The KNAW has about 585 members. They are elected on the basis of high-quality scientific achievements. Members are appointed for life. Every year, the KNAW elects new members to vacant positions. This is based on nominations from within and outside the KNAW. The opinion of external referees weighs into the selection.
Judith Rosmalen, professor of psychosomatics at the University of Groningen and the UMCG, is a driving force in international biopsychosocial health research. She focuses on persistent physical complaints, whether caused by a known illness or with unknown cause. Her research uses long-term population studies such as Lifelines and TRAILS, many of which she helped set up herself. These studies map a unique combination of biomedical, psychosocial and qualitative lifestyle data, and are now proving to be of great value, for example in research into the consequences of post-COVID.
