The Novelty Lab

In our current and future research at Leiden University (the Netherlands) we aim to investigate the effects of novelty on learning, memory, motivation and exploration. Our research aims to provide fundamental insight in the circumstances under which spatial novelty improves memory. Furthermore, we aim to develop a new characterization of human exploration behavior in 3D environments. By uniquely combining VR/AR and neuroscientific methods (including fMRI, EEG, patient studies and pharmacological interventions) we aim to identify how effects of novelty on memory and exploration arise in the human brain. 

P.I. Dr. Judith Schomaker: Curriculum Vitae

2019-now Assistant professor, Section Health, Medical, & Neuropsychology, Leiden University, the Netherlands, NL

2019 (May-Sept) Maternity leave

2014-2018 Post-doc, Department of Biological Psychology, Justus Liebig University Gießen, Germany

2017 (Feb-June) Maternity leave

2015 Visiting researcher, Daw Lab, Center for Neural Science, New York University, USA

2015 PhD defense: 9th of January, 2015; Dissertation: What’s new? The interaction between novelty and cognition

2010-2014 PhD student, Department of Cognitive Psychology, VU University Amsterdam, NL

2010 Visiting research master student Max Planck Institute for Biological Cybernetics, Tübingen, Germany

2009-2010 Research assistant at the Department of Cognitive Psychology, VU University Amsterdam, NL

2008-2010 Research Master Cognitive Neuropsychology, VU University Amsterdam, NL

2007-2008 Research Assistant, Center of Education, VU University Amsterdam, NL

2007 Research Assistant, Department of Clinical Psychology, VU University Amsterdam, NL

2005-2008 Bachelor Psychology, VU University Amsterdam, NL

GRANTS, PRIZES, AND OTHER ACTIVITIES

Grants

2024    Grassfields grant (co-applicant Ineke van der Ham) - 300.000 + 70.000 Euro

2024    NWA Science Communication (co-applicant; main applicant Ineke van der Ham) - 150.000 Euro

2023    Center for Human Drug Research collaboration - 266.253 Euro

2023    Grass Shoots (co-applicants: Ineke van der Ham & Monika Theron) - 7.455 Euro

2023    NWO SGW Open Competition, the Netherlands - 49.915,- Euro

2021    Stichting Gratama Fonds (LUF), Leiden University, the Netherlands - 24.984,- Euro

2020    Stichting Elise Mathilde Fonds (LUF), Leiden University, the Netherlands - 9.997,- Euro

2018    Presidential Chair Start-up Funding, Carl-von-Ossietzky University, Oldenburg, Germany - 219.846,- Euro (declined, to take up an assistant professor position at Leiden University, the Netherlands)

Prizes

- First prize winner Best Research Master Thesis VU University (500 Euros, 2010)

- First prize winner in the essay contest for second year Psychology students in the 

- Biological Psychology course of Eco de Geus (300 Euros prize money, 2006). 

Conference organisation

• Symposium chair NVP Winter Conference, Egmond, NL (2021/Q4)

• Symposium chair: International Conference on Cognitive Neuroscience (Helsinki, 2020 [postponed to 2022])

• Co-organizer Amsterdam Memory Slam (2011 and 2012) - Amsterdam Memory Slam 2012

Reviewer for:

Journals: Nature Human Behavior; PNAS; Human Brain Mapping; Scientific Reports; Cerebral Cortex; Annals of New York Academy of Sciences; Journal of Neuroscience; Cognitive Affective & Behavioral Neuroscience; Neurobiology of Agig; Acta Psychologica; Brain Research; Biological Psychology; Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews; International Journal of Psychophysiology; Brain & Cognition; Frontiers in Psychology; Frontiers in Developmental Psychology; PLoS ONE; Neuroscience Letters; Neuroscience; Clinical Neurophysiology; Neurobiology of Learning & Memory; Neurobiology of Aging; Journal of Cognitive Enhancement.

Book: Introduction to Biopsychology (4th editions) - Andrew P. Wickens

MOTHERHOOD