Ammodo Science Award granted to Janna Cousijn

The Ammodo Science Award for Social Sciences has been awarded this year to cognitive neuroscientist Dr. Janna Cousijn of Erasmus University Rotterdam. She receives this honor for initiating a paradigm shift in addiction research related to cannabis use. Each laureate is awarded a sum of €350,000, enabling them to conduct independent scientific research on fundamental questions in their field over the coming years.

From the advisory committee report: "Janna Cousijn is transforming the direction of addiction research by focusing not on the harmful effects of cannabis use but on the recovery capacity of the adolescent brain. Her research on 'social plasticity'-the brain's ability to adapt to its social environment-explains why many young people who use cannabis can stop without treatment when placed in a drug-free environment. She has shown that adolescents' high social sensitivity, often regarded as a risk factor, can also be a strength. This influential insight contributes to more effective addiction care that harnesses the brain's natural resilience."

Dr. Janna Cousijn studied Medical Biology and Cognitive Sciences at the University of Amsterdam, where she earned her doctorate cum laude in 2012 with research on cannabis addiction. Since 2021, Cousijn has been an Associate Professor at Team Brain & Cognition, Erasmus School of Social and Behavioural Sciences. With her team, she explores how the environment and the brain together shape addiction risk and resilience.

Learn more on the work of Dr. Janna Cousijn on the website of Ammodo Science Award

About the Ammodo Science Award for Fundamental Research

Every two years, Ammodo presents the Ammodo Science Award for Fundamental Research to eight exceptional mid-career scientists conducting fundamental research. This award includes a monetary prize of €350,000 and is presented across four scientific domains: Humanities, Social Sciences, Natural Sciences, and Biomedical Sciences. The laureates are selected by advisory committees composed of esteemed scientists.

• Erasmus School of Social and Behavioural Sciences

• Friday 1 Jul 2022
• Press release