Harmen is doing a postdoc, working with Prof Kenny Coventry and Dr Irene Sperandio, alongside the Marie Skłodowska Curie ITN DComm. In this project, he investigates the neural correlates of spatial memory. This project aims to explore which brain areas are involved in building and retaining spatial memories. 

Harmen joined the UEA in 2013, after studying Psychology, specialising in ‘Brain and Cognition’, and Philosophy at the Erasmus University Rotterdam, the Netherlands. At UEA, Harmen completed a PhD as an Early Stage Researcher within the Marie Skłodowska Curie ITN LanPercept, under the supervision of Prof Kenny Coventry and Dr Paul Engelhardt. In his project he investigated the interaction between language and perception, focussing on spatial memory and visual perception.

Harmen is primarily interested in the relationship between language and non-linguistic processes. These interests have led to investigations how language influences spatial memory, whether different languages affect spatial memory in a different way, and how language influences visual perception.