Dr A Nauta (b. 1967) has been appointed extraordinary professor of Social-psychological and organisational-psychological aspects of pro-social behaviour at the Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences of the Universiteit van Amsterdam (UvA). The chair has been endowed by the Van der Gaag Foundation.

As extraordinary professor Aukje Nauta will be focusing on increasing, diffusing and applying knowledge on pro-social behaviour (helpful behaviour intended to benefit another person), particularly within the context of organisations. The aim of her research is to describe and explain how and why people work and cooperate with dedication. The following research questions will be addressed: What are the roles of self-interest and of focusing on the interest of others in explaining work attitudes and behaviour? What does ‘working with dedication’ mean if the company is not a clearly demarcated organisation, but a loose network of relationships? Dr Nauta will also be investigating how employees negotiate work relations with their manager, and how social partners will be able to create preconditions on the organizational level within which employment relations oblige both individual wishes and organisational interests. Employability will also have a pivotal role in Dr Nauta’s research. Dr Nauta aims not only to academically publish her results, but also to realise applications thereof in her post as Senior HR Consultant at Randstad HR Solutions, where she has been working since 2007.

Aukje Nauta received her PhD in organisational psychology from the University of Groningen in 1996. She worked as a post-doc and assistant professor at the Faculty of Management and Organization of the University of Groningen from 1997-2002. From 2002 onwards, she has been senior researcher and consultant at TNO Work and Employment. She has published on several HRM and organisational-psychological topics, including pro-social behaviour, conflict, negotiation and mediation in organisations, social comparison, teamwork, and age-sensitive HRM. She will be combining the extraordinary chair at the UvA with her post as Senior HR Consultant at Randstad HR Solutions.