Let’s Talk WITH Young Researchers: Welcome to our podcast sideline, in which we give the word to young researchers in the field of women’s mental health!

In this episode, meet Iris Hamers, PhD researcher at the University Medical Center Groningen. In her PhD, Iris investigates sex differences in mental health disorders and treatment, with a particular focus on schizophrenia and psychosis, and an expanding interest to other mental health disorders. Her work sits at the intersection of gonadal hormones, pharmacokinetics, and clinical neuroscience, aiming to better understand how biological sex influences symptom prevalence and treatment response.

Iris’ PhD combines research within a randomized controlled trial on early discontinuation of antipsychotics and large-scale population research on women’s mental health across the lifespan, using nationwide registry data from the Netherlands. In this episode, we discuss key lifespan patterns in mental healthcare, sex-specific vulnerabilities, and what these findings may mean for women’s mental health research and clinical practice.

Beyond her scientific work, Iris reflects on her PhD experience and the importance of supportive research communities in women’s mental health. She also shares insights into co-founding the Sex and Gender in Health Research Roundtable, an initiative that has grown into community of young researchers.

Wrapping up, Iris answers our renowned closing section — the “Three Burning Questions”:

• Who is your science crush?
• What did you not know or expect before starting a PhD?
• What do you enjoy most about your work as a PhD researcher?

Are you interested in the Sex and Gender in Health Research Roundtable?

Find them on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/sex-and-gender-in-health-research-roundtable/

... and sign-up here: https://forms.gle/pLqosyHTgeHsqkUbA 

Do you want to get in touch with Iris? Reach out to: [email protected]

... or find her here:

• https://www.linkedin.com/in/i-hamers/
• https://umcgresearch.org/w/i-m-h-hamers

Here you can learn more about the clinical trail on the early-discontinuation of antipsychotics: https://www.linkedin.com/company/hamlett-ophelia-consortium/

... as well as first results we discussed: https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamapsychiatry/fullarticle/2839607  

Sound recording: Franziska Weinmar

Editing: Franziska Weinmar

Do you have any feedback, suggestions, or questions? Get in touch with us: [email protected]

Are you intrigued by this topic and want to be kept updated? Follow us on twitter: @irtg2804 or instagram: @irtg2804

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