Generate a tailored SOP for Dr. Sandra Thijssen. Improve your application with a focused, well-structured draft.
Sandra Thijssen is an Assistant Professor at the Behavioural Science Institute of Radboud University. Her research explores the complex interplay between family environments and child development, particularly focusing on the impact of parental behaviors on brain development and mental health. Utilizing data from large representative cohorts, such as the Dutch Generation R Study and the American Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development Study, her work investigates how children navigate high-stress environments characterized by harsh parental discipline and psychopathology. Thijssen adopts an evolutionary perspective to understand the adaptations children make in response to their environments, emphasizing their resilience and agency rather than viewing them solely as victims. Additionally, she is interested in the neurobiological backgrounds of externalizing behaviors, including aggression and substance use, applying magnetic resonance neuroimaging to study the brain structures and functions of individuals exhibiting such behaviors.
Applies to Research Master's in Linguistics and Communication Sciences (Centre for Language Studies/Department of Language and Communication).