Dr. Monique Smeets

Biography

Monique Smeets holds the chair in Sensory Systems and Social Context in the Department of Psychology at Utrecht University. She has a background in experimental cognitive psychology, having obtained her graduate degree from the University of Amsterdam and her PhD from Utrecht University. Her research interests include chemosensory perception, cross-modal perception, and the influence of social contexts on perception. Smeets and her colleagues have investigated the social significance of body odours and their role in social communication. Between 1996 and 2002, she gained post-doctoral experience in visual neuroscience under Professor Stephen Kosslyn at Harvard University (supported by the Niels Stensen research fellowship), as well as fellowships at the Pennington Biomedical Research Center and the Monell Chemical Senses Center. Upon returning to Utrecht University, she established the Smell Lab, which focuses on the impact of environmental odours on health, aided by the NWO's Vidi-Verniewingsimpuls grant. Her research offers insights into the health effects of environmental odours and anticipatory mechanisms of perception. From 2011 to 2024, she had a dual affiliation as a science leader at Unilever R&D Science & Technology, focusing on the application of psychological science to promote consumer well-being and sustainability. Now, she explores collaborative opportunities in social science and industry innovation ecosystems, continuing her research on the effects of social context on perception and emotion.

Research Interests

Experience