Dr Roy Erkens (R.H.J.)

I have 25 years of experience in university education, research and policy. My career has been mainly education focussed and I have been involved in the development, (re)accreditation and running of several bachelor and master programmes. Next to this, I developed and taught many different courses, on topics such as evolutionary biology, general botany, tropical biology, philosophy of science, and field skills and landscape evolution. Currently, I am progamme director of the Bachelor Sustainable Bioscience (Maastricht University). I have been chairman of the Educational Programme Committee at the Maastricht Science Programme and vice-chair of the Board of Examiners for the Maastricht School of Liberal Arts and Sciences. I regularly publish on my work on evolutionary plant biology, biogeography and biodiversity, also based on work done with my (PhD) students.

Expertises

My main research focus has been the investigation of patterns in plant biodiversity within the Neotropics and Europe. In this way I contribute to a better understanding of the evolution and distribution of biodiversity (genetic and biological).

This research line is incoporated in the new System Earth Science (SES) department of the Faculty of Science and Engineering at the Greenport Campus Venlo.

Next to this, I have ample experience in curriculum design, teaching delivery and educational policy, and I act as a teacher trainer in the context of the University Teaching Qualification programme at FSE/UM,

Career history

Associate Professor Evolutionary Diversity and Biogeography

System Earth Science, Maastricht University (2023- )

Maastricht Science Programme, Maastricht University (2021- 2024)

Senior lecturer Evolution and Biodiversity

Maastricht Science Programme, Maastricht University (2017-2021)

Lecturer Evolutionary Biology

Maastricht Science Programme, Maastricht University (2012 – 2017)

Assistant Professor

Ecology and Biodiversity group, Department of Biology, Utrecht University (2006 – 2012)

PhD-student
Plant systematics group, Department of Biology, Utrecht University (2000 – 2006)

Dr Roy Erkens (R.H.J.)

I am an evolutionary plant biologist working at System Earth Science (Faculty of Science and Engineering).

As Programme director of the Bachelor Sustainable Bioscience I am responsible for the quality of education of this curriculum.

In the curriculum of Maastricht Science Programme I coordinate the Tropical biology (BIO3007) course and supervise students for their Bachelor Thesis Research. I also act as an Academic Advisor at this programme.

I am furthermore involved in educating university staff via the University Teaching Qualification scheme.

My current research interests lie with the flora of South Limburg and within the South American Annonaceae plant family (primarily focussing on the genus Guatteria - in the past funded by the VENI scheme of NWO).

Res Venlo - System Earth Science
Faculty of Science and Engineering

ORCID

+31(0)43 3881182