Diversity and Inclusivity Taskforce

Division 1

My name is Nahal Amini Moghaddam, and I’m a PhD candidate at Alzheimer Centrum Limburg. I began my doctoral journey in October 2024, building on a background that combines both Work and Organizational Psychology and Clinical Psychology. My research focuses on the work-life balance of family caregivers of people with dementia. To better understand their everyday experiences, I use the Experience Sampling Method, which allows me to capture insights from their day-to-day lives in real time.

Division 2

Thérèse van Amelsvoort is an academic psychiatrist and Professor in Transitional Psychiatry. She combines clinical work with research with a specific focus on youth. She is co-founder of @ease (www.ease.nl), the Dutch version of the successful Australian Headspace initiative, youth mental health walk-in centers serving prevention and early detection and set up a specialised youth mental health care service bridging the gap between child & adolescence and adult services. She is member if the Dutch Association of Gender & Health and has edited a book on psychopathology in women and men. 

Division 2

Dr. Sophie Leijdesdorff was trained as a psychologist and currently works as assistant professor at MHeNs. Her aim is to take away barriers in/to care for young people with mental health problems. Het work focusses both on reforming traditional care, as well as studying innovative interventions in prevention and early intervention for youth mental health. She was involved in setting up the @ease peer-support youth walk-in centres throughout the Netherlands (www.ease.nl). Sophie was born and raised in Rotterdam and now enjoys the life in the South of Limburg with its Burgundian lifestyle and beautiful nature.

Division 2

Emma is a PhD candidate from division 2, and has been working on her PhD research on pharmacogenetics for antipsychotics since September 2022. She joined the MHeNs D&I taskforce at its conception, and has written many of the MHeNs newsletter D&I columns. She is also the PhD representative of MHeNs division 2 (together with Amy), the general MHeNs PhD representative at the FHML faculty PhD committee, and the FHML PhD representative in the UM-wide Central PhD Candidate Platform. She is passionate about promoting diversity and inclusivity in academia, and contributing to a better workplace for everyone. 

Division 2

I’m Amy, a third year PhD candidate in Division 2, where I am also one of the PhD representatives. My research uses ultra-high field neuroimaging methods to investigate the relationship between genetics, neurotransmission, and mental health. I joined the MHeNs D&I taskforce in 2024 because I want to target systemic inequalities and help make MHeNs the best working environment it can be for everyone. Together with Emma, I now write the monthly D&I column in the MHeNs newsletter and worked on creating the infographic for the D&I survey.

Division 3

Pilar Martinez-Martinez, Ph.D., PI, is trained in molecular biology, biochemistry and neuroimmunology. She is Professor of 'Neuroinflammation in neuropsychiatric disorders at the department of Psychiatry and Psychology Division Neuroscience at the School for Mental Health and Neuroscience at Maastricht University. She was one of the initiators of the D&I initiative in Division3. 

Division 3

I am an Assistant Professor at MHeNs, Division 3. My research focuses on the molecular and epigenetic mechanisms underlying neurological and psychiatric disorders, with a particular interest in stress-related conditions and epilepsy. I bring a strong background in molecular and cellular neuroscience, which supports my interdisciplinary approach to investigating brain health and disease. Being part of the D&I committee is important to me because I strongly believe that diverse perspectives enrich science and education. An inclusive environment not only strengthens collaboration but also drives innovation and ensures that everyone has the opportunity to thrive.

Division 3

As a female neurosurgeon with a PhD in neuroscience Kim is aware of the importance of D&I in the academic and healthcare working environment. Kim entered Maastricht University as a medical student in 1996. After obtaining her medical degree, she started working part-time as a PhD student in MHeNs, and part-time as a neurosurgeon in training in the academic hospital. This combination of clinical and research activities continues to characterize her further career until this day. Two separate working environments, each with their own positive and negative aspects, have resulted in lots of ‘D&I experiences’ that help her in contributing to the MHeNs D&I taskforce.

Division 3

Diego Asensio-Wandosell is a medical doctor and PhD candidate in Division 3. Diego received his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in medicine and surgery from the Autonomous University of Barcelona and Germans Trias I Pujol Hospital (Spain) in 2024. He decided to pursue this research path before starting his medical specialty training, aiming to expand his knowledge and bridge the gap between pre-clinical and clinical work. In September 2024, Diego began his PhD in the Neuroimmunology group thanks to the MSCA-Doctoral Networks grant within the IgG4-TREAT consortium, a program involving multiple countries and partners for studying the IgG4-Autommune disorders, focusing on neurological phenotypes.

Division 3

Assia Tiane is a neuroscientist with a deep interest in neurodegenerative disorders and the molecular mechanisms driving brain pathology. At Maastricht University, her research focuses on uncovering the role of oligodendrocytes in Alzheimer’s disease. With a strong background in molecular and cellular neuroscience, she integrates wet lab techniques with multi-omics data analysis to gain deeper insight into disease progression and potential therapeutic targets.

MHeNs central office

We are all the same on the inside, so why should we treat each other differently because of our appearance, nature, beliefs or heritage? I hope that my involvement with MHeNs Taskforce D&I will contribute to making the workplace and study environment more inclusive and fairer.