learning and motor development of children, computational modelling

Janny Stapel

Research field: Motor learning and motor development of children, computational modelling

Department: Cognitive Neuroscience, Development; Faculty of Psychology and Neuroscience
Projects: Internationalization, Growing up in Science
MYA term: 01/02/2024 – 31/01/2028

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Research field: Urology/Neurosciences

Mathijs de Rijk

Research field: Urology/Neurosciences

Department: Urology, Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences
Projects: Outreach, Recognition & Rewards
MYA term: 24/01/2026 – 24/01/2030

Read Donna's profile

A video about his research will soon be available

Research field: Data science, business and economics research, (parameterised) algorithms for network problems, graph algorithms

Tom van der Zanden

Research field: Data science, business and economics research, (parameterised) algorithms for network problems, graph algorithms

Department: Data Analytics and Digitalisation; School of Business and Economics
Projects: Internationalization, Interdisciplinary Grant
MYA term: 01/02/2024 – 31/01/2028

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