migs@absl.io
Annecy Behavioral Science Lab
94 Route de Filly, 74410, Saint-Jorioz
The ABSL Team
Dr. Hans Rocha IJzerman
Hans is an award-winning scholar, author of Heartwarming, co-founder of In Mind Magazine, Psychological Science Accelerator, and the Collaborative Replications and Education Project. He is one of the leading voices in the psychological reform movement.
Miguel Silan
Migs is psychological science researcher and methodologist whose work with various organizations on-the-ground materially improved the lives of everyday Filipinos.
Nica Marie Julienne Ciruelas
Nica is a researcher in psychological science, who is interested in Filipino psychology and constructs.
Yacine Bouatrous
Yacine Bouatrous leads the business development efforts of ABSL. He focuses on bridging research with impactful solutions for corporate well-being.
Francine Putong
Francine Putong is a researcher in psychological science, involved in projects related to mental health research and religious discrimination in the Philippines.
Pauline Therese Toren
Pauline is a psychological science researcher whose interests center on applied behavioral science, social psychology, and developmental psychology constructs.
More about us
Dr. Hans Rocha IJzerman is a Dutch psychological scientist and former basketball player dedicated to the advancement of open science and the rigorous study of social connection. As the author of Heartwarming, Hans has explored the fundamental role of human connection in shaping our lives, earning him recognition as a leader in the study of social relationships. He co-founded initiatives such as In-Mind Magazine, the Psychological Science Accelerator, and the Collaborative Replications and Education Project, each reflecting his commitment to transparency and collaboration in scientific research.
His academic journey took him from St. Vincent College to Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam and Utrecht University, and he has been an influential force in advancing behavioral science reform. Hans’ work bridges the academic and public spheres, and he frequently shares insights with broader audiences through media like The New York Times, Huffington Post, and Psychology Today. Now at Annecy Behavioral Science Lab, he focuses on developing innovative tools for measuring and enhancing social connection, all while mentoring a new generation of scientists dedicated to impactful, ethical research.
Miguel Silan is a psychological science researcher and methodologist from the Philippines. He took is M.A. in Social Psychology (minor in Organizational Psychology) in the University of the Philippines Diliman and is undertaking his PhD in Psychology in the Université Lumière Lyon 2. He focuses on meta-methodology (when do our methods work and fail?) especially with methods for vulnerable populations. In his role as a methodologist, he has worked with various organizations on-the-ground to improve the lives of everyday Filipinos – having worked with Save the Children Philippines, Psychosocial Support and Children’s Rights Resource Center, National Research Council of the Philippines, Ateneo Policy Center and Social and Political Psychology Laboratory – UP Diliman.
Miguel Silan also serves as the Assistant Director of the Psychological Science Accelerator, a globally distributed network of laboratories across more than 80 countries. He focuses on engaging scholars from developing nations, and in rethinking how to do large-scale multi-country collaborations. His current projects focus on the philosophy of psychometrics, especially across cultures. He tackles the methodological and measurement problems of fuzzy constructs in psychology.
Nica Marie Jullienne Ciruelas (Nica) serves as the Head of People and Flourishing at ABSL, where she leads people operations and spearheads humanistic management initiatives focused on employee well-being and organizational flourishing. She earned her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from the University of the Philippines Cebu (magna cum laude). Her research interests span social psychology and Filipino psychology, with particular emphasis on cultural constructs and their application in organizational settings. At ABSL, she applies her expertise in behavioral science to create positive workplace environments and develop programs that foster both individual growth and collective success.
Yacine Bouatrous obtained a BA in Global Business Management from Regent’s University London before gaining experience in various organizational functions in both the public and private sectors. He then embarked on a career in media project management, where he addressed critical issues through journalism, particularly focusing on human rights in the North Africa region. He currently leads business development efforts and marketing initiatives.
Francine Putong obtained a BS in Psychology from the University of the Philippines Diliman (magna cum laude). She is currently pursuing an MA Clinical Psychology degree from De La Salle University Manila, where she is currently involved in faculty projects related to mental health research and religious discrimination.
As the Research and Administrative Coordinator of ABSL, she assists in various administrative tasks and in project management. She also uses her background in design and content creation in the publicity materials and social media accounts of ABSL.
Pauline Therese Toren (Pauline) holds the position of administrative coordinator and project manager at ABSL. She manages research implementation, stakeholder coordination, and helps to ensure smooth project operations of the Templeton World Charity Foundation (TWCF) project—a multicountry investigation into how people conceptualize and experience social connection, social isolation, and loneliness across diverse cultural contexts.
She also provides administrative support for the LONELY-EU project, contributing to research initiatives focused on loneliness and social connection in European communities. Previously, she worked as a researcher for a behavioral science company, collaborating on a project with the USAID RenewHealth initiative to implement evidence-based interventions. Pauline earned her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology (cum laude) from the University of the Philippines Cebu, where she developed a strong foundation in psychological research and behavioral science. She is a psychological science researcher whose interests center on applied behavioral science, social psychology, and developmental psychology constructs.