Willem Eduard Frankenhuis

Willem Frankenhuis studies how people develop in harsh and unpredictable conditions. His empirical work focuses on (1) hidden talents, abilities that are enhanced by adversity, and (2) reasonable responses to adverse conditions, even if these responses entail costs. His theoretical work focuses on how adaptive processes—evolution, development, learning—tailor individuals to environmental conditions. He uses mathematical modelling to explore in which conditions natural selection favors sensitive periods in development, and how experiences shape the features of these periods, such as their timing and duration. Willem Frankenhuis obtained his Psychology BSc. (2005), Psychology MSc. (2006), and Philosophy MA. (2006) from the University of Amsterdam. In 2012, he received his Ph.D. in Biological Anthropology at the University of California, Los Angeles, before becoming a post-doctoral researcher in the Cognitive Development Center of the Central European University in Budapest, Hungary. In December 2012, Willem Frankenhuis became Assistant Professor in the Behavioural Science Institute at Radboud University in the Netherlands. In January of 2018, he attained the rank of Associate Professor. Since September 2020, he is an Associate Professor of Psychology at Utrecht University in the Netherlands, and a Senior Researcher at the Max Planck Institute for Research on Crime, Security and Law in Freiburg, Germany. Willem Eduard Frankenhuis is an Associate Professor at Utrecht University and a Senior Researcher at the Max Planck Institute for the Study of Crime, Security and Law. He specializes in developmental evolutionary psychology, examining how cognitive and behavioral adaptations emerge under adverse conditions. His academic journey began with a PhD in Biological Anthropology from UCLA, following earlier studies in psychology and philosophy at the University of Amsterdam. Frankenhuis has received numerous prestigious grants, including the Vidi Grant from the Dutch Research Council (NWO) and the James S. McDonnell Foundation Scholar Award. His projects often focus on how stress-adapted skills can be harnessed to reduce inequality and improve developmental outcomes. He leads several research networks, such as the DEEP lab at Utrecht University and the Communicating and Expanding Research on Adversity (CERA) Network, supported by the Jacobs Foundation. His key research publications cover topics like the evolution of sensitive periods, the development of learning strategies under adversity, and how stress influences cognitive performance. His approach often integrates theoretical modeling, empirical studies, and interdisciplinary collaboration, aiming to identify and leverage hidden talents in challenging environments. He has been recognized with various awards for his research excellence, including the Early Career Award from the Human Behavior and Evolution Society (HBES) and the Janet Taylor Spence Award from the Association for Psychological Science (APS). Additionally, he has been involved in developing English-language programs and promoting interdisciplinary research at the universities he has served.