About Me
SHORT CV OF PROF.DR. S.J.M.H. HULSCHER
From 2002 Prof. dr. Suzanne J.M.H. Hulscher is head of the group Water Engineering & Management. She received her PhD-grade in 1996 at the faculty Physics and Astronomy, on the topic modelling of bed patterns in coastal seas. The research was conducted at WL|Delft Hydraulics and IMAU, Utrecht University. Hereafter she held several scientific positions within the Cluster Civil Engineering & Management at the University of Twente, from 2002 she holds the chair Physics of Watersystems. As guest scientist she stayed in Canada and Spain. In 2002 she won the Minerva-award of FOM (Fundamental Research on Matter). In 2003, she was awarded a VICI-grant of the NWO (Dutch organization of scientific research) to investigate roughness modelling for water management applications. Hereafter (2006-2011) she was invited to join the DJA (young senior scientists) of the KNAW (Dutch academy of sciences) and the KNAW council for earth and climate. From 2007-2010 Hulscher was part of the Dutch Innovation Platform, chaired by Balkenende (former Dutch prime minister). Prof. Hulscher acted 40 times as promotor and she supervises 15 PhD students. From 2009 till 2012 prof. Hulscher was member of the committee of sciences & innovation (Commissie van Wijzen). Hulscher chairs the scientific advisory board of the Waddenacademie. Hulscher was member of the committees on the Hedwige polder and the closure barrier IJsselmeer, advising the Dutch government. Hulscher is PI of many STW and ALW projects on sand waves, coastal dunes and river dunes, often collaborating with TUD, UU, WUR, NIOZ and RU in a multi-disciplinary setting. In particular, Hulscher chaired the STW-perspective programme RiverCare in which 5 universities and 29 non-academic partners collaborate. Hulscher is (co-)author of 163 papers in refereed scientific journals (Web of Science) and she chaired the conferences MARID (2004) and RCEM (2007). During 2014-2016 Hulscher was member of the Board of NWO-ALW. STW appointed Suzanne Hulscher to Simon Stevin Meester in 2016, the highest award in the Technical Sciences in the Netherlands. From 2017 onwards Hulscher is elected member of the KNAW (Dutch academy of sciences). Suzanne Hulscher is kernel-member of the ENW (expertise network on watersafety) and chair the ENW-workgroup Rivers. In 2019 Suzanne Hulscher started part-time as counsil member of the WRR (Scientific council for Governmental Policy).EDUCATION
- M.Sc. Theoretical Physics, with Mathematics as a minor, University of Utrecht, 1991
- Ph.D. Physical Oceanography, University of Utrecht, 1996
WORK EXPERIENCE SINCE GRADUATING
- 2002-pres: Full professor in Water Engineering & Management, inparticular Watersystems, Group leader of Water Engineering & Management, Department of Civil Enigneering, Faculty of Engineering Technology, University of Twente (1,0 fte).
- 2001-2002: Associate Professor in Marine Dynamics, Group of Water Engineering & Management, Department of Civil Enigneering, Faculty of Engineering Technology, University of Twente (1,0 fte). From April 1st, 2002 ad-interim Group leader of Water Engineering & Management (1,0 fte).
- 1999-2001: Assistant Professor, Group of Integrated Modelling, Department of Civil Engineering, Faculty of Technology & Management, University of Twente (0.6 fte). Researcher (postdoc), Group of Integrated Modelling, Department of Civil Engineering, Faculty of Technology & Management, University of Twente (0.4 fte).
- 1996-1999: Researcher (postdoc), Group of Integrated Modelling, Department of Civil Engineering, Faculty of Technology & Management, University of Twente (1.0 fte).
- 1991-1996: Project engineer WL|Delft Hydraulics, Marknesse, The Netherlands (0.6 fte). Junior researcher IMAU, Utrecht University (0.4 fte).
Expertise
Organisations
Ancillary Activities
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NIOZ
Member scientific advisory board -
Scientific council waddenacademie
Chair -
committee sectorplannen beta&techniek
Member -
WRR (wetenschappelijke raad voor het regeringsbeleid, scientific council for governmental policy)
Council member -
RWS
ENW (expert network on flood saferty) kernel member and chair river group
Research
In 2002, I became head of the group Water Engineering & Management, University of Twente. I hold the chair Marine and Fluvial Systems (MFS). Originally I was trained as a theoretical physicist (Utrecht University). During the PhD (partly at Physical Oceanography Utrecht University, partly Deltares) my focus was on physics of coastal seas. Nowadays, the research group I lead applies analytical and simulation techniques often supported by field or laboratory data to study the dynamics of rivers, coastal areas and offshore, from a civil engineering point of view. My research group gains knowledge of these water systems in order to predict the consequences of human interferences, including building with nature solutions as the sand engine and room for the river measures (flooding, sediment transport, etc.). This is done by analysis of field measurements, laboratory experiments, idealised modelling and complex modelling.
MFS devised a method for modelling human interferences in a morphodynamic setting. This opened perspectives for a new approach towards modelling large-scale sand mining in shallow seas. We have been studying the use of morphodynamical models in a societal context. This resulted in cooperations with social scientists, e.g on safety of coastal dunes, from physical as well as economical perspective.
I first tested earlier theoretical results against real-life observations and showed that bed patterns in the North Sea can be explained as free instabilities. Next, I initiated extended modelling of sandwave dynamics, so that we were the first in developing a fully nonlinear model of finite-amplitude sandwaves, taking a process-based simulation approach as well as a complex modelling approach.
In rivers we made idealized models for river dunes, as well as modelling the transition from dunes to upper stage plane bed, in which river dunes are washed out, which increasingly might occur in rivers due to climate change. I initiated working on modelling biogeomorphology in seas, estuaries, and rivers. We pioneered in modelling the effects of benthos in the marine sea bed and MFS is the first with a fully coupled biogeomorphological model for offshore sand waves and benthos.
Based on laboratory experiments we derived sediment transport formulations for rivers and coastal areas which are used all over the world.
I initiated writing (inter)national research proposals resulting in strong involvement of, and collaboration with, coastal and river managers, engineers and scientists from various disciplines, e.g. biologists, social scientists, mathematicians. I largely invested in creating a good research atmosphere in my group, stimulating internal cooperation, international research exchange, initiating several series of research talks, organising (inter)national conferences and involving MSc-students in our research. We have a highly diverse team (gender, continent, scientific specialisation).
Publications
UT Research Information System
Google Scholar Link
Education
Master's (Doctoraal)
University/College of Higher Education: Utrecht University, Faculty of Physics and Astronomy
Date: June 24th, 1991
Main subject: Theoretical Physics, Field Theory
Extra first year certificate (Propedeuse)
University/College of Higher Education: Utrecht University, Faculty of Languages
Date: August 30th, 1988
Programme: Dutch Language and Literature
Doctorate
University/College of Higher Education: Utrecht University, Faculty of Physics and Astronomy
Date: November 20th, 1996
Supervisors (Promotors): Prof. De Ruijter, Prof. De Vriend, Dr. De Swart
Title of thesis: Formation and Migration of large-scale, rhythmic sea-bed patterns: a stability approach
For a list of MSc projects please visit our department's website:
Affiliated Study Programmes
Master
Courses Academic Year 2022/2023
Courses Academic Year 2021/2022
Current Projects
Finished Projects
Contact Details
Visiting Address
University of Twente
Faculty of Engineering Technology
Horst Complex
(building no. 20), room W217
De Horst 2
7522LW Enschede
The Netherlands
Mailing Address
University of Twente
Faculty of Engineering Technology
Horst Complex
W217
P.O. Box 217
7500 AE Enschede
The Netherlands