Machteld van Dierendonck

Dr. Machteld van Dierendonck is a Junior Assistant Professor at the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, specializing in Animal Welfare and Clinical Ethology within the Animals in Science and Society program. She serves as a Visiting Professor at both Ghent University and University of Antwerp in Belgium.

• Research Focus:
  • Animal Welfare
  • Clinical Ethology
  • Equine Behavior
  • Pain Assessment
  • Development of Abnormal Behavior
  • Social Behavior in Horses
• Key Publications: Over 30 peer-reviewed articles on equine pain scales, behavior, and welfare, including 2011's Applied Animal Behaviour Science review on social coping in horses and 2015's Veterinary Journal study on visceral pain scales.
• Accreditations: Board-certified associate of the European College for Animal Welfare and Behavioural Medicine (ECAWBM) in (Equine) Veterinary Behaviour and Animal Welfare Science-Ethics-Law.
• Additional Roles: Co-founder of Stichting Certipet (certifying animal behavior therapists) and founding member of the International Society of Equitation Science (ISES), where she chaired the 2011 conference scientific committee.
• International Experience: Conducted fieldwork in Mongolia (Przewalski’s horse reintroduction), Sweden, Italy, Iceland, and Belgium.