Meet the young researchers behind MYRIAD-EU: Dr. Marleen de Ruiter
MYRIAD-EU is brought to life by our motivated researchers. This month we’d like you to meet Dr. Marleen de Ruiter, assistant professor at the department of Water and Climate Risk of the Institute for Environmental Studies (IVM) at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam.
Hi, I am Marleen, an assistant professor at the department of Water and Climate Risk of the Institute for Environmental Studies (IVM) at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam. In my current research I look at all things multi-risk. My PhD research focused on the temporal dynamics of disaster vulnerability. Before that, I obtained my MSc degree in Environmental and Resource Management from the University of British Columbia (Canada) where I looked at disaster vulnerability of coastal communities and their post-disaster recovery.
What do you do on MYRIAD-EU? Is it the first project you’ve worked on?
I manage the MYRIAD-EU project, I lead the work package on dynamics and feedbacks of risk, I (co-)supervise Judith, Julius, and Ruoying for their PhDs, and I am part of Kelley’s PhD advisory committee.
I have worked on several EU and Dutch projects before, but MYRIAD-EU is closest to my own research interests. I am very excited to be working on multi-risk with such a great group of people from all over Europe!
What is the most interesting thing you learned working on MYRIAD-EU?
Interactions and interdependencies are challenging (but also very important to account for!).
Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
I hope I’ll still be working as a researcher, maybe by then with a bit more understanding of multi-risk intricacies. And I hope to have witnessed my first PhD students having enjoyed their time as MYRIAD-EU PhDs.
What did you want to be when you were growing up?
I feel like I am still growing up… When I was younger, many job ideas came and went, I just knew I really wanted to go to university.
Who is your science idol?
I would love to have a conversation with Aïda Paalman-de Miranda. At only 17 years old, she moved from Suriname to the Netherlands to study math. She was the first female (and black) full professor in mathematics at the University of Amsterdam and the only woman in the faculty. She was a great researcher who also highly valued the importance of academic education, but also dedicated her time to improving the quality of math education at high schools.
If MYRIAD-EU held a party, which song would you request from the DJ?
As final song, at the end of the night, when everyone starts to head home, I would ask for Follow the Sun by Xavier Rudd.