Ciska Veen is the new professor by special appointment of Soil Biology

Ciska Veen has been named as Professor by Special Appointment of Soil Biology at Wageningen University & Research (WUR). In addition to her new role at WUR, she will continue to serve as Head of the Terrestrial Ecology Department at the Netherlands Institute of Ecology (NIOO-KNAW).

Veen investigates how soil organisms such as bacteria, fungi and small soil animals contribute to healthy ecosystems. Soil life plays an important role in carbon sequestration, plant growth and biodiversity.

Soil life as foundation for sustainable ecosystems

Veen is a soil ecologist who studies how soil communities – including bacteria, fungi, nematodes and micro-arthropods – influence ecosystems. More than sixty per cent of all organisms live in the soil and play a crucial role in processes such as carbon sequestration, plant growth and biodiversity.

Within her chair theme, Veen focuses on the question of how knowledge about natural ecosystems can contribute to more sustainable land use and better soil management. In doing so, she investigates, among other things, how organic matter influences soil communities and how these processes can contribute to efficient cycles of carbon and other nutrients.

Research into soil communities

Veen studied biology at the University of Groningen, where she obtained her Master’s degree with distinction in 2005. In 2011, she was awarded a PhD for her research into interactions between above- and below-ground organisms and their influence on the dynamics and diversity of plant communities in natural grasslands.

After completing her PhD, she moved to the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences in Umeå, Sweden, on an NWO Rubicon grant. There, she conducted research into decomposition processes in Arctic ecosystems. This research formed the basis for her subsequent work at the Netherlands Institute of Ecology. Here, she continued her research into soil communities, land use and climate change.

In addition to researching decomposition processes, Veen studies how soil communities respond to changes in land use and climate and what the consequences are for ecosystem functions. She coordinates long-term field experiments in the Veluwe natural area and is jointly responsible for various research programmes on climate-smart forest management, soil biodiversity and sustainable tree cultivation.

Science and society

In addition to her research, Veen is committed to fostering collaboration within the field of soil ecology. She is co-founder and chair of the National Centre for Soil Ecology, a networking platform for soil ecologists in the Netherlands.
She also holds various scientific and public roles. For instance, she is a member of the NWO Life Sciences panel, editor of the journals Functional Ecology and Oikos, and chair of the advisory board of Gelders Landschap & Kasteelen.

About Ciska Veen

Ciska Veen is head of the Terrestrial Ecology department at NIOO and professor by special appointment in the Soil Biology research group at Wageningen University & Research. Her research focuses on the role of soil organisms in ecosystems and on applying knowledge from natural ecosystems to sustainable agriculture and nature conservation.