Susan Vrijkotte
Susan Vrijkotte, Msc, received a physiotherapy degree from the Saxion Hogeschool in Enschede (cum laude, 2004), and a degree in Human Movement Sciences from the Vrije Universiteit in Amsterdam (cum laude, 2007).
She worked for TNO in the Netherlands from 2007 till 2011. She was involved in research about thermal strain of fire fighters and optimal performance (physically and cognitively) of soldiers. Later, her field of work involved the improvement of health in elderly people. In 2011 Susan started to work for Topsport Topics at the UMCG in Groningen, the Netherlands. This initiative is a collaboration between Human Movement Sciences Amsterdam, Human Movement Sciences Groningen, InnoSportNL and NOC NSF. Susan combines her tasks as a project manager and a content manager. Her work aims to close the gap between scientific developments and the use of scientific knowledge by top athletes and -coaches. Susan started her PhD in 2009. She focuses on the effects of prolonged physical activity on cognitive performance. What happens to the cognitive ability of people when they are physically exhausted? What are determinants of these performances? Is it possible to model this process? These are some of the questions she tries to answer. In 2010 Susan won the best poster award of the Doctoral School of Life Sciences and Medicine at the Vrije Universiteit Brussel. Susan’s PhD is a collaboration between the Vrije Universiteit Brussel and VIPER.
Email: vrijsusan@hotmail.com