prof. dr. K.R. (klaas) Timmermans

Prof. Dr. Klaas R. Timmermans (12 April 1959) received his Masters degree in Biology (cum laude) at the University of Amsterdam in 1986. From 1986–1991, he did his PhD on the effects of trace metals on Chironomid larvae (University of Amsterdam). In 1991 he defended his PhD-thesis entitled “Trace metal ecotoxicokinetics of chironomids” As off 1991, Klaas Timmermans works as a senior scientist at the Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research (NIOZ, Texel), first within the Department of Marine Chemistry & Geology, from 2008 -2016 in the Department of Biological Oceanography, and from 2016 onwards within the Department of Estuarine and Delta Systems (EDS) in Yerseke. Currently he is head of the EDS Department, which aims to understand how the interplay between the pelagic habitat, vegetation, benthic organisms, water flow, and sedimentation shapes the physical environment as well as the habitats that can support diverse natural communities. Central to the department is a multidisciplinary fundamental scientific approach that combines state-of-art biophysical measurements, remote sensing, and manipulative experiments with mathematical and numerical modelling to create in-depth understanding of the processes that form estuarine and delta systems. Klaas Timmermans runs several scientific project aimed at understanding ecophysiology of seaweeds, the role of seaweeds as eco-engineers, and the possibilities to use seaweed biomass for food/feed and fuel.

In his work, the overarching goal is to arrive at insight in the effects of the biotic and abiotic environment, including changes therein (e.g. global warming, ocean acidification, sea level rise), on physiology, ecology and diversity of marine photo-autotrophes, such as seaweeds. Klaas Timmermans studied for example nutrient uptake in native North Sea seaweeds and their effects on growth, the possibilities to use seaweeds as producers of high value products (pigments, proteins, polysaccharides) and the optimalisation of biofilters using seaweeds. His work combines biology, ecology, physics and analytical chemistry.

From 1 September 2014 onwards Klaas Timmermans is appointed as honorary professor Marine Plant Biomass in the Department of Ocean Ecosystems, with in ESRIG, Energy and Sustainability Research Institute Groningen at Groningen University (Faculty Science and Engineering).