Prof. dr. Michelle van Vliet

Prof. dr. Michelle van Vliet

Professor
Geographical Hydrology
+31 30 253 2786
m.t.h.vanvliet@uu.nl

"Quality matters for water scarcity"

Full Professor of Water Quality and Sustainable Water Systems

Michelle van Vliet is professor of Water Quality and Sustainable Water Systems at the Department of Physical Geography of Utrecht University. Her work focuses on global change impacts and adaptation in relation to the availability and quality of water resources and water use in sectors (irrigation, domestic, energy) and ecosystems. Michelle has developed a concept of water scarcity which includes water-quality requirements for different sectoral water uses . Her work strongly links to the Pathways to Sustainability research theme. 

With her team, she focuses on the main question “How to provide sufficient and clean water resources for human use and ecosystems in our changing world?”

Michelle is a member of the Utrecht Young Academy, a bridge between young and talented researchers.

Selected key publications

Personal fellowships, awards and distinctions

  • ERC Starting Grant B-WEX 'Balancing clean Water and Energy provision under changing climate and eXtremes' (2022-2027) (€ 1,500,000)
  • NWO-VIDI Grant ‘Water scarcity under droughts and heatwaves: understanding the complex interplay of water quality and sectoral water use’ (2021-2026) (€800,000)  
  • Aspasia Grant (2022-2026)(€40,000)  
  • NWO-VENI Grant ‘Quality matters: Including water quality in global  water stress projections’ (2015-2019) (€250,000)  
  • Niels Stensen Fellowship ‘Global water constraints on future electricity production and future pathways for sustainable water and energy security’ (2014-2015)       
  • Best PhD thesis Award in Environmental Sciences, National Research School for Socio-Economic and Natural Sciences of the Environment (SENSE) (2013)
  • ‘Cum Laude’ (with distinction) PhD (top 2-3%), Wageningen University (2008-2012)    
  • Best Young Delta Scientist Award, Rotterdam, The Netherlands (2010)
  • Cum Laude’ (with distinction) BSc and MSc, Utrecht University (2001-2006)
  • Best Oral Presentation Award, Netherlands Centre for River Studies (NCR) Conference, Enschede (2006)