Yolanda van Beek is researcher and teacher (associated professor) at the department of Developmental Psychology. Her research concerns the link between social development and depression in adolescence. With a background in ethology, special attention is given to the development of nonverbal behaviour and behavioural observations. She teaches in several bachelor and master courses on developmental psychopathology. She also supervises bachelor and master thesisses.

She also focuses on active learning as wel as interdiciplinary and community engaged learning. She also works 1 day a week for Education Development & Training as an advisor for interdisciplinary teaching.