Staff
Evolutionary diversity
Roy Erkens
Associate Professor Evolutionary diversity
roy.erkens@maastrichtuniversity.nl
Roy Erkens’ research focuses on understanding the patterns and processes of how species have evolved and diversified over time, and how they migrated over Earth. He draws on a wide range of scientific disciplines, including genetics, evolutionary biology, ecology, palynology, and more.
Ecology and biodiversity
Martin Bader
Professor of Ecology and Biodiversity
martin.bader@maastrichtuniversity.nl
Martin Bader is an ecologist researching the interactions between plants, insects, and pathogens, particularly in the context of global change. By leveraging emerging technologies, such as smart sensor networks and drone-based hyperspectral imaging, his lab explores innovative approaches for monitoring and analysing ecological systems. His goal is to provide actionable insights that enhance our ability to predict and manage ecosystem responses to environmental change while actively engaging stakeholders to ensure impactful outcomes.
Kevin van Sundert
Assistant Professor
Suzanne Stas
Assistant Professor
Planetary health
Pim Martens
Professor of Planetary Health
p.martens@maastrichtuniversity.nl
Pim Martens has a PhD in applied mathematics and biological sciences, is professor of planetary health, a scientivist, and integrates scientific knowledge with his passion for animals and nature.
Christopher O’Bryan
Assistant Professor of Planetary Health
c.obryan@maastrichtuniversity.nl
Chris O’Bryan has a PhD in conservation biology and researches the link between biodiversity and human society, including understanding the effects of overexploiting natural resources, quantifying the unique benefits that nature provides to human health and food security, and helping governments make better conservation decisions. Much of his lab’s work is interdisciplinary, including topics such as ecology, conservation, decision science, and social science
Huihui Liu
PhD candidate
l.huihui@maastrichtuniversity.nl
Huihui Liu works as a PhD candidate in UCV(FSE) and is funded by the Chinese Scholarship Council (CSC). Her work focuses on public participation and education for sustainable development in rural areas, and landscape eco-design for planetary health. She is the chair of the Maastricht branch of the "Association of Chinese Students and Scholars in the Netherlands" (ACSSNL).
Valesca Venhof
PhD candidate
v.venhof@maastrichtuniversity.nl
Valesca Venhof’s doctoral research centers on exploring different experiences and perspectives on the nexus of environmental change and mental wellbeing, with a particular emphasis on factors that promote and protect mental resilience in both Dutch young adults and Circumpolar Indigenous Peoples, notably the Sámi community. Valesca embrace the concept of "two-eyed seeing", advocating for the equitable integration of both Indigenous and Western knowledge into science and practice.
Renée Robbers
PhD candidate
renee.robbers@maastrichtuniversity.nl
Renée Robbers’ doctoral research aims to contribute to the development of Planetary Health beyond an Anthropocentric focus on human health by studying existing knowledge on the ecological significance of ecocentric perspectives and worldviews
Plant microbiome systems
Paolina Garbeva
Professor of Plant Microbiome Systems
paolina.garbeva@maastrichtuniversity.nl
Paolina Garbeva is senior scientist and research group leader at the Department of Microbial Ecology at the Netherlands Institute of Ecology (NIOO-KNAW). Her research is focused on understanding the fundamental mechanisms of microbe-microbe and plant-microbe interactions, paying particular attention to the role of microbial volatiles. At SES she aims to understand the importance of soil and plant microbiomes for One Health and to reveal and disentangle the largely unexplored link between soil & plant microbiomes and the human microbiome & health.