Brief Biography
Professional and Academic Career: Dr. Oitzl studied psychology with specialization in neurophysiology and neurobiology. In 1989 she received her PhD.(Dr.rer.nat. magna cum laude) from the Faculty of Natural Sciences at the University of Düsseldorf, Germany. After a post-doctorate in the Rudolf Magnus Institute, Utrecht, she joined the Division of Medical Pharmacology in Leiden, 1990. She was appointed as Associate Professor (Aspasia) in 2002 and Professor in Cognitive Neurobiology at the University of Amsterdam in 2006. Research fields: Translational research on hormonal control of brain and behaviour, covering the influence of life events, like postnatal maternal deprivation, chronic stress on neuroendocrine and behavioural adaptation, emotion, learning and memory processes in rats and (mutant) mice, particularly with respect to the function of brain corticosteroid receptors. Most recently, Prof. Oitzl became involved in human studies addressing the effect of stress on memory systems started in collaboration with the Psychobiology group, University of Trier, Germany. Organizing activities: Prof. Oitzl co-ordinates research on stress, emotion and cognitive neuroscience of the Division of Medical Pharmacology at Leiden University. She regularly organizes symposia related to stress and cognition at national and international conferences. She is on the editorial board of Behavioural Brain Research, Physiology & Behavior, Neural Plasticity. Prof. Oitzl is a regular referee of about 15 international journals, member of the scientific committee and appointed treasurer of the European Brain and Behaviour Society. Grants: 2002: NWO- Aspasia 015.01.076; NWO Cognition Program 051.02.10; 2005 Organon Research grant; 2006 NWO-DFG International Research and Training Program DN 95-420.