Hall of Fame
Utrecht University is proud of each and every one of its graduates, and alumni are an important part of Utrecht University's academic community. But where do they all end up? In this section, Illuster presents some major appointments from the last six months.
Roeland van der Rijst
MA in Physics & Astronomy and Philosophy of Science (2003) has been appointed professor of Educational Sciences in Leiden
Naomi Mestrum
Arabic, New Persian and Turkish languages and culture has been appointed director of CIDI, the Centre for Information and Documentation on Israel, effective 1 January 2023.
Jolien Roos-Hesselink
MA in Medicine (1985) has been appointed managing director of the Dutch CardioVascular Alliance.
Aris Prins
MA in Pharmacy (2003) has been reappointed chair of the Royal Dutch Society for the Advancement of Pharmacy (KNMP).
Piet Hein Buiting
MA in Medicine (1985); MA in History (1989) has been appointed chair of the Association of Medical Specialists effective 1 January 2023.
Lonneke Ijsseldijk
MA in Environmental Biology (2017), PhD in Environmental Biology (2021) is one of several researchers to win the Stairway to Impact Award.
Mirjam Bikker
MA in Dutch Law (2008) has been appointed parliamentary party chair of the ChristenUnie party in the Dutch Lower House.
Wilma ten Wolde
MA in Musicology has been awarded the Concertgebouw
Young Talent Award
in recognition of her National Women’s Youth Choir.
Maarten van Aalst
MA in Astronomy (1998) and PhD in Nature and Astronomy (2005) has been appointed as the new managing director at the Royal Netherlands Meteorological Institute (KNMI).
Ruud Sondag
MA in Law (1986) has been appointed acting CEO of the Schiphol Group.
Arian Steenbruggen
MA in Geochemistry (1994); PhD in Earth Sciences (1999) has been appointed member of the Fontys University of Applied Sciences Executive Board, charged with Education and Research.
Arne van Hout
MA in Dutch Law (1998) and MA in Environmental Science (1999) has been appointed Director-General of Public Administration and Democratic Rule of Law at the Ministry of the Interior and Kingdom Relations.
Niko Wanders
PhD in Physical Geography (2015) was one of five Utrecht University staff members to receive a €1.5 million European Research Council Starting Grant for research.
Ferry Hagen
PhD in Life Sciences (2011) has been named Professor by Special Appointment in Fungal Functional Diversity at the University of Amsterdam.
Sjon Hartman
Sjon Hartman, Bachelor's in Biology (2013), Master's in Environmental Biology (2015) and PhD in Biology (2020) has been named Junior Professor at the University of Freiburg.
Hydrologist Niko Wanders’ “MultiDry project”
Multi-year droughts have become increasingly common in recent decades. The phenomenon is occurring all over the world, in places like Chile, South Africa, California as well as the Netherlands. Droughts have a negative impact in many areas, such as agriculture, drinking water, energy supply and ecosystems. In the case of multiyear droughts, these effects take decades to reverse. However, they are becoming more frequent and prolonged.
Prolonged droughts are fundamentally different from “normal” droughts. Assistant Professor Wanders’ ERC grant-winning research project aims to explore the complexities of multiyear droughts and identify their causes and impacts on vegetation, groundwater systems and human water consumption. The results will be presented to policymakers and water managers around the world to help them prepare for and minimise the effects of future droughts.
Want to be 'named'?
Email us your new position at alumni@uu.nl. Who knows? You could see yourself in the next edition of Illuster.