Find Academic Supervisors

Jan Dijkstra is an Associate Professor at Wageningen University specializing in Animal Nutrition . His research focuses on dairy cattle nutrition, methane emissions, and nutrient efficiency. Academic Rank: Associate Professor Department: Animal Nutrition His work emphasizes: Mathematical modelling of methane production Phosphorus and nitrogen balance optimization Feed supplementation strategies for reduced emissions Genotype-environment interactions in dairy systems Recent publications highlight advancements in methane mitigation , nutrient cycling , and rumen microbiome dynamics . He serves as a promotor for multiple PhD projects and contributes to datasets on equine microbiomes and rumen metabolites. Scientific Awards American Feed Industry Association Award (2015) Publicatieprijs ASG (2013) Supervision PhD candidates: Kozorezov, Henry, Koning, Vivares Martinez EngD candidate: Holshof

• Animal Nutrition
• Dairy Cattle
• Methane Emission
• +2 more

Dorota Kawa is an Assistant Professor at the Faculty of Science, Utrecht University , specializing in Plant Stress Resilience and Experimental and Computational Plant Development . Her research focuses on plant-microbiome interactions, root development under stress, and bioinformatics approaches to enhance crop sustainability. Education : PhD in Plant Physiology and Cell Biology (2017, University of Amsterdam) MSc in Plant Biotechnology (2011, Warsaw University of Life Sciences) BSc in Biotechnology (2010, Warsaw University of Life Sciences) Research Interests span plant adaptation to abiotic stresses, microbiome-driven root cell modifications, and computational modeling of development. She investigates how microbial communities and genetic pathways regulate root metabolomes and cellular traits, particularly under salt and drought stress. Publication Trends show her work centers on Striga resistance in cereal crops, stress-induced root architecture changes , and microbiome-root interactions . She explores auxin-independent signaling and mRNA decay mechanisms to improve multi-stress resilience. Teaching includes courses on plant development and research design at Utrecht University. Her work contributes to Pathways to Sustainability and Future Food initiatives.

• Plant Abiotic Stress
• Plant Adaptation
• Plant Development
• +7 more

Anna Vilanova is a Full Professor in Visual Analytics at the Department of Mathematics and Computer Science, Eindhoven University of Technology (TU/e), and is associated with the Electrical Engineering department's Signal Processing Systems. Previously, she served as Associate Professor at TU Delft (2013-2019) and Assistant Professor at TU/e (2002-2013). Her research focuses on Visual Analytics for high-dimensional data , explainable AI , and biomedical applications including Diffusion Weighted Imaging, 4D Flow, and Pangenomics. Education: Doctorate in Computer Graphics & Visualization (2001) Master in Computer Science (1997), Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya Research Highlights: Vilanova leads work on Visual Analytics systems for biomedical data, with recent publications in Diffusion MRI modeling , Tractography visualization , Explainable AI frameworks , and Pangenomic variant analysis . Her work bridges dimensionality reduction , uncertainty visualization , and medical imaging applications. Scientific Contributions: NWO-Veni grant (2005): "Visualization of global tensor information for diffusion tensor imaging" NWO-Aspasia grant (2013) Best Poster Award EuroVis (2025) Best Demo/Poster Awards (2022) Leadership & Service: Vilanova serves on the IEEE VIS Steering Committee , was EUROGRAPHICS President (2019-2022), and contributes to conferences like IEEE Visualization and EG-EuroVis . She co-founded the EAISI Health research initiative at TU/e.

• Visual Analytics
• Explainable AI
• Biomedical Image Analysis
• +6 more

Vivianne Vleeshouwers is an Associate Professor in Plant Breeding at Wageningen University and Research Centre, specializing in plant-pathogen interactions with a focus on potato disease resistance. Her research spans multiple projects related to Phytophthora infestans (the causal agent of late blight) and other potato pathogens. Her research interests center on plant immunity mechanisms, particularly how wild potato species recognize pathogens through immune receptors. She investigates effector biology, host-pathogen co-evolution, and molecular mechanisms of disease resistance. Her work combines molecular biology, genomics, and plant breeding approaches to develop durable resistance strategies against devastating potato diseases. Dr. Vleeshouwers has published 126 research outputs with recent work focusing on RXLR effectors, immune receptor diversification, and co-infection dynamics. Her publications show a strong trend toward understanding molecular plant-pathogen interactions at the genomic and proteomic levels, with increasing emphasis on translational research that can be applied to crop improvement. She actively supervises multiple PhD students and leads several research projects focused on potato disease resistance. Her team collaborates internationally with researchers across Europe and beyond, working on various aspects of plant pathology and resistance breeding. Dr. Vleeshouwers' laboratory focuses on effectoromics, immune receptor identification, and resistance gene deployment strategies. Her team utilizes advanced genomic techniques including genome sequencing, proximity labeling, and high-throughput phenotyping to understand and enhance plant disease resistance mechanisms.

• Plant Pathology
• Plant Breeding
• Disease Resistance
• +4 more

Prof. Geert Smant is a Full Professor in the Laboratory of Nematology at Wageningen University & Research. His research focuses on plant-parasitic nematodes, particularly their interactions with plants, mechanisms of parasitism, and strategies for resistance in crops. He leads projects on cyst nematodes (e.g., Globodera pallida ), molecular biology of plant defenses, and genomic approaches to understand parasitic mechanisms. His work includes supervising PhD candidates and postdocs in projects like SMART UP (spatial mapping of root transcriptomes) and WORMVACS2.0 (vaccine innovations against helminths). Key contributions include genomic studies of Globodera species and elucidating effector-triggered immunity in plants. Prof. Smant has collaborated internationally, presenting at conferences like the 35th Symposium of the European Society of Nematologists and the 7th International Congress of Nematology . He oversees datasets on nematode genomics and plant responses to parasitism, available via public repositories. His team’s research spans lab-based studies, field applications, and interdisciplinary collaborations, aiming to develop durable resistance strategies against plant pathogens.

• Nematology
• Plant Parasitology
• Molecular Biology
• +4 more

Geert Wiegertjes is a Full Professor at Wageningen University & Research, specializing in Aquaculture and Fisheries . With over 351 research outputs and 25 active or completed projects, his work focuses on fish immunology, disease resistance, and sustainable aquaculture practices. Key Research Areas: Immunology, fish physiology, teleost immune systems, and microbiome interactions. Notable Contributions: Discovery of behavioral fever's role in fish immunity, B cell dynamics in carp, and algal extract-based immune stimulation. Research Trends: His recent articles emphasize genomic and immunological approaches to understanding fish disease resistance (e.g., CyHV-3 infection), mucosal immunity, and sustainable aquaculture through microbiome modulation and parasite protocols. Scientific Awards: Mosaic 2.0 grant/NWO (2022) Supervision: Mentored 13 PhD students, including Lisette Bouwman, Mehwish Ahmed, and Laura Binch. Collaborations: Active in international networks, with recent collaborations spanning fish genomics, maternal immunity, and European Green Deal initiatives.

• Immunology
• Fish Physiology
• Teleost Immunology
• +4 more

Dr. Laura Donker Kaat is a researcher in Clinical Genetics at Erasmus University Medical Center, focusing on neurodegenerative disorders. Her work integrates genetics, epigenetics, and neuropsychology to study frontotemporal dementia phenotypes and genetic syndromes. Her research examines: Genetic and epigenetic markers in frontotemporal lobar degeneration C9orf72-related dementia manifestations DNA methylation episignatures for rare disease diagnosis Personality changes in presymptomatic dementia Survival factors in neurodegenerative disorders Recent publications demonstrate her focus on translating genetic findings into clinical applications, particularly through DNA methylation analysis and neuropsychiatric assessment tools.

• Frontotemporal Dementia
• Genetics
• DNA Methylation
• +5 more

Dr. E. Geuverink is a researcher affiliated with the Faculty of Science and Engineering at the University of Groningen, working within the Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences . Their research focuses on evolutionary biology, genetics, and molecular mechanisms underlying sex determination in insects. Notable work includes studies on proto-Y chromosomes in houseflies, sex determination pathways in parasitoid wasps, and the genomic basis of chemoreceptor diversity in bees and wasps. Key research contributions span sex determination systems , genetic regulation of reproduction , and evolutionary genomics . Their articles frequently address topics like endosymbiont effects on parthenogenesis, QTL analysis in parasitoid behavior, and the genomic adaptations enabling pollinator lifestyles in Hymenoptera. Recent work highlights discoveries in chimeric genes influencing female sex determination in Nasonia wasps. No scientific awards or grants are explicitly listed in the provided materials. Their research is collaborative, often involving international teams and institutions. Dr. Geuverink has contributed to press coverage discussing breakthroughs like bacterial replacement of male production in wasps and mechanisms behind all-female offspring in parasitoids.

• Evolutionary Biology
• Genetics & Heredity
• Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
• +4 more

Marta de Ruijter-Villani serves as an Assistant Professor in the Faculty of Medicine at Utrecht University, focusing on medical research within the Child Health strategic program at UMC Utrecht. Her academic role centers on investigating the fundamental biological processes governing embryonic development and reproduction from the earliest stages through adulthood. Her research spans reproductive biology and developmental genetics, with specialized expertise in chromosome segregation mechanisms during oocyte maturation and early embryonic divisions. She utilizes equine models to study reproductive aging effects on fertility, examining spindle assembly dynamics, centrosome behavior, and metabolic influences on embryonic viability. This work provides critical translational insights into human reproductive disorders and age-related infertility. Analysis of her publication trajectory reveals a consistent focus on large animal models to dissect conserved cellular mechanisms in reproduction. Her studies bridge basic cell biology with clinical reproductive medicine, addressing chromosome dynamics, embryo development under metabolic stress, and the molecular basis of aneuploidy. This integrative approach has established significant connections between equine reproductive aging and human fertility challenges. Dr. de Ruijter-Villani leads research within the FUTURA Utrecht group (Future Health and Reproduction Academy Utrecht), which investigates developmental origins of health and disease with direct relevance to pediatric health outcomes and reproductive medicine advancements.

• Reproductive Biology
• Developmental Biology
• Chromosome Segregation
• +4 more

Rüdiger Bieler serves as Curator (Research Professor) in the Integrative Research Center at the Field Museum of Natural History, Chicago, and is a Member of the Committee on Evolutionary Biology at the University of Chicago. His dual institutional affiliation bridges museum-based organismal research with academic evolutionary biology training. His research centers on evolutionary systematics and taxonomy of marine Mollusca, particularly Gastropoda and Bivalvia, integrating morphological, paleontological, and molecular data. Key focus areas include: Development of collections-based research methodologies Large-scale specimen and data management systems Bivalve Assembling-the-Tree-of-Life (BivAToL) initiatives Coral reef restoration ecology in the Florida Keys Marine biogeography and biodiversity assessment His work frequently addresses conservation challenges through systematic frameworks. Bieler's editorial leadership includes significant contributions to PeerJ as Editor (2,100+ contributions) and involvement with WoRMS (marinespecies.org) and MolluscaBase.org. His research infrastructure development supports global taxonomic efforts through digital platforms and specimen databases. Professional leadership roles include past presidency of both the American Malacological Society and the International Society for Malacology (Unitas), reflecting his standing in the malacological community. Current service includes the WoRMS steering committee and chief editorship for MolluscaBase.org. His publication record demonstrates consistent output in marine biodiversity documentation, with recent emphasis on: Discovery of novel anatomical features in mollusks Island biogeography patterns in remote archipelagos Adaptive radiation mechanisms in marine invertebrates Integration of micro-fragmentation techniques for reef restoration Methodological innovations in species diversity estimation and mark-recapture adaptations for taxonomic work represent cross-disciplinary contributions.

• Taxonomy
• Marine Biology
• Evolutionary Systematics
• +5 more

Dr. Erika Tsingos serves as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Theoretical Biology and Bioinformatics at Utrecht University's Faculty of Science. She leads the Computational Animal Development Group focusing on computational approaches to developmental biology questions. Her research spans animal developmental biology with emphasis on Computer modeling of cell fate decisions Pattern formation in tissues Cell migration mechanics Thymus development and leukemogenesis C. elegans developmental precision She employs diverse modeling approaches including ordinary differential equations and multiscale cell-based models using cellular Potts or center-based formalisms. Analysis of her 15 most recent publications reveals strong focus on computational modeling of developmental processes, particularly examining extracellular matrix effects on cell migration, thymic niche architecture in leukemia development, and precise cell fate specification in C. elegans. Her work consistently bridges computational modeling with experimental validation through collaborations. Scientific recognition includes: NWO grant VI.Veni.222.323 for research on extracellular matrix effects on cell migration Dr. Tsingos actively mentors the next generation of computational biologists through supervision of postdoctoral researchers and students. Current team members include Benjamin Planterose Jiménez (post-doc modeling C. elegans development), Saber Shakibi (post-doc developing hybrid migration models), and Nikki Landzaat (Master's student studying mesoderm cell state transitions). Former students include Bidayatul Masulah (Master's in Applied Mathematics) and Heleen van Osch (bachelor researcher). Her research group operates within Utrecht University's Department of Theoretical Biology and Bioinformatics, collaborating extensively with the Ten Tusscher group and experimental labs. Current projects investigate how extracellular matrix affects cell migration phenotypes in cancer and the molecular control mechanisms behind C. elegans' precise cell division patterns.

• Computational Biology
• Animal Developmental Biology
• Multiscale Modeling
• +4 more

Dr. Lonneke IJsseldijk is an Assistant Professor in Pathology at Utrecht University's Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, specializing in marine mammal health and stranding research. She serves as a project manager for the national marine mammal stranding program commissioned by the Ministry of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality, focusing on causes of death and anthropogenic impacts on cetacean populations. PhD in Harbor Porpoise Health (Utrecht University, 2021) MS in Environmental Biology (Utrecht, 2017) BS in Integrated Coastal Zone Management (Van Hall Larenstein, 2013) Minor in Marine Living Resources (Wageningen, 2012-2013) Her research program combines pathology, ecology, and conservation biology with a strong emphasis on public science communication. Key areas include marine mammal health assessment, cause-of-death analysis, and investigating anthropogenic stressors like underwater noise and plastic pollution. She utilizes advanced techniques such as synchrotron tomography and stable isotope analysis. Recent publications focus on nanoplastic effects on gene expression, whale teeth biomarkers, and cross-border monitoring of Wadden Sea porpoises. She contributes to policy development through memberships in IUCN Cetacean Specialist Group, ASCOBANS working groups, and ICES marine mammal ecology teams. Stairway to Impact Award 2022 (€50,000 grant) Dr. IJsseldijk actively engages the public through social media, educational media production, and citizen science initiatives that mobilize volunteers for specimen collection. Her work bridges veterinary science with marine conservation policy, supporting sustainable ocean management through interdisciplinary research.

• Marine Mammal Health
• Aquatic Ecology
• Cetacean Pathology
• +4 more

Luís Lima Valente is an Associate Professor at the University of Groningen and Senior Researcher at Naturalis Biodiversity Center. His work focuses on island biogeography, phylogenetics, and biodiversity dynamics. He leads the Biodiversity Hotspots group at Naturalis and co-leads the Theoretical & Evolutionary Community Ecology group at GELIFES. His research combines fieldwork, genomic data, and computational modeling to study evolutionary processes in island and continental ecosystems. Education: PhD in Evolutionary Biology (2010, Royal Botanic Gardens Madrid), MSc in Ecology, Evolution & Conservation (2006, Imperial College London), BSc in Biology (2005, University College London). Research Interests: Island biodiversity patterns, historical biogeography, phylogenetic methods, and the interplay between climate and evolutionary processes. Key projects include the DAISIE software package for island biogeography analysis and studies on radiations of island birds/plants. He has advised over 30 PhD/MSc students and postdocs, focusing on island systems like the Canaries, Mascarenes, and Caribbean. Awards: Marie Curie Fellowship (2011-2013), Humboldt Fellowship (2013-2016), Martin Temminck Fellowship (current). His lab actively collaborates globally, with fieldwork in Bioko, Mauritius, and the Azores. Current focuses include mountain plant radiations and the impact of climate oscillations on biodiversity.

• Evolutionary Biology
• Ecology
• Biodiversity
• +3 more

Dr. Phuong Nguyen serves as a Research Associate at the Laboratory of Genetics, Wageningen University & Research. Her research program focuses on plant adaptation mechanisms to environmental stresses, particularly examining photosynthesis efficiency, seed development, and salt tolerance in Brassicaceae species. She actively contributes to multiple research projects investigating crop resilience and sustainable agricultural practices. Her scientific interests encompass: Plant molecular genetics and genomics Photosynthetic responses to environmental fluctuations Seed germination and dormancy mechanisms Computational approaches to plant phenotyping Agricultural adaptation to salinity stress Brassicaceae evolutionary biology Dr. Nguyen's recent publications reveal a strong trajectory in integrating molecular biology with agricultural applications. Her work demonstrates increasing sophistication in connecting genetic mechanisms with phenotypic outcomes, particularly in stress response pathways. The research portfolio shows growing emphasis on computational methods for plant analysis while maintaining strong field applications in crop improvement. International collaborations span multiple continents, reflecting the global relevance of her work on food security challenges. She currently leads the active project "Plant photosynthesis responses to light fluctuation" (2023-2026), building on previous successful projects including "Towards improved crop photosynthesis efficiency" (2019-2021) and "Dimorphic fruits, seeds and seedlings as adaptation mechanisms to abiotic stress" (2014-2017). Her methodological innovations in plant phenotyping and genetic analysis have established her as a significant contributor to plant stress biology research.

• Plant Genetics
• Photosynthesis
• Brassicaceae
• +5 more

Peter Leegwater is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Clinical Sciences at the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University. He works in the Internal Medicine of Companion Animals division, located at the Jeannette Donker-Voetgebouw building (Yalelaan 104-106, Room 2.003) in Utrecht, Netherlands, with direct phone number +31 30 253 1678. His research focuses on elucidating the molecular background of inherited diseases in purebred dogs, investigating gene function similarities and differences across species. Purebred dogs serve as important models for complex disease research through comparative DNA analysis between affected and healthy animals. Dr. Leegwater has led significant research initiatives including: Incidence of Harmful Breed Characteristics (2013-2016): Developed a WHO-based automated diagnostic system for measuring disease incidence in companion animal populations, funded by Ministry of Economic Affairs, KNMvD, and Dactari Kisspeptin Research (2011-2016): Investigated non-surgical contraception targets in dogs, funded by Found Animal Foundation His work enables healthier dog breeding while maintaining genetic diversity, with methodologies having potential applications in human biomedical research for inherited conditions. He contributes to veterinary education through courses including Veterinary Professional levels 2 and 3.

• Molecular Genetics
• Veterinary Medicine
• Comparative Genomics
• +3 more