Introducing PhD candidate Bent-Andreas Mücke
Bent-Andreas Mücke started his PhD on August 18th, 2025 at the University of Amsterdam as part of the Cognitive Control team. The central objective of his project is to develop network-informed treatments for addictions (e.g. cannabis use disorder) and compare them with conventional treatments. Additionally, he investigates the potential impact of enhanced future-oriented thinking on treatment efficacy.
Since a young age, Bent has been interested in the study of drugs and addiction. He obtained his bachelor's degree in Psychology & Neuroscience in 2022, and his research master's degree in Cognitive & Clinical Neuroscience (specialization Drug Development & Neurohealth) in 2024, both at Maastricht University.
Afterwards, he worked as an outpatient social worker in Frankfurt am Main, specializing in clients with psychopathologies and substance-related problems. Throughout his early career, Bent was confronted with the varying perspectives surrounding addiction (psychological, cognitive, neurobiological, social), while focusing on a single yet complex goal: how can the treatment of addictive behaviors be improved?
In his project, he uses Ecological Momentary Assessment (EMA) to help individuals identify relevant risk situations and develop ways to better act in accordance with their long-term goals. With his research, Bent aims to develop and test personalized treatment strategies - tailored to the individual and the circumstances he or she is living in - to contribute to a better understanding of (the treatment of) addiction.