I am a geotechnical engineer serving as an Assistant Professor in Carbon Cycle Dynamics within terrestrial ecosystems at the Department of Ecosystem and Landscape Dynamics (ELD). My research interests focus on the intricate interplay between soil microorganisms, the global carbon cycle, and climate. With a unique background spanning both empirical and modelling environments across diverse disciplines, my objective is to bridge the gap between fields of research and scales using data-driven mechanistic modelling.

As a researcher, I enjoy exploring the complex role of soil microorganisms and plants in carbon cycling, incorporating insights from the fields of ecology, ecosystem science, and hydrogeology. A key aspect of my research is the development of mechanistic models to characterise the influence of environmental factors, such as soil moisture and temperature, on microbial functioning and soil biogeochemistry, and their implications for the soil carbon balance. This allows me to study aspects related to climate and land-use change. My research methodology involves using lab and field data to develop new models, which are then used to interpret empirical data and identify uncertainties that serve as cues for subsequent experimental testing. This iterative cycle of data generation, model development, simulation, and empirical validation leads to a robust understanding of the studied phenomena. I also enjoy integrating models and empirical data across scales, facilitating the connection of microbial functioning at the soil scale to ecosystem-level fluxes measured in chambers or eddy-covariance towers.

As a teacher, my two main courses at UvA are the MSc course 'Biogeochemical Cycles in System Earth' and the BSc course 'Water Management', where I can combine my two main research interests of carbon and water. I also teach in the MSc course 'Field Course Geoecological Systems' and the BSc courses 'Future Perspectives for the Earth' and 'Innovative Food Systems'.