Willem Stander is a postdoctoral research fellow at the University of Birmingham. His teaching and research cover a broad spectrum of psychology, health, and social care programmes. Willem’s work primarily focuses on the health and well-being of marginalised and vulnerable young people (i.e., LGBTQ+ and looked-after young people), using mixed methods and participatory approaches. He is co-chair of the UK regional network for the International Partnership for Queer Youth Resilience (INQYR). He is also a member of the British Psychology Society and a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy. Willem has collaborated on research with leading UK and international LGBTQ+ non-profit organisations, including Stonewall and The Trevor Project.

Willem’s research explores mental health inequalities, help-seeking and sexual behaviours of marginalised or vulnerable populations, particularly LGBTQ+ communities and looked-after young people. His work also considers and evaluates the use of digital interventions to enhance health and social care service delivery and professionals' practice. Much of his work is cross-disciplinary and centred around participatory and co-production approaches.