My research focusses on understanding the ecological and evolutionary processes that determine the dynamics of biological populations. In this era of global climate change and large scale human induced habitat degradation, the pressure to respond adequately is stronger than ever. If animals are incapable of responding to environmental change, declines in numbers, and possibly extinctions, are inevitable. In my research I combine ecology and evolution to understand adaptations to rapid environmental change in the wild, and its effect on population dynamics.
As NIOZ postdoc researcher, I am part of the gull research team. I particularly focus on the link of individual specialisation and population dynamics of Herring Gulls and Lesser Black-backed Gulls. One of the questions I'm interested in, is what will happen with the gull populations in relation to changing fisheries at the North Sea, now discards will reduce in availability.
In the past, I have studied population dynamics of Black-tailed Godwits at University of Groningen with Prof Theunis Piersma. I focused on the role of agricultural intensification on godwit population characteristics such as vital rates and phenology. At University of Oxford (2016-2018), I have studied density-dependent life history selection in Soay Sheep and found that population fluctuations can maintain variation in life history traits.
2018 - Present
Postdoctoral researcher at NIOZ
2016-2018
Research Fellow at Department of Zoology, University of Oxford. Newton International Fellow, Royal Society
2015-2016
Postdoctoral researcher at University of Groningen
2007-2015
PhD-student at Univeristy of Groningen
Please find my list of publications at the bottom of this webpage or on [GoogleScholar]. You can download all my publications on [ResearchGate].
2015 PhD: "Spatial demography of Black-tailed Godwits. Metapopulation dynamics in a fragmented agricultural landscape". Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, University of Groningen, The Netherlands. Promotors: Prof T. Piersma and Prof C. Both
2006 MSc: Biology, University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
Newton International Fellowship Alumni Award (2019-2020)
KNAW Ecology fund (2019-2020)
BOU ornithological research grant (2019) (https://www.bou.org.uk/grants-and-bursaries/previous-awards-project-reports/)
Newton International Research Fellowship awarded by The Royal Society (2016-2018). Host institution: Department of Zoology, University of Oxford
Various MSc projects are available year-round. They range from field projects (April - July), to lab projects and projects where you learn to analyse large quantities of data. Contact me for details, or check the NIOZ internship webpage.
Now available: from individual specialisation to population dynamics in seabirds