I am a Junior Group Leader at the Netherlands Institute in Ecology in Wageningen (the Netherlands). I am a soil ecologist interested to understand diversity, species composition and the functioning of ecological communities. Currently, my research focusses on the role of specialized microorganisms in driving C and N cycling, their feedback to plant communities, the impact of global environmental change on soil processes and the feedback of biogeochemical cycling to atmospheric C concentrations.
Education and research positions
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1999 - 2005: BSc and MSc at University of Groningen (the Netherlands). Graduated Cum laude
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2005 - 2011: PhD study at University of Groningen (the Netherlands) on interactions between aboveground grazers and soil organisms; promotors: Prof. Han Olff & Prof. Wim van der Putten
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2011: postdoc at Netherlands Institute of Ecology (the Netherlands) on the impact of grazers on riparian vegetation. Advisor: Elisabeth Bakker
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2011 - 2014: postdoc at Swedish Agricultural University (Sweden) on home-field advantage in litter decomposition. Advisor: David Wardle
- 2014 - current: Junior Group Leader and VENI-laureate at Netherlands Institute of Ecology (the Netherlands).