I am affiliated with the Research Institute for Social Policy, Social Work, Family and Population Dynamics (ReSPOND) at the Centre for Sociological Research, KU Leuven. Our research broadly focuses on responses in populations, families, organisations and institutions to a changing environment, notably in the context of European welfare states and global climate change.
We investigate changing family and population dynamics on the one hand, and social policies, their design and implementation through institutions and social interventions by social workers as well as their social legitimacy on the other. It is of major interest how both elements interact, and we empirically focus on their outcomes in terms of inequality, poverty, employment and well-being for different groups at risk. Welfare states are studied in relation to changing social, economic, political and cultural contexts, with a particular focus on new challenges and risks, including climate change, ageing, migration, and automation.
http://www.respond-research.eu
Senior researchers
Junior researchers
- Lore Van Herreweghe (promoter)
- David De Smalen (co-promoter with Jan Van Bavel)
- Laure-lise Robben (co-promoter with Koen Hermans)
- Cyrille Francisco (promoter with Adeline Otto)
- Marie-Laure Mulayi (promoter with Tijs Laenen and Bart Meuleman)
- Valeria Ansaloni
- Joy Schols (promoter with Wim van Oorschot and Hans Peeters)
- Eef Gijbels (promoter with Nicky Rogge and Julie Vinck)
- Janne Petroons (promoter with Koen Hermans and Marjolijn De Wilde)
- Lien Steyaert (promoter)
- Bram Audenaert
- Joanna Geerts Danau
- Thalissa Renders
Former doctoral students
- dr. Zach Parolin
- dr. Julie Vinck
- dr. Nikolett Somogyi (co-promoter with Sarah Van de Velde)