On 1 March 2007, Dr Floor Rink (31) was appointed a Rosalind Franklin Fellow at the Faculty of Economics and Business. She graduated in organizational psychology from the University of Groningen and obtained a PhD in social psychology (with distinction) at Leiden University. Floor Rink is interested in the social psychological mechanisms underlying group decision making and group behavior. She focuses on identity issues and the interplay between individuals and groups, and has specialized herself in two research areas; (1) The conditions that facilitate the upward mobility of minority members within organizations and the circumstances under which members of diverse work teams are expected to function most effectively and (2) The question whether, and if so how, mobility – or the entry of new group members into a work team – can have a positive influence on the extent to which valuable and unique information is exchanged and effectively used within teams.
Floor Rink: “The fellowship consists of a temporary appointment for five years. However, after two and a half years, my position was already converted into a tenured associate professorship. This early promotion indicates that - when meeting the tenure track criteria - a Rosalind Franklin position offers a great career opportunity to female researchers”
Enthusiastic she tells about the new collaboration lab: “To me, one of the most attractive features of the Rosalind Franklin Fellowship was that the faculty was willing to set up a new collaboration lab so that I, together with other experimental researchers, could develop new lines of research. The collaboration lab now offers a highly stimulating research environment, consisting of break out rooms, cubicles and video rooms - all installed with state-of- the-art technical facilities - and a large scale subject pool”.
And about living in Groningen: “So far, I have really enjoyed living in Groningen with my family. It was a big step for us to move, but Groningen is a lively student city, and the province is just beautiful. We really feel at home here. And, it is great working at the Faculty of Economics and Business The faculty, and my colleagues at the HRM/OB department have always supported my research endeavours. For instance, they thought of ways to help me with my research during the time when the lab was not yet finished. For this, I am very grateful. I strongly believe that working in a collaborative environment, increases the likelihood that a researcher will meet the criteria for promotion. This was definitely true in my case.”
