Agrohydrology, soil physics, unsaturated zone, sensitivity analysis, model calibration, data assimilation, digital twins, AI, project management

Cosmic-ray neutron soil moisture sensor research

During my PhD I have been investigating the potentials of a novel soil moisture sensor technique for use in hydrological and land surface interaction process studies. Skills improved during my PhD: supervising and teaching (under)graduate students, solving complex problems, processing, analysing and presenting complex data, hydrological modelling, programming, field work: installing sensors and taking and analysing measurements

I gave Matlab Programming tutorials and assisted in a course for which students had to design a water reservoir. I supervised students doing fieldwork, laboratory work,and data analysis.

At the Soil Physics and Land Management Group I developed a user friendly shell for regional analyses with agrohydrological model SWAP. I also assisted lecturers with Master thesis supervision and I gave tutorials.

I have worked at Gilat Research Center, Gilat, Israel during six months. Besides working on the experimental research for my thesis, I assisted colleagues in their experiments.Supervisor: Dr. A Ben-Gal (ARO, Gilat, Israel).

During my five months stay I improved a (MODFLOW) computer model of a hydrological catchment in Santa Fe Province. I joined laboratory work and field work.Internship supervisors: Dr. L Rodríguez, Dr. P. Cello and Dr. Ir. JC van Dam.

I structured and analyzed data using statistical methods for Cathelijne Stoof as part of her PhD research “Fire effects on soil and hydrology”. This resulted in the publication: Stoof, C.R., R.W. Vervoort, J. Iwema, E. Van den Elsen, A.J.D. Ferreira, and C.J. Ritsema. 2011. Hydrological response of a small catchment burned by experimental fire. Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci. Discuss., 8, 4053-4098.

I was a board member for one year. It was my task to maintain contacts with institutes, companies, study associations from inside and outside Wageningen and helped organizing activities. I was responsible for the sponsoring of the association.

During two months I assisted statistics teachers with SPSS computer practicals.

In cooperation with the board of the department “Utrecht” and the local political party I started up the sub-department “Wageningen”. I gathered active members and helped organizing activities.