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prof.dr. S.J.M.H. Hulscher (Suzanne)

Full Professor

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

Earth & Environmental Sciences
Dike
Dune
Modeling
Morphodynamics
Overtopping
River
Roughness
Sand Wave

Ancillary Activities

  • 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
  • raad civiele techniek https://www.raadcivieletechniek.nl/
    chair Civil Engineering Council (raad civiele techniek)
  • technical university of vienna
    member Advisory Board Vienna Doctoral Programme on Water Resource Systems

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

Recent
Miranda, P. , van der Werf, J. J. , & Hulscher, S. J. M. H. (2024). Roles of sand, silt, and clay in the morphodynamics of mixed sediment environments. Poster session presented at NCK Days 2024, Amersfoort, Netherlands.
Saccon, E., Bouma, T. , Hulscher, S. J. M. H., & van de Koppel, J. (2023). How freshwater trees respond to salt stress: implications for management. Abstract from BES Annual Meeting 2023, Belfast, United Kingdom.
van Veelen, T. J., Nepf, H. M. , Hulscher, S. J. M. H. , & Borsje, B. W. (2023). Flume experiments of sediment resuspension in wetland vegetation under wave-current conditions. Abstract from American Geophysical Union (AGU) Fall Meeting 2023, San Francisco, California, United States.
Lokin, L. , Warmink, J. J. , & Hulscher, S. J. M. H. (2023). Understanding spatial variation in river dune dynamics for operational forecasts of peak bed levels. In R. Tinocco, V. Prasad, H. You, Y. Luo, C. Salas, & T. Shukla (Eds.), RCEM 2023 Book of Abstracts (pp. 16). University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
van Veelen, T. J., Nepf, H. M. , Hulscher, S. J. M. H. , & Borsje, B. W. (2023). Understanding sediment deposition in salt marsh vegetation through flume experiments with wave-current conditions. In R. Tinocco, V. Prasad, H. You, Y. Luo, C. Salas, & T. Shukla (Eds.), RCEM 2023 Book of Abstracts (pp. 95). University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
Besseling, L. , Bomers, A. , & Hulscher, S. J. M. H. (2023). Towards real-time probabilistic assessment of dike failure and corresponding outflow. Abstract from 40th IAHR World Congress: Rivers - Connecting mountains and coasts, Vienna, Austria.
Kranenborg, J. W. M. (2023). Vertical dependences in swash-zone flows and sand transport. [PhD Thesis - Research UT, graduation UT, University of Twente]. University of Twente. https://doi.org/10.3990/1.9789036556859
Harezlak, V. (2023). Filters and plant trait strategies: What steers vegetation dynamics in floodplains of regulated lowland rivers? [PhD Thesis - Research UT, graduation UT, University of Twente]. University of Twente. https://doi.org/10.3990/1.9789464731415

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  2023/2024

Courses in the current academic year are added at the moment they are finalised in the Osiris system. Therefore it is possible that the list is not yet complete for the whole academic year.
 

Courses Academic Year  2022/2023

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

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Mailing Address

University of Twente
Faculty of Engineering Technology
Horst Complex  W217
P.O. Box 217
7500 AE Enschede
The Netherlands