She obtained her Research Master degree in 2007 (cum laude) and a PhD in 2011 (cum laude). In 2012 she obtained the VENI Grant to investigate the phenomenon of sacrifice in close relationships and the implications of sacrificing for the individual and the relationship well-being. In 2015 she obtained the ORA Grant together with Wilhelm Hofmann and Paul Van Lange to investigate implicit partner evaluations. Besides sacrifice, Francesca is currently researching the interplay between self-regulatory processes and close relationship dynamics (e.g., how people help each other in accomplishing goals; self-control). In 2014 she won the Early Career Award from the European Association of Social Psychology (EASP). In 2015 she was nominated as Raising Star from the Association for Psychological Science (APS).