Research Overview

Why do educational outcomes and neurodevelopmental conditions run in families?

I am an Associate Professor at the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Programme Chair of Educational Neuroscience at LEARN!, and Visiting Professor at the University of Oslo.

I lead research on why children differ in learning and development, and why educational outcomes and neurodevelopmental conditions cluster within families. My work focuses on how genetic and environmental factors jointly shape these differences across development.

A key aim of my research is to distinguish causal environmental effects from genetic confounding. For example, children whose parents read to them more often tend to have better language and literacy outcomes, but this association may partly reflect shared genetic influences. Using genetically informed designs—including family-based and intergenerational approaches, combined with large-scale cohort data and measured DNA—I investigate how these mechanisms operate across development and across generations.

My research spans language, reading, and mathematics, as well as neurodevelopmental conditions such as dyslexia, dyscalculia, ADHD, and autism, and their links with mental health. This work has implications for how we design effective educational and mental health interventions, and for policies aimed at reducing inequality in learning outcomes. A short video introduction to my research is available here and my publications can be found here.

My research is supported by competitive personal grants, including an ERC Starting Grant, a Jacobs Foundation Fellowship, and NWO Rubicon, Veni, and Vidi Talent Grants. I work with an interdisciplinary team of PhD candidates, postdoctoral researchers, and students across institutions.

Research

Team

I lead a team of postdoctoral researchers, PhD candidates, and research staff.

Postdocs

Alexandra Starr (VU)
Selim Sametoğlu (MPI)

PhD candidates

Josefina Bernardo (VU)
Madelief Kuijper (VU)
Kassandra Pomper (VU)
Zenab Tamimy (VU)
Magda Matetovici (MPI)
Britt Min (Oslo)

Research assistant

Martijn Meulenbroek (VU)

Alumni

I have (co-)supervised four PhD students:

  • Hekmat Alrouh (2025), now postdoctoral researcher in Rotterdam
  • Sofieke Kevenaar (2023), now statistical researcher at Statistics Netherlands (CBS)
  • Perline Demange (2023), now postdoctoral researcher in Oslo; previously a postdoctoral researcher in my group
  • Sabine Veldkamp (2019), now Manager ‘Data Analysis and Development’ in industry

In addition, I have supervised ~50 Master’s and Bachelor’s students, as well as research and teaching assistants.

Honours & Awards

I am a Fellow of the Young Academy of Europe and a Jacobs Foundation Research Fellow. I have received multiple international awards for my research, including the Early Career Award from the International Dyslexia Association (2025) and the Mid-Career Award from the Society for the Scientific Study of Reading (2024).

Job Opportunities

Promising early-career researchers interested in working with me are welcome to contact me; please include a CV. There are also several fellowships that you may be eligible for, including the Marie Curie Postdoctoral Fellowship (for those currently based outside the Netherlands), Hestia (for academic refugees in the Netherlands), and Veni (for those who have received their PhD within the last 3 years). Additionally, your current country of residence may offer fellowships as well.

Personal Story

If you’re interested in hearing about my journey to tenure, including the challenges and setbacks I faced along the way, you can check out this interview in English or in Dutch (original). It provides a frank and sincere portrayal of my experiences as a researcher. Outside of work, I enjoy yoga and pole sport, and spend time with my two young children.

Career Path

University of Oslo (from 2024)

Visiting Professor
During the 2024–25 academic year, I was based at the University of Oslo as a Visiting Professor, affiliated with both the Centre for Equality in Education (CREATE) and the PROMENTA Centre in Psychology. My work involves close collaboration with scientists at CREATE, PROMENTA, and the Norwegian Institute of Public Health. Together, we leverage data from the Norwegian Mother, Father and Child Cohort Study (MoBa) and national registry data to advance research on the co-occurrence and intergenerational transmission of education and mental health.

Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam (from 2015)

Assistant –> Associate Professor
As an Associate Professor at the Department of Biological Psychology, I am fortunate to contribute to and have access to the resources and expertise of the Netherlands Twin Register. Previously, I was funded as Assistant Professor by an NWO Veni Early Career Fellowship (2016-2020). In addition, I am a member of Oriel College at the University of Oxford and have ongoing grants for research on science communication, intergenerational transmission, and learning difficulties. I am dedicated to advancing our understanding of these important topics and making a positive impact in the field.

University of Oxford (2012-2017)

Postdoctoral Research Fellow
I completed a postdoctoral research fellowship at the University of Oxford in the Department of Experimental Psychology, where I worked in Professor Bishop‘s lab. My fellowship was funded by an NWO Rubicon Fellowship and a Junior Research Fellowship from Oriel College, both of which ran from 2012-2015. I remained affiliated with Oxford as a Visiting Academic for an additional two years.

University of Amsterdam (2008-2012)

PhD Student
I conducted research at the University of Amsterdam’s Research Institute of Child Development and Education, where I was supervised by Professors de Jong, Oort and van der Leij. In 2013, I successfully defended my thesis, entitled “Who will develop dyslexia? Cognitive precursors in parents and children”.

Before 2008

Amsterdam & Aberdeen (Before 2008)

I received my Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Human Movement Sciences from the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, with a focus on learning and development of movement coordination. Both degrees were awarded cum laude. During and after my studies, I worked as a teaching and research assistant. As part of my Master’s program, I completed a 6-month internship at the University of Aberdeen in Scotland, where I conducted research on reach-to-grasp movements in Professor Mon-William‘s lab.

Publications

For the full reference list, please click on the image on the left.

Teaching

I specialize in teaching research methods, career development, and academic writing. My current teaching responsibilities include:

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Contact

📧 E-mail e.van.bergen@vu.nl & e.van.bergen@psykologi.uio.no

📍 Addresses

Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam
Biological Psychology
Van der Boechorststraat 7
1081 BT Amsterdam
the Netherlands


Medical Sciences building, office H-565

University of Oslo
PROMENTA & CREATE
Forskningsveien 3A
0373 Oslo
Norway


Schjelderupshus, office S04-30

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