Laura Baams, Ph.D.
EDUCATION
Ph.D. 2015, Developmental Psychology, Utrecht University, The Netherlands. Dissertation: Blooming sexuality: A biopsychosocial perspective on adolescent romantic and sexual development.
M.Sc. 2009, with merits, Research Master Psychology, University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands. Major: Research Methods / Minor: Clinical Psychology
B.Sc. 2007, Psychology, University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands. Specialization: Research Methods
PROFESSIONAL APPOINTMENTS
2023-present Associate professor, University of Groningen, Pedagogy and Educational Sciences
2017-2023Assistant professor, University of Groningen, Pedagogy and Educational Sciences
2016-2017 Postdoctoral scholar, University of Texas at Austin, Population Research Center
2014-2016 Postdoctoral research fellow, Utrecht University, The Netherlands, Developmental Psychology
GRANTS AND AWARDS
Van Emde Boas – Van Ussel Prijs, Nederlandse Wetenschappelijke Vereniging voor Seksuologie (2021)
NRO – Out in School: How Teacher Practices and School Policies Mitigate Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity/Expression Disparities in School Safety and Experiences with Violence and Bullying-Victimization (PI: Dr. Laura Baams) (2021)
Nomination for the 2020 ACAMH Awards in the category: Kathy Sylva ‘Rising Star’
Bi+ Nederland – Being Bi+ experiences and wellbeing of bi+ individuals in the Netherlands (PI: Dr. Laura Baams) (2020)
NWO – Veni: Not straight? Sexual orientation disparities in macro and micro-processes of youth victimization and mental health (PI: Dr. Laura Baams) (2018)
ZonMW – Preventing suicidality among Dutch Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) youth through a web-based intervention addressing suicidality in relation to sexual and gender identity issues (PIs: Dr. Diana van Bergen & Dr. Laura Baams) (2017)
Best Senior Poster Award. International Academy of Sex Research, Toronto (2015).
Conference funding Utrecht Centre for Child and Adolescent Studies for the organization of a one-day symposium “Project STARS” (2015).
Conference funding Dynamics of Youth for the organization of a one-day symposium “Project STARS” (2015).
Dynamics of Youth post-doc seed funding (2013)
Fulbright visiting scholar grant (2013), University of Arizona, Tucson, U.S.
Jo Kolk Studiefonds (2013)
TEACHING
University of Groningen
Graduate level
Sole instructor Minority Youth (2017-2018)
Sole instructor Writing a Research Proposal (2018-2019)
Co-unstructor Methods in Youth Research (2018-present)
Research master thesis supervisor Research master Behavioural and Social Sciences (2020-2021). Graduate: Maaike Jonker, M.Sc.
Undergraduate level
Co-instructor Gender and Diversity in Education (2017-2018)
Sole instructor Gender, Sexuality, and Diversity in Education (2018-2019)
Sole instructor Gender and Sexuality in Education (2019-2020)
Sole instructor Gender and Sexual Development in Adolescence (2020-present)
Sole instructor A Socio-Contextual Perspective on Gender and Sexuality (2020-present)
Utrecht University
Graduate level
Master thesis supervisor Developmental Psychology (2011-2016)
Work group instructor Applied Developmental Psychology (2015-2016)
Research master thesis co-supervisor Development and Socialisation in Childhood and Adolescence (2014-2015). Graduate: Tessa Kaufman, M.Sc.
Research internship co-supervisor Development and Socialisation in Childhood and Adolescence (2014-2015).
Undergraduate level
Lecturer Adolescent Development (2013-2014)
Guest lecturer Youth & Sexuality; Diagnostics and Treatment (2013-2014)
Bachelor thesis supervisor Developmental Psychology (2014-2015)
University of Amsterdam
Undergraduate level
Statistical consultant Methodology shop (2008-2009)
Sole instructor Research Lab and SPSS (2006-2010)
Bachelor thesis supervisor Psychology (2009-2010)
CONFERENCE ACTIVITY
Invited oral presentations
Baams, L. (2022, March). De positie van lhbtq jongeren in een veranderende samenleving, NVVS Voorjaarscongres 2022.
Baams, L. (2022, March). Seksuele en genderdiversiteit op jouw school, Medilex Onderwijs.
Baams, L. (2021, December). LHBTIQ+ in het onderwijs, Gemeente Harderwijk (online).
Baams, L. (2021, May). LGBTQ Collective, Erasmus University College Rotterdam (online).
Baams, L. (2016, March). Sexualized media consumption as an aspect of adolescent sexual development. Seksuele Motivatie, Leiden, The Netherlands.
Baams, L. (2015, October). When being different becomes the norm. Dynamics of Youth Symposium, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
Baams, L. (2015, June). Never the twain shall meet? Quantitative and qualitative methods, how they can support each other. Dynamics of Youth Seminar, Utrecht University, The Netherlands.
Baams, L. (2015, March). When being different becomes the norm: How microaggressions affect Dutch lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender youth. Teaching Differently: A seminar on gendered classrooms and feminist pedagogy. Gender Studies, Utrecht University, The Netherlands.
Baams, L., Overbeek, G., Dubas, J. S. & van Aken, M. A. G. (2014, June). De seksuele ontwikkeling van adolescenten met verschillende persoonlijkheidstypen. European Association for Forensic Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychology & other involved professions – the Netherlands.
Baams, L., Overbeek, G. Dubas, J. S., & van Aken, M. A. G. (2012, March). Persoonlijkheid en seksualiteit: Is persoonlijkheid een bepalende factor voor de seksuele ontwikkeling van jongeren? The Annual Research on Sexology conference of the Dutch Association of Sexology.
Chaired international conference symposium
Baams, L. (2019, March). Methodological advances in sexual minority youth research: Developmental and longitudinal findings. Biennial meeting of the Society for Research in Child Development, 21-23 March 2019, Baltimore, Maryland.
Baams, L. (2019, March). Mental healthcare for sexual and gender minority adolescents: Access, utilization, and effectiveness. Biennial meeting of the Society for Research in Child Development, 21-23 March 2019, Baltimore, Maryland.
Baams, L. (2018, September). Foster care and marginal housing: Disparities for sexual and gender minority youth. Biennial Conference of the European Association for Research on Adolescence, Ghent, Belgium.
Baams, L. (2018, April). Sexual and gender minority adolescents in foster care and marginalized housing: Correlates with mental health. Biennial meeting of the Society for Research on Adolescence, 12-14 April 2018, Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Baams, L. (2017, April). An international examination of bullying based on sexual orientation and gender in school: Economics, consequences, and solutions. Biennial meeting of the Society for Research in Child Development, 3-6 April 2017, Austin, Texas.
Baams, L. (2014, March). Who is doing what and why? How personality, self-regulation, and attachment predict adolescent romantic and sexual development. The Society for Research on Adolescence Biennial meeting.
Baams, L., & Overbeek, G. (2012, March). Expanding the boundaries: New perspectives on sex and the media. The Society for Research on Adolescence Biennial meeting.
Oral presentations at international conferences (as lead author)
Baams, L. (2021, October). Dating violence among sexual and gender minority adolescents, European Network Sexual Medicine, 22-23 October 2021, Salzburg, Austria (hybrid).
Baams, L., Fish, J. N., Salway, T., Rich, A. (2021, April). Trends in sexual orientation disparities in mental health among Dutch youth, Biennial meeting of the Society for Research in Child Development, 7-9 April 2021 (online)
Baams, L. (2019, March). Associations between minority stress and daily negative affect: A week in sexual minority youth’s lives. Biennial meeting of the Society for Research in Child Development, 21-23 March 2019, Baltimore, Maryland.
Baams, L., De Luca, S., & Brownson, C. (2019, March). Sexual orientation disparities in healthcare utilization: Differences in informal and formal care. Biennial meeting of the Society for Research in Child Development, 21-23 March 2019, Baltimore, Maryland.
Baams, L. (2018, October). Typologies of abuse for sexual and gender minority adolescents. European Scientific Association on Residential & Family Care for Children and Adolescents, Porto, Portugal.
Baams, L., & Fish, J. N. (2018, October). Mental health disparities for LGBTQ youth in foster care: Findings from US adolescents. European Scientific Association on Residential & Family Care for Children and Adolescents, Porto, Portugal.
Baams, L., & Fish, J. N. (2018, September). Accumulative risk for alcohol and substance use disorders for sexual and gender minority adolescents living in foster care or shelters. Accepted for the Biennial Conference of the European Association for Research on Adolescence, Ghent, Belgium.
Baams, L., Wilson, B. D. M., & Russell, S. T. (2018, September). Mental health disparities for sexual and gender minority adolescents living in foster care. Accepted for the Biennial Conference of the European Association for Research on Adolescence, Ghent, Belgium.
Baams, L., De Lange, J., Van Bergen, D. D., Bos, H. M. W., & Timmerman, M. C. (2018, September). Reducing suicidality among LGBT youth with a web-based intervention: A work in progress. European Symposium on Suicide and Suicidal Behaviour, Ghent, Belgium.
Baams, L., & Fish, J. N. (2018, April). Mental health disparities for LGBTQ youth in foster care and unstable housing. Biennial meeting of the Society for Research on Adolescence, 12-14 April 2018, Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Baams, L. (2018, April). Disparities in intimate partner violence and mental health for LGBTQ adolescents. Biennial meeting of the Society for Research on Adolescence, 12-14 April 2018, Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Baams, L., Talmage, C. A., & Russell, S. T. (2017, April). An economic analysis of bias-based bullying and school absenteeism. Biennial meeting of the Society for Research in Child Development, 3-6 April 2017, Austin, Texas.
Baams, L., Bos, H. M. W., & Jonas, K. J. (2014, September). Romance in times of stress: Minority stress, well-being and a same-sex romantic relationship. The 14th Biennial Conference of the European Association for Research on Adolescence.
Baams, L., Overbeek, G., Dubas, J. S., & van Aken, M. A. G. (2014, March). Personality, pick-ups, and pubic hair: the relation between personality types, pubertal timing, and sexual behavior. The Society for Research on Adolescence Biennial meeting.
Baams, L., Overbeek, G., Dubas, J. S., & van Aken, M. A. G. (2013, November). They do it, I do it, we do it: Adolescents’ and their friends’ (risky) sexual behavior – selection and influence effects of personality type. The Society for the Scientific Study of Sexuality annual meeting.
Baams, L., Overbeek, G., Dubas, J. S., & van Aken, M. A. G. (2012, August). The role of personal characteristics in normative and non-normative sexual development in adolescence. The EARA/SRA Summer School.
Baams, L., Overbeek, G., Dubas, J. S., & van Aken, M. A. G. (2012, March). Parallel developments of sexualized media consumption and permissive attitudes in adolescence: The role of perceived realism. The Society for Research on Adolescence Biennial meeting.
Oral presentations at Dutch conferences
Baams, L. (2018, May). Typologies of childhood adversity and disparities for sexual and gender minority youth. Dutch Society for Developmental Psychology, 16 May 2018.
Baams, L., & Russell, S. T. (2017, September). Gay-straight alliances in school: Do they benefit all students? European Association for Developmental Psychology, 1 September 2017.
Baams, L., Bos, H. M. W., & Jonas, K. J. (2014, May). A “same-sex” relationship: How a romantic relationship can protect same-sex attracted youth from the impact of minority stress. The Society for Dutch Developmental Psychology.
Baams, L., Overbeek, G., Dubas, J. S., & van Aken, M. A. G. (2012, June). Vroege vogels en laatbloeiers: Persoonlijkheid als voorspeller van seksuele ontwikkeling. Research in Education: Practical implications of research for daily educational practice.
Baams, L., Jonas, K. J., Bos, H. M. W., & Spiering, M. (2009, March). The role of social support in the relation between minority stress, psychological and sexual wellbeing among same sex attracted adolescents. The Annual Research on Sexology conference of the Dutch association of Sexology.
Poster presentations at international conferences
Baams, L., De Graaf, H., et al. (2021, May) Bi+ in the Netherlands: Bi+ specific minority stress and associations with mental health and substance use. Poster presented at the National LGBTQ Health Conference (online).
Baams, L., & Russell, S. T. (2016, October). Associations of bullying based on gender, sexual orientation, and gender nonconformity with school functioning: The role of gay-straight alliances. Poster presented at the biennial Gender Development Research Conference, San Francisco, CA.
Baams, L., Overbeek, G., Dubas, J. S., & van Aken, M. A. G. (2015, August). Puberty, popularity, and intimate relationships among early adolescents: Longitudinal findings in the Netherlands. The International Academy of Sex Research 41st annual meeting. Winner of The Best Senior Post Award.
Baams, L., Overbeek, G., Dubas, J. S., & van Aken, M. A. G. (2013, April). Early- and late-bloomers: The longitudinal relation between personality types and adolescent sexual development. Poster session at the Society for Research in Child Development biennial meeting.
Baams, L., Overbeek, G., Dubas, J. S., Kuyper, L., & van Aken, M. A. G. (2012, July). Putting personality in sex: The longitudinal relation between adolescents’ personality types and sexual behavior. The International Academy of Sex Research 38th annual meeting.
Baams, L., Beek, T., Hille, H., Zevenbergen, F. C., & Bos, H. M. W. (2012, March). Gender non-conformity, psychological well-being and stigmatization: How are these concepts related among same sex attracted youths? The Society for Research on Adolescence Biennial meeting.
Baams, L., Beek, T., Hille, H., Zevenbergen, F. C., & Bos, H. M. W. (2011, August). The relation between gender nonconformity and psychological well-being among sexual minorities: The mediating effect of stigmatization. The International Academy of Sex Research 37th annual meeting.
Baams, L., Beek, T., Hille, H., Zevenbergen, F. C., & Bos, H. M. W. (2011, June). Gender nonconforming sexual minorities with a lower level of psychological well-being: What role does stigmatization play? The 20th World Congress for Sexual Health.
Baams, L., Overbeek, G., Dubas, J. S., van de Bongardt, D. & van Aken, M. A. G. (2011, June). Sexual development among Dutch youth: The role of psychological and physical factors. The 20th World Congress for Sexual Health.
Van de Bongardt, D., Reitz, E., Baams, L., & Deković, M. (2011, June). Sexual development of Dutch youth: The role of family and peers. The 20th World Congress for Sexual Health.
SERVICE
Chair Flemish-Dutch LGBTI Research Network (2020-present)
Chair, Society for Research on Child Development Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity/Expression Caucus, (2023-present)
Chair by-laws committee, Society for Research on Child Development Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity/Expression Caucus, (2019-2021)
Chair ethics committee Pedagogy and Educational Sciences, University of Groningen (2018-2022)
Co-chair board YESS BSS, University of Groningen (2020-2021)
Member YESS BSS, University of Groningen (2019-2021)
Editorial board (Publons profile):
Journal of Research on Adolescence (2020-present)
Archives of Sexual Behavior (2017-2021)
Kind & Adolescent [Child & Adolescent] (2017-2020)
Special issue: LGBT youth and social context, Guest editor (with dr. Henny Bos) of Pedagogiek [Pedagogics], Volume 35, 2015
Ad-Hoc Reviewer for (selection):
Archives of Sexual Behavior
JAMA Pediatrics
Child Development
LGBT Health
Cyberpsychology, Behavior, and Social Networking
Journal of Research on Adolescence (editorial board)
Journal of Adolescent Health
Journal of Sex & Marital Therapy
Journal of Sex Research
PLOS ONE
Psychiatry Research
Psychology & Health
Laura Baams 