Koen van Benthem

Koen van Benthem is an Assistant Professor in the Faculty of Science and Engineering at the University of Groningen, affiliated with the Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences. He leads the Van Benthem group, focusing on Data Science and Biostatistics. His research emphasizes multiscale eco-evolutionary processes and recovering individual-level insights from population data. He holds a PhD in population ecology from the University of Zurich and has prior experience at institutions including Bielefeld University.

Education: BSc/MSc in Natural Sciences from Radboud University Nijmegen, followed by a PhD in Zurich. Teaching roles include coordinating

• Biostatistics II
• Big Data Management in Ecology and Evolution
• Quantitative Research Skills

and contributing to Advanced Statistics and Biological Modelling courses.

Research interests focus on:

• Multiscale interactions in ecological and evolutionary dynamics
• Individual heterogeneity and its population-level implications
• Applications of statistical and computational methods in ecology

Recent articles explore topics like nonlinear averaging in population interactions, island biogeography of Asteraceae, and niche mechanisms. His work bridges theoretical models with empirical systems, such as fur seal density patterns and Arctic charr migration. He supervises student research projects and collaborates on grants like 'Teaching coding effectively through interactive formative assessments' (2023–2025).

Labs/Teams: Leads the Van Benthem group, integrating data science and biostatistics into ecological research.