Anne Urai (1988), assistant professor of cognitive neuroscience at Leiden University, receives theHeineken Young Scientists Award for Social Sciences 2026. In her laboratory, she investigates through controlled experiments how the brain processes information and how decisions are made. The jury is impressed by the originality and impact of her work and expects that she will make a lasting contribution to her field and beyond.
Every two years, the Heineken Young Scientists Awards recognise and encourage highly promising researchers affiliated with Dutch universities or research institutes. Established in 2010 by Charlene de Carvalho-Heineken, the awards are presented by the Alfred Heineken Fondsen Foundation in the domains of Medical/Biomedical Sciences, Humanities, Natural Sciences, and Social Sciences. The award consists of an unrestricted cash prize of €15,000, a specially commissioned artwork anda platform to make their work visible to a wider audience.
Jury praises originality and impact
The jury, chaired by Hester den Ruijter (professor at UMC Utrecht), praises the originality, quality, and societal relevance of Urai’s work. According to the jury, she convincingly connects fundamental science with current issues in society. “With her interdisciplinary profile, strong international standing, and clear societal engagement, she is an inspiring role model for young researchers,” Den Ruijter says.
About the research
Every day, people constantly make decisions about what they see, hear, and expect. But why does one person react differently than another to the exact same information? To gain a constantly improving understanding of how our brain processes information and where our decision-making behavior stems from, Urai translates real-world situations into controlled experiments in her laboratory.
Using magnetoencephalography (MEG), Urai and her colleagues record the brain’s magnetic activity while research participants play specially designed computer games. She uses this method to investigate how previous choices influence new decisions, among other topics. “We often don’t evaluate new information in a completely neutral way,” Urai says. “Our previous choices colour how we interpret new situations. That can lead to forms of confirmation bias. By being aware of this factor, we can make sure to take it into account more effectively when making important decisions.”
Urai also investigates how people make choices in group settings, particularly regarding social issues such as sustainability. Is someone more likely to choose the vegetarian option if more and more colleagues do too? This can lead to social tipping points: sudden shifts in behaviour that occur when people align their choices with others.
From the lab to society
As a self-proclaimed academic climate activist, in the future Urai wants to increasingly translate her lab research into behavioural change that is relevant to major issues in society. “Such as the shift toward more sustainable ways of living,” Urai says. “Insights from behavioural science and neuroscience can make a tangible contribution to that process.” In this context, she is curious about individual differences: why do some people stick to their habits while others do not?
More information
The awards ceremony will take place on Thursday, 1 October 2026, at the ARTIS Amsterdam Royal Zoo. Press: Institute of Psychology, Heineken Prizes.
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