Vana Tsimopoulou

Vana Tsimopoulou is an Associate Professor at HZ University of Applied Sciences, specializing in hydraulic engineering and flood risk management. She holds a PhD in Civil Engineering from Delft University of Technology (2015), where she developed models for risk-based decision-making in flood management. Her career includes roles as an associate lecturer at IHE-Delft Institute for Water Education and a lecturer at The Hague University of Applied Sciences. Since 2020, she leads the Hedwige-Prosperpolder research project and joined the Building with Nature group. Her work spans consulting for companies like Van Oord and projects in the Netherlands, Turkey, the U.S., Japan, Indonesia, and Saudi Arabia.

Her research focuses on flood resilience, coastal engineering, and probabilistic design. Notable projects include Manabas Coast (enhancing coastal resilience) and BONSAI (strengthening estuarine systems). She explores multi-layer safety systems, tsunami preparedness, and economic optimization of flood defenses. Her expertise bridges academic research and practical applications, addressing global challenges in water management and disaster mitigation.

Her teaching spans safety management, probabilistic design, and asset management. She collaborates internationally, contributing to initiatives like the Polder2C's project in the 2 Seas region. Her work emphasizes sustainable solutions for infrastructure resilience amid climate change and environmental shifts.