Nicole Dukers

Principle Investigator
Assosiate Professor

I have spent my career at the crossroads of science and society. Trained as an epidemiologist and social network specialist, I have devoted the past 30 years to understanding how people, environments, behaviors, and biology intertwine to shape health—and to putting those insights into practice. My work is grounded in the belief that public health challenges can only be solved by embracing complexity and by bringing the right people together.

As an Associate Professor in the Department of Health Promotion at CAPHRI, Maastricht University, and an infectious diseases epidemiologist at the Public Health Service South Limburg, I move fluently between academic research and real‑world public health practice. This dual position allows me to spot emerging issues early—whether they relate to infectious diseases, social health, inequities, or chronic conditions—and to translate those observations into meaningful research questions and practical solutions.

I am known for collaboration and for bridging disciplines, combining epidemiology with behavioral science, social network analysis, and biological and behavioral insights to unravel how health patterns emerge within communities and how solutions can be implemented. I lead cohort studies and NWO/ZonMw projects on social connection (such as SaNAE, PRIME, SNIP, and LANA). The lessons learned in my research do not stay confined to papers: I work closely with citizens, professionals, and policymakers to strengthen public health on the ground.

Over the course of my career, I have supervised 20 PhD candidates, published more than 200 scientific papers, and contributed significantly to advancing applied public health research (H‑index: 54). Yet what defines me most is not the numbers, but my dedication to improving health by understanding people and the systems in which they live.

Personally, I love to put social connection into practice by spending time with family and friends, enjoying long walks in nature with my four‑legged companion, and going out to spot birds.

Expertise: prevention, egocentric networks, sociocentric networks, metrics, public health, loneliness, epidemiology

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