Els Clays combines a Master in Sociology with a PhD in Medical Sciences. She was appointed assistant professor in October 2014 and started as associate professor in October 2019 at the Department of Public Health and Primary Care of Ghent University, with a specific specialty in psychosocial and physical risk factors for cardiovascular health and general wellbeing, including the investigation of physiological pathways and mechanisms. She has a broad expertise in general epidemiology – including coronary risk factor epidemiology and prevention –, public health, occupational health and biostatistics.