Joyce Bosmans | Navigation and Spatial Cognition | Best Researcher Award

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Dr. Joyce Bosmans | Navigation and Spatial Cognition | Best Researcher Award

KU Leuven | Belgium

Dr. Joyce Bosmans is a Belgian cognitive neuroscientist and postdoctoral researcher at KU Leuven, specializing in the neural and cognitive mechanisms underlying navigation, vestibular function, balance, and spatial cognition. She earned her PhD in Translational Neurosciences from the University of Antwerp, focusing on the relationship between vestibular function, balance, and cognition, and holds a Master’s degree in Clinical and Health Psychology from KU Leuven. Her professional experience includes postdoctoral research in brain and cognition, international research stays at the German Vertigo Center, and extensive teaching at both bachelor’s and master’s levels, covering human brain imaging, neuropsychology, and clinical practicum training. She has supervised multiple master’s students across biomedical sciences, medicine, and psychology, reflecting her mentorship and leadership skills. Her research interests encompass vestibular contributions to navigation, multisensory integration, neuropsychology of stroke and cognitive impairment, and translational applications from fundamental neuroscience to clinical practice. She is highly skilled in advanced MRI analyses, cognitive testing, systematic reviews, experimental design, and stakeholder-driven research implementation. Joyce has received numerous grants and awards, including FWO travel grants, recognition for high-impact publications, and prizes for science communication and outreach, demonstrating her commitment to both scientific rigor and societal impact. In conclusion, Joyce Bosmans combines interdisciplinary expertise, methodological sophistication, and translational vision to advance understanding of human navigation and vestibular-cognitive interactions, bridging neuroscience research with clinical and societal applications.

Profile: ORCID

Featured Publications

Bosmans, J., Moyaert, J., van Eetvelde, J., & Gillebert, C. R. (2025). Navigational difficulties after stroke: A systematic review and meta-analysis. The Clinical Neuropsychologist.

Gommeren, H., Moyaert, J., Bosmans, J., Mertens, G., Cras, P., Engelborghs, S., Van Ombergen, A., Gilles, A., Van Dam, D., & Van Rompaey, V. (2023). Evaluation of hearing levels and vestibular function and the impact on cognitive performance in (pre)-symptomatic patients with DFNA9: Protocol for a prospective longitudinal study (Rosetta study).

Bosmans, J., Gommeren, H., zu Eulenburg, P., Gilles, A., Mertens, G., Van Ombergen, A., Cras, P., Engelborghs, S., & Van Rompaey, V. (2023). Is vestibular function related to human hippocampal volume? Preprint.

Gommeren, H., Bosmans, J., Moyaert, J., Mertens, G., Cras, P., Engelborghs, S., Van Ombergen, A., Gilles, A., Fransen, E., & van de Berg, R. (2022). Accelerated cognitive decline associated with hearing loss and bilateral vestibulopathy: Insights from a prospective cross-sectional study using the Repeatable Battery for the Assessment of Neuropsychological Status adjusted for the hearing impaired in the DFNA9 population. Ear & Hearing.

Bosmans, J., Gommeren, H., Mertens, G., Cras, P., Engelborghs, S., Van Ombergen, A., Gilles, A., & Van Rompaey, V. (2022). Associations of bilateral vestibulopathy with cognition in older adults matched with healthy controls for hearing status. JAMA Otolaryngology–Head & Neck Surgery.

Azzeddine Charki | Neuropsychology | Best Researcher Award

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Assist. Prof. Dr. Azzeddine Charki | Neuropsychology | Best Researcher Award 

Dr. Azzeddine Charki is a Professor of Cognitive and Biological Psychology at the Faculty of Letters and Human Sciences Aïn Chock, Hassan II University, Casablanca. He holds a Ph.D. in Neuropsychology from Sidi Mohamed Ben Abdellah University, Fez. Dr. Charki is an esteemed researcher and active member of the Laboratory for Studies and Research in Cognitive and Human Sciences, focusing on psychology and language. With a strong dedication to cognitive psychology and neuropsychology, he supervises numerous research projects and contributes significantly to academic discourse. He has authored and co-authored several publications in high-impact journals on topics such as executive function, mentalizing, and neurodevelopmental disorders like ASD and ADHD. Fluent in Arabic, French, and English, he integrates pedagogical expertise with rigorous data analysis and project management. Dr. Charki’s commitment to advancing psychological science is matched by his passion for mentoring and fostering academic growth in his field.

Profile

🎓 Education

Dr. Azzeddine Charki earned his Ph.D. in Neuropsychology from Sidi Mohamed Ben Abdellah University, Fez. His doctoral work laid the foundation for his deep specialization in neuropsychology and cognitive sciences, particularly in executive function and mentalizing. Throughout his academic training, he developed a multidisciplinary understanding of brain-behavior relationships, integrating biological, cognitive, and social perspectives. His education emphasized both theoretical models and practical application in clinical and developmental contexts. Dr. Charki also received training in pedagogy, research methodology, and advanced data analysis techniques, which he continues to use in his academic career. His strong educational background has enabled him to contribute to Moroccan and international scholarship in cognitive and neuropsychology. His academic formation has also nurtured a strong inclination toward interdisciplinary research and collaborative knowledge production, particularly in the study of social cognition and neurodevelopmental disorders such as autism and ADHD.

🧪 Experience

Dr. Azzeddine Charki began his academic career as a Temporary Professor at Sidi Mohamed Ben Abdellah University, Fez (2020–2022), where he taught and conducted research in cognitive and neuropsychology. Since November 2023, he has been serving as Assistant Professor at the Faculty of Letters and Human Sciences Aïn Chock, Hassan II University, Casablanca. Over the years, he has supervised numerous undergraduate and postgraduate research projects and participated in collaborative initiatives within the university’s Laboratory for Studies and Research in Cognitive and Human Sciences. In addition to his teaching responsibilities, Dr. Charki has contributed extensively to the academic literature with a focus on executive functioning, theory of mind, and developmental psychopathology. His professional experience also includes project management, scientific writing, and dissemination of research findings. His bilingual and multicultural skills have allowed him to reach a wide range of students and researchers across Arabic, Francophone, and Anglophone academic contexts.

🏅 Awards and Honors

Dr. Azzeddine Charki has earned recognition primarily through his impactful research publications and academic service in Morocco’s leading institutions. Although specific named awards were not detailed, his repeated inclusion in peer-reviewed international and regional journals such as Applied Neuropsychology: Child, Neuropsychiatry and Neuropsychology, and the Arab Journal of Psychology signifies scholarly acknowledgment of his research excellence. His work on autism spectrum disorder, theory of mind, and executive functions reflects high intellectual merit and contributes meaningfully to both theoretical understanding and practical applications in neuropsychology. Dr. Charki’s mentorship of numerous student research projects and his active engagement in cross-disciplinary studies also underscore his standing as a respected academic. Being a core member of a cognitive science laboratory at Hassan II University further testifies to his leadership in scientific inquiry and academic collaboration. These contributions collectively demonstrate his respected status and growing impact in the field of cognitive psychology and neurodevelopmental research.

🔬 Research Focus

Dr. Charki’s research centers on cognitive psychology and neuropsychology, with particular interest in executive functions, social cognition, and neurodevelopmental disorders. He investigates mentalizing processes, especially the cognitive and affective domains of theory of mind in children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). His work explores both typical and atypical development, aiming to identify neural and behavioral mechanisms underlying disorders such as ASD and ADHD. He also delves into comparative frameworks across schizophrenia spectrum disorders, highlighting the neurobiological overlap in social cognition deficits. Dr. Charki integrates developmental psychology, neurobiology, and psychometric assessments to explore how children’s cognitive representations are structured and evolve in different socio-cultural contexts. His scholarly publications demonstrate a strong methodological foundation and innovative contributions to understanding how executive functions interact with social behavior. Furthermore, he actively examines Moroccan sociocultural representations in educational contexts, blending qualitative and quantitative approaches to enrich cognitive psychological theory and practice.

✅ Conclusion

Dr. Azzeddine Charki is a dedicated cognitive psychologist whose interdisciplinary research on executive function, mentalizing, and neurodevelopmental disorders enhances both scientific understanding and educational practice through a culturally grounded and evidence-based approach.

Publications

  • Charki, A., Zarbouch, B., Bouchala, C., & Meklaui, F., Z . (2024). Neuronal and developmental dimensions of mentalizing and it’s connection with executive functions. Arab Journal of Psychology. https://doi.org/10.57642/AJOPSY911

 

  • Charki, A., Meklaoui, F. Z., Charki, A., & Ettouzani, A. (2025). Examining the association between variation of ASD and cognitive and affective domains of mentalizing in verbal children with ASD. Applied Neuropsychology: Child, 1–11. https://doi.org/10.1080/21622965.2025.2504502

 

 

 

 

 

 

Siamak Khodarahimi | Clinical Psychology | Best Researcher Award

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Prof Dr. Siamak Khodarahimi | Clinical Psychology | Best Researcher Award

Profile

Education

Dr. S. Khodarahimi holds multiple academic degrees in psychology, including a B.A. in Clinical Psychology from Shiraz University, Iran (1987), and an M.A. in Clinical Psychology from Meshed Ferdowsi University, Iran (1994), where he achieved a GPA of 18.93. He earned his first PhD in Clinical Psychology from Atlantic International University, USA, in 2005, with a GPA of 3.76. Further advancing his expertise, he completed a Postdoctoral Fellowship in Clinical Psychology at Universiti Sains Malaysia in 2010, receiving an “Excellent” rating. In 2020, he obtained a second PhD in Psychology from Lorestan University, achieving a remarkable GPA of 19.61. His research has focused on various aspects of psychology, including psychotherapy, personality structures, workplace stress, and sleep and dream quality in individuals with anxiety disorders.

Work experience

Dr. S. Khodarahimi has held several academic and administrative positions throughout his career. From 2000 to 2022, he served as an Assistant Professor of Psychology at Islamic Azad University, Eghlid Branch. Additionally, between 2000 and 2006, he held the role of Vice President for Research at the same institution and was a member of the Research Council for the First Zone of Islamic Azad University.

His earlier academic roles include serving as a contractual faculty staff member in the Psychology Department at Bavanat Payam Nour University, Fars, Iran (1999–2002), and as a faculty staff member of the Research Group for Behavioral Sciences at the Iranian Academic Center for Education, Culture, and Research (ACECR), Shiraz (1998–1999). Prior to that, from 1994 to 1997, he was a contractual faculty member in the Psychology Department at Chamran Ahwaz University, Ahwaz, and contributed to the Research Group for Social Psychology at ACECR, Ahwaz.

Dr. Khodarahimi’s leadership experience includes serving as the Dean of the Research Center for Psychological Services in Shiraz, Fars, from 1990 to 1992, highlighting his longstanding commitment to psychological research and education.

Teaching Experience

Dr. S. Khodarahimi has an extensive teaching and training background, spanning multiple universities and covering a wide range of psychology courses.

From 1993 to 1997, at Chamran Ahwaz University, he taught courses such as Mental Health, Personality Theories, Principles of Clinical Psychology, Psychopathology (1), Theories of Psychotherapy, and Introduction to Diagnostic and Therapeutic Methods.

Between 1999 and 2002, at Payam Nour University – Bavanat Center, his teaching portfolio included Psychology of Development (1 & 2), Psychology of Personality, Social Psychology, Experimental Psychology, Individual Research Projects in Psychology, Introduction to Neuropsychology, Abnormal Psychology, Psychology Texts in English (1 & 2), Research Method in Psychology, and Psychology of Work.

From 2000 to 2022, at Islamic Azad University – Eghlid Branch, he instructed courses such as Introduction to Psychology, Educational Psychology, Social Psychology for Nursing, Psychology of Learning, Developmental Psychology (1 & 2), Counseling Methods and Outlines, Child Counseling, Exceptional Psychology, and Introduction to Practical Research.

Dr. Khodarahimi’s diverse teaching experience reflects his expertise in various psychological disciplines, ranging from clinical and developmental psychology to research methodology and neuropsychology.

Research interests

1. Positive Psychology, Mental Health, Cross Cultural, Psychotherap and
Interdiciplinary Reaserch.
2. Investigation in psychosocial interventions and psychopathological issues
among adolescents, youth, adults and women.
3. Research in anxiety disordres, worry, emotions, and high risk behaviors with
focus on psychological interventions at individual and collective levels.

Publication