I am a PhD Candidate in Planetary Science at the Department of Physical Geography. I am studying mass movements (e.g. debris flows) on several planets and celestial objects across the Solar System (specifically: Mercury, Mars, Ceres, Vesta, Comet 9P and Comet 67P). 

On Earth, mass movements (e.g., debris flows, landslides etc.) are mostly induced by water. These mass movements have also been found on other planetary bodies in our Solar System but liquid water is not stable there. Instead, mass movements are induced by the sublimation of ice (when ice converts into gas). To study this, I'm performing experiments in low-pressure chambers to simulate the atmospheric conditions and compare the results with deposits on other rocky bodies using satellite imagery. Understanding mass wasting processes will reveal insight into the formation of extra-terrestrial landforms and the distribution of volatiles. This, in turn, provides information about the climatic and geological history of Solar System bodies. 

Before my PhD, I studied Astronomy at Leiden University. However, I did my second Master's project at the European Space Agency (ESA/ESTEC) and got introduced to the world of Planetary Science. I found it fascinating, and I wanted to continue in this field of research. During my PhD project, I hope to create a connection between Astronomy and Planetary Science.