Pauline Slot works as an assistant professor in the department of Child, Family and Education studies at Utrecht University (UU). Her research focuses on the quality of early childhood education and care (ECEC) and its relationship with child development, professional development, cultural diversity, equality and inclusion. Furthermore, she is involved in the Dutch pre-COOL cohortstudy into the effectiveness of ECEC, the National Quality Monitor for Childcare funded by the Ministry of Social Affairs and the EU project aimed at combating educational inequalities (ISOTIS). She is project leader of the Dutch team and also a blogger for the UU.