Sophie Sweijen is a postdoctoral researcher in the Society, Youth and Neuroscience Connected (SYNC) lab at Erasmus University Rotterdam. Her research focuses on adolescents’ social and mental wellbeing, with particular attention to prosocial behavior, societal engagement, and youth participation.

Currently, she works on the collaborative project PRAATPOWER, initiated by MIND Us and YoungXperts, which facilitates societal dialogues with youth and translates scientific insights into concrete “take actions” to empower young people and support their mental health.

During her PhD, Sophie investigated how adolescents contribute to their social environment, both within close relationships and through interactions with broader societal partners. This work resulted in her dissertation The power of prosociality: How adolescents contribute to their social environment, which she defended on September 12, 2025.

As part of her PhD, Sophie coordinated data collection in two longitudinal projects. In the ERC Consolidator Grant project Brainlinks, 142 adolescents were followed over three years using a multimethod approach, including fMRI, laboratory tasks, and questionnaires. She also worked on the Urban Rotterdam project, an online behavioral study with nine waves across four years, examining young people’s development, wellbeing, and societal engagement.

In addition, Sophie contributed to two projects commissioned by the Dutch Ministry of Education, Culture and Science (OCW), implementing the YoungXperts participatory research method in collaboration with organizations such as Trimbos, ECBO/ECIO, Pharos, and Utrecht University, to address performance pressure and equal opportunities among mbo-students.

Research interests: adolescence - neural development - prosocial behavior - societal contributions - wellbeing - young adulthood

Onderzoeksinteresses: adolescentie - jongvolwassenheid - maatschappelijke bijdragen - neurale ontwikkeling - prosociaal gedrag - welzijn