As of March 2026, APH researcher Barbara Groot-Sluijsmans has been appointed program leader of APH Methodology. She succeeds Wouter Peyrot and will co-lead the program together with Miranda Langendam.

Groot-Sluijsmans is Assistant Professor at Health Sciences, VU Amsterdam, and Endowed Professor of Participatory Research for Health and Well-being at the Applied University of Amsterdam (HvA). She has been an active member of the program council of Methodology since 2024 and brings over 22 years of experience as a qualitative and participatory researcher, including 12 years at Amsterdam UMC and VU. Since 2025, she also holds the position of Endowed Professor at HvA.

Groot-Sluijsmans is an interdisciplinary researcher committed to contributing to societal transformation in health and well-being. Her research focuses on advancing the ethics, quality, and creativity of participatory research, qualitative and arts-based research in health and well-being, and the innovation of creative qualitative methodology. In addition to her research, Groot-Sluijsmans coordinates two qualitative methodology courses for Health Science students at both bachelor’s and master’s levels.

“There is still a strong need for knowledge and expertise in this methodology within APH. As program leader, I see it as an opportunity to draw more attention to the ethics and quality of implementation, co-creation, and ways to achieve societal impact.”
Barbara Groot-Sluijsmans
Program leader APH Methodology

As program leader of APH Methodogy, Groot-Sluijsmans aims to further strengthen the activities of the Methodology program, initiate new collaborations, and increase the visibility of methodological research within and outside APH.