STEFAN VERMEENT · POSTDOCTORAL RESEARCHER · UNIVERSITY OF AMSTERDAM

How does adversity
shape cognition?

I study how exposure to adversity—such as threat, poverty, or unpredictability—shapes cognition and stress responses. I do so using a combination of computational modeling and formal modeling.

I am currently (March 2026-June 2027) a postdoctoral researcher within the Context consortium, funded by the Dutch Research Council. Starting in June 2027, I will start a two-year postdoc position as an independent researcher at the University of Mainz, supported by funding from the German Research Foundation (DFG).

Explore my research Publications

· Institute for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Dynamics, University of Amsterdam
· DEEP Lab
· Communicating and Expanding Research on Adversity (CERA) Network

Portrait of Stefan Vermeent
University of Amsterdam, NL

My research programme

Overview

People have a remarkable capacity to adapt to adversity. I investigate how exposure to adversity shapes cognitive processes and stress responses. My research consists of a combination of empirical research and formal modeling.

01 / EMPIRICAL

Computational models of cognition

How does adversity shape cognitive processes related to executive functioning? My recent work↗ challenges existing deficit frameworks by showing that performance differences do not reflect deficits in specific abilities.

  • Adversity, including poverty and threat
  • Executive functioning, abilities central to goal-directed behavior
  • Computational cognitive modelling, including Drift Diffusion Modelling

Key questionWhich cognitive processes are shaped by adversity, and in what way?

02 / FORMAL

Formal models of stress regulation

Research often emphasizes the value of downregulating stress when making important decisions. But is this always best? Using formal modeling, I explore optimal stress regulation across different environments.

  • Optimal stress responses to potential threat
  • Interplay between physiology and decision making
  • Formal mathematical models of adaptation

Key questionWhen is it adaptive for people to down- or upregulate their stress response?

LET’S CONNECT

Interested in my work?

For research conversations, collaborations, or invitations, email p.c.s.vermeent [at] uva [dot] nl.

Publications → Talks → Curriculum vitae →

Recent work. Computational Modeling of Decision Making Enhances the Adversity Researcher’s Toolbox. Topics in Cognitive Science