Dorret I. Boomsma#

Full CV and recent publications

Dorret I. Boomsma was early recognized as a great talent. She studied Philosophy (not for a degree), Psychology (BA cum laude, 1979), Psychophysiology (MA cum laude, 1983) both at the Free University of Amsterdam. She also earned an MA in Biological Psychology and Behavior genetics at the University of Colorado, before obtaining a PhD in Quantitative Genetics (cum laude, 1992, Free University of Amsterdam; title of dissertation: Quantitative Genetic Analysis of Cardiovascular Risk Factors in Twins and their Parents).

Already in 1996 she received the Junior Heymans Prize of the Netherlands Institute of Psychologists (NIP). In 2001 she was awarded the prestigious Spinoza Premium for her ground-breaking research in behavioural genetics. In the same year she was elected to the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences (KNAW). She is the recipient of several international grants, including a recent Advanced Grant from the European Research Commission (ERC). Her excellent record in fund raising has allowed her to triple her research team in the course of time. When she became head of department in 1998 her group consisted of around 12 people. By 2009 she had built a research group of more than 40 people, which has attracted some outstanding PhD students, postdoctoral students and professional colleagues. Nearly all of the increase has been funded through grants and prizes that she received in the last 10 to 20 years. Earlier, in 2009 she was awarded the Dr. H.W. Muller Prize for the Behavioural and Social Sciences awarded by the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences (KNAW). In 2011 she received the KNAW Merian Prize.

Altogether, her work constitutes a substantial and original perspective on the hereditary and developmental aspects of human cognition. In addition she offers an impressive example for aspiring young scientists and, last but not least, she is also much concerned in making the results of her scientific work known to the public at large.