Overview of our latest and upcoming PhD defences
May 2026
Britt Arets | May 6, 2026 | 13 hrs.
Exploring thymic autoimmunity and complement-based interventions in myasthenia gravis.
Supervisor: Prof. Dr. P. Martinez-Martinez, Maastricht University
Co-Supervisors: Dr. M. Losen, Maastricht University Dr. M. Mané-Damas, Maastricht University
Valentin Laroche | May 7, 2026 | 10 hrs.
Blooming hope: A Computational Autopsy of the Aging Brain and Alzheimer’s Dementia.
Supervisors: Prof. Dr. D. van den Hove, Maastricht University; Prof. Dr. K. Lunnon, University of Exeter
Co-Supervisors: Dr. E. Pishva, Maastricht University; Dr. R. Cavill, Maastricht University
Julie Schulkens | 7 May 2026 | 16 hrs.
Towards optimized pharmacotherapy in older adults with personality disorders A clinical and empirical exploration.
Supervisors: Prof. dr. F. Verhey, Maastricht University; Prof. dr. S. Van Alphen, Mondriaan Ouderen / Vrije Universiteit Brussel / Maastricht University
Co-Supervisor: Dr. S. Sobczak, Mondriaan Ouderen / Maastricht University
Reine Ramaekers | May 20, 2026 | 13 hrs
MIND THE MAP: Navigating mental health treatment with stakeholders on board.
Supervisor: Prof. dr. K. Schruers, Maastricht University
Co-Supervisors: Dr. N. Leibold, Maastricht University; Dr. D. van Dijk, PsyQ Haaglanden
April 2026
Vincent Paquin | April 2, 2026 | 13 hrs.
Trusty Bits: Psychosis and Trust in the Digital Age
Supervisors: Dr. S. Gülöksüz, Maastricht University; Prof. Dr. A. Pinkham, The University of Texas at Dallas, USA
Co-Supervisor: Dr. B. D. Lin, Maastricht University
Yidan Zhang | April 7, 2026 | 10 hrs.
Genetic and lifestyle risk factors for brain health and dementia: insights from cognitive, neuroimaging, and longitudinal data.
Supervisor: Prof. Dr. B. Rutten, Maastricht University
Co-Supervisors: Dr. G. Blokland, Maastricht University; Dr. S. Gülöksüz, Maastricht University
Mélissa Colin | April 7, 2026 | 15.45 hrs.
Double Doctoral Degree Maastricht University – Université de Lorraine
Impact of an Angiotensin II Type 1 Receptor Biased Agonist on Cerebral Circulation: Preclinical Insights into Health and Disease.
Supervisors: Prof. Dr. F. Dupuis, Université de Lorraine; Dr. W. Matthijs Blankesteijn, Maastricht University
Co-Supervisors: Dr. S. Foulquier, Maastricht University; Dr. C. Perrin-Sarrado, Université de Lorraine
Maite van der Miesen | April 9, 2026 | 13 hrs.
Tracking pain over time: Individual differences in habituation and sensitization to pain.
Supervisors: Prof. dr. D. Linden, Maastricht University; Prof. dr. B. Joosten, Maastricht University
Co-Supervisors: Dr. C. Vossen, MUMC+; Dr. J. Peters,Maastricht University
Anastasia Galkina | April 16, 2026 | 10 hrs.
Double Doctoral Degree Universita Degli Studi Di Milano-Bicocca– MaastrichtUniversity
Dear Diary: Advances in Experience Sampling Methodology Studies.
Supervisors: Dr. W. Viechtbauer, Maastricht University; Prof. dr. M. Perugini, University of Milano-Bicocca
Co-Supervisor: Dr. G. Costantini, University of Milano-Bicocca
Sander Osstyn | April 17, 2026 | 10 hrs.
From burden to balance: Health-economic evaluations of interventions in dementia and acquired brain injury care and reflections on methodological transparency.
Supervisors: Prof. Dr. M. de Vugt, Maastricht University; Prof. Dr. S. Evers, Maastricht University
Co-Supervisor: Dr. R. Handels, Maastricht University
March 2026
David Diouf | March 5, 2026 | 13 hrs.
Double Doctoral Degree Maastricht University - University of Würzburg
Balancing the brain: precision gene editing in scalable cultures of human stem cell-derived neural circuits. The case for st3gal3.
Supervisors: Prof. Dr. D. van den Hove (Maastricht University); Prof. Dr. K.P. Lesch, Wuerzburg University (Julius-Maximilians-Universität Würzburg
Co-Supervisor: Dr. T. Vanmierlo (Maastricht University)
Sara Pauwels | March 16, 2026 | 13 hrs.
Double Doctoral Degree Maastricht University - Hasselt University
Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo: In older adults: impact and treatment efficacy on frailty, postural control and physical activity.
Supervisors: Prof. Dr. R. van de Berg, Maastricht University/ MUMC+; Dr. J. Spildooren, Hasselt University; Prof. Dr. K. Meijer, Maastricht University.
Co-Supervisor: Dr. P. Meyns, Hasselt University
Noa van der Knaap | March 27, 2026 | 13 hrs.
Resonating critical illness: an Integrated multimodal mri and biomarker perspective on brain health after severe covid-19.
Supervisor: Prof. Dr. J. Jansen, Maastricht University / MUMC+ / Eindhoven University of Technology
Co-Supervisors: Dr. I.van der Horst, Albert Schweitzer Ziekenhuis / Maastricht University; Dr. M.Ariës, Maastricht University / MUMC+