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Gudrun Reijnierse is Associate Professor of Language & Communication at the department of Language, Literature and Communication (Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities). 

Gudrun's research is driven by a deep curiosity to understand how communication works and is characterized by methodological diversity and innovation. Her research covers three interrelated themes: 1) the language of science communication; 2) the use and effect of metaphors across discourse contexts; 3) tools for (automatic) metaphor analysis. 

In her work, Gudrun aims to bring a 'language & communication' perspective to the emerging field of the science of science communication. She does so by focusing on the use and effects of metaphor -- and language choices more broadly -- in communication between experts and non-experts across a range of different domains such as journalism, education, and healthcare. Specifically, her publications demonstrate how language choices shape public discourse on societally relevant science-related topics such as COVID-19, immunotherapy, quantum technology, AI, and sustainability. Gudrun also has a longstanding interest in the development of tools for metaphor analysis. 

Gudrun currently supervises two PhDs:

• Femke van Bruggen's project on the use and effects of metaphors in communication about emerging climate technologies (with dr. Tim Groot Kormelink, dr. Elliott Hoey and prof. Hedwig te Molder); daily supervisor and co-promotor
• Roel Verloop's NWO-funded project "Lees de les. Een onderzoek naar metafoorvaardigheden van zwakke lezers in het basisonderwijs" [Read the lesson. A study on metaphorical competencies of poor readers in primary education] (with dr. Nina Sangers and prof. Roel van Steensel); co-promotor

She was previously involved as supervisor (co-promotor) in:

• Aletta Meinsma's project on popular communication about quantum science and technology (with dr. Julia Cramer and prof. Ionica Smeets; 2021-2025; PhD awarded January 2026)
• Yao Tong's project on the role of gesture in the embodiment of concrete and abstract concepts (with prof. Alan Cienki; 2019-2023; PhD awarded March 2023)

She also served as lead linguist (including as postdoc in 2021-2022) in the EU Horizon 2020-funded PhD project of Nynke Bos (2021-2025; PhD awarded December 2025).

Other recently funded research projects include:

• Metaphor in the making: How journalistic practices shape metaphor use in science reporting (NWO Open Competition XS) - PI
• Computationally Supported Metaphor Analysis (Network Institute Academy Assistants project) - PI with dr. Pia Sommerauer
• How the public uses, accepts and resists metaphors that shape online discussions about climate technologies (Network Institute research visit) - PI with dr. Anaïs Augé (UC Louvain)

Gudrun teaches in the BA and MA programmes in Communication and Information Studies (Language & Media, Media & Journalistiek, Multimodal Communication, Journalistiek) where she also supervises theses and internships. 

Subjects include: communication and cognition, social media analysis, genre design, and document design.