Dr. Tara Donker

Associate Professor

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Biography

Tara Donker is an Associate Professor at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam and a senior researcher at Albert-Ludwig University of Freiburg, Germany. She is a licensed Health Care Psychologist registered in Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (VGCt). Her research focuses on early intervention and prevention of depression, anxiety, and suicide, utilizing innovative technologies including virtual reality and mobile applications. As the principal investigator and co-founder of ZeroPhobia, she is involved in developing low-cost mobile applications that use virtual reality and augmented reality for treating specific phobias. Her RCTs have demonstrated significant effectiveness in addressing fears such as heights and flying. Donker has received multiple grants, including the Aspasia grant for her research on virtual reality treatments for psychiatric disorders. She teaches various clinical psychology courses, coordinates internships, and supervises undergraduate and master’s thesis students. Additionally, she has been recognized with awards for her contributions to cognitive behavioral therapy and is actively involved in editorial work for journals in clinical and global mental health.

Research Interests

Experience

Senior Researcher

2014-12-01 — Present

Albert-Ludwig University of Freiburg • Freiburg

Engaged in research on cognitive behavior therapy and innovative treatment technologies.

Co-founder

2017-01-01 — Present

ZeroPhobia • Amsterdam

Developing accessible mental health care solutions through mobile applications.

Awards

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Black Dog Early Career Travel Award

#

Aaron T. Beck CBT Workshop

Requirements for Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam

Master Program
Requirements
GPA Requirement
Required:3
IELTS
Listening
Required:6.5
Reading
Required:6.5
Writing
Required:6.5
Speaking
Required:6.5
Overall
Required:6.5
TOEFL
Listening
Required:22
Reading
Required:24
Writing
Required:24
Speaking
Required:25
Total
Required:100
Prerequisites
Bachelor's degree in Psychology or related field 12 ECTS in Research Methods/Statistics 12 ECTS in Clinical Diagnosis/Assessment
Application Checklist
  • Curriculum Vitae
  • Official Transcripts
  • Motivation Letter
  • Proof of English Proficiency
Specialization Notes

Administered under the Department of Clinical Psychology for Master's in Clinical and Developmental Psychopathology.