Michèlle van der Does

Dr. Michèlle van der Does is a Postdoc researcher at the Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research (NIOZ), working in the Ocean Systems department on Texel. She specializes in the transport of mineral dust from Earth's deserts, its deposition over oceans, and its interaction with the carbon cycle and climate across various timescales.

Her research focuses on Atmospheric Science, Oceanography, and Paleoclimatology, with particular expertise in dust characteristics including deposition fluxes, transport pathways, particle size and shape, and geochemical composition. She investigates how mineral dust affects ocean fertilization and its relationship to terrestrial biomarkers, using advanced techniques like radiogenic isotope analysis (Sr, Nd, Hf) and rare-earth element studies.

Dr. van der Does is currently leading the NWO Veni-funded project SANDCAT (SahAraN Dust and its role in a Changing climATe), which analyzes Saharan dust transported over the Atlantic Ocean to understand its bidirectional impact on climate under current global warming conditions. Her publication record shows consistent contributions to understanding dust transport mechanisms, seasonal patterns, and climate interactions.

Her scientific recognition includes the prestigious NWO Veni grant, awarded to outstanding early-career researchers in the Netherlands. This competitive grant supports innovative research lines and provides three years of funding for her work on Saharan dust and climate interactions.

Dr. van der Does actively collaborates with international research teams across Europe, including the Alfred-Wegener-Institut and MARUM. Her methodology combines sediment analysis, atmospheric modeling, and geochemical fingerprinting to trace dust sources and understand transport mechanisms. Her research has significant implications for climate modeling and understanding Earth's changing environment, particularly how mineral dust influences atmospheric radiation balance and ocean carbon cycling.