Iris Hordijk

Iris Hordijk is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Forest Ecology and Forest Management at the University of Zurich. Her research focuses on landscape ecology, tropical forest recovery, and biodiversity conservation, addressing critical questions about ecosystem functioning and land-use impacts. She collaborates internationally on projects analyzing North American ecosystems and tropical forest dynamics.

Key research interests include the role of landscape diversity in ecosystem productivity, the effects of historical land use on forest regeneration, and global patterns of tree species dominance and rarity. Her work integrates remote sensing data with field studies to explore ecological processes at both local and global scales.

Hordijk leads the PANTROP project (2021–2024), focusing on plant-based food systems, and co-supervises two ongoing PhD projects: 'Restoration towards resilient landscapes' and 'Tree-based restoration in Madagascar.' These projects emphasize social-ecological interactions and biodiversity hotspots.

Her research has been widely disseminated, with 12 publications and datasets cited across platforms like Mendeley and Dryad. Collaborations span institutions globally, reflecting her commitment to addressing large-scale ecological challenges.