I have a broad background in both neuroscience and developmental psychology and my research broadly investigates the relation between the developing brain and changes in behavior. More specifically, my research is focused on how changes in brain function and structure relate to typical and atypical development of learning and decision-making. To approach these questions, I use computational models, social network analyses, and methods form experimental economics. Computational models are used to quantify behavior and the complex processes underlying learning and decision-making. The parameters from these models support spanning the bridge between developmental theories and neurobiology, and enable to identify more specific processes that underlie developmental change. Using these techniques I have investigated the neurocognitive development of risky & intertemporal choice [2-3],  basic learning mechanisms [4], social decision-making [5], and social learning [1].

Currently I am an Associate Professor at the Developmental Psychology Department of the  University of Amsterdam & Director of the Connected Minds Lab,  Adjunct Research Scientist at the Max Planck Institute for Human Development Center for Adaptive Rationality, and Faculty at the Max Planck UCL Centre for Computational Psychiatry and Ageing Research

1. Rodriguez Buritica J. ,Heekeren H.. & van den Bos W. (2019). The computational basis of following advice in adolescents. Journal of Experimental Child Psychology
2. van den Bos, W. & Hertwig, R. (2017) Adolescents display distinctive tolerance to ambiguity and to uncertainty during risky decision making. Nature Sci. Rep. 7, 40962
3. van den Bos, W., Rodriguez, C.A., Schweitzer, J. & McClure, S.M. (2015) Adolescent impatience decreases with increased fronto-striatal connectivity. PNAS.
4. van den Bos, W., Cohen, M.X., Kahnt, T. & Crone, E. A. (2011). Striatum-medial prefrontal cortex connectivity predicts developmental changes in reinforcement learning. Cerebral Cortex.
5. van den Bos, W., Van Dijk, E., Westenberg, P. M., Rombouts, S. A. R. B. & Crone, E. A. (2011a). Changing Brains, Changing Perspectives: The Neurocognitive Development of Reciprocity. Psychological Science, 22(1), 60-70.

Short Bio

Employment
2018-             Associate Professor,Department of Developmental Psychology, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
2017-2018  Assistant Professor,Department of Developmental Psychology, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
2013-present  Research Scientist, Center for Adaptive Rationality, Max Planck Institute for Human Development, Berlin, Germany
2011-2013     Postdoctoral Fellow, Decision Neuroscience Lab, Department of Psychology, Stanford University

Education
2011 Ph.D. (cum laude), Developmental Psychology Leiden University
2006 M.Sc. (cum laude), Cognitive Neuroscience University of Amsterdam
2004 M.A. (honors), Philosophy of Mind University of Amsterdam

Research Experience
2018  Visiting Researcher at Center for Developing Adolescent, UC Berkeley
2014  Visiting Researcher at Institute for Human Development, prof. Ron Dahl, UC Berkeley
2009 Visiting Researcher at Decision Neuroscience Lab, prof. Sam McClure, Stanford University
2006 Visiting Research Collaborator, NCC Lab, prof. Jon Cohen, Princeton University

Funding Sources

Awards & Fellowships (selection)
2018-2020 Jacobs Foundation Research Fellowship
2016 Science of Learning Early Career Award – FLUX
2016 Spotlight presenter Society for Neuroeconomics Meeting 2016
2016 APS Rising Star Award 2016
2011-2014 Fellow of the European Platform of the Life Sciences -Volkswagen Stiftung
2010 Best Article Prize Institute for the Study of Education and Human Development (ISED)
2010 Top ranked abstract Human Brain Mapping conference 2010

Full Resume (June 2020):

Outreach

To communicate scientific knowledge based on our work to the public I give interviews, write popular science articles , give presentations, work with professionals, and collaborate with museums and artist.