Rodrigo González Álvarez is a Mexican/Dutch cisgender queer social scientist. Rodrigo obtained a bachelor’s degree in Psychology at the National Autonomous University of México (UNAM). He moved to the Netherlands to follow a master’s programme in Clinical and Psychosocial Epidemiology at the University Medical Centre in Groningen. Rodrigo graduated with his PhD in 2023 with a dissertation exploring the multidimensional resilience of LGBTQIA+ youth living in out-of-home care.

Rodrigo worked part-time as a lecturer at Radboud University, the Faculty of Arts (RUG) and the University College Groningen (UCG, RUG) between 2022 and 2023 while completing his PhD. By this summer, Rodrigo was appointed full-time Social and Cultural Psychology lecturer at the UCG. Rodrigo’s teaching experience and expertise span through clinical, social and cultural psychology, (qualitative) research methodology, Decolonisation of knowledge, and gender and diversity/Queer studies. 

While affiliated with the Faculty of Behavioural and Social Sciences during his PhD, Rodrigo participated mainly in two research projects. The Audre project delved into the lives and experiences of LGBTQIA+ youth in out-of-home care and their care professionals in the Netherlands, and the FIRMUS project, a similar project conducted in the Spanish region of Cantabria. He also collaborated with a private research organisation based in Amsterdam on a project seeking more effective ways to support LGBTQIA+ homeless individuals in this Dutch city. His publications include research academic papers, academic book chapters, a book for care professionals and a book for LGBTQIA+ youth in the care system (in the making).

Rodrigo is affiliated with several academic and research groups, such as the Center of Gender Studies (RUG), the LGBTQIA+ Expertise Centre (RUG), and the Diversity and Inclusion Internal Advisory Board (RUG). His affiliation to these academic and professional boards aims to contribute to advancing the studies of and advocacy for marginalised communities and individuals.

Interdisciplinarity applied to solve real-world problems is integral to Rodrigo’s teaching and research philosophy. Rodrigo truly believes in the importance of driving his personal and professional life to the betterment of the earth and society, striving for social and environmental justice. You can find his full academic CV here.