I am interested in the relations of early life influences with infant psycho-biological well-being and development. During my PhD, I focus on the role of closeness and body contact in the early months. I assess biological outcomes, such as the hormone cortisol and gut microbiota, as well as behaviour, such as crying and sleep.
I also study the effects of proximity during the early months on development of social behaviour. Next to that, I want to find out what role closeness plays in parental caregiving, and whether caregivers, such as parents and daycare staff, can benefit from proximity and close contact with infants.