Curriculum Vitae

👨‍🔬 Career Summary

With over 10 years of university-level research experience and several years in consultancy, I bring a strong foundation in fluvial and coastal geomorphology, morphodynamic modeling, and applied water management. My work spans academic research, government advisory roles, and international consultancy.

🧭 Current Role

Advisor – North Sea & Western Scheldt

Rijkswaterstaat Zee en Delta (Oct 2021 – present)
As advisor at Rijkswaterstaat, I focus on the morphodynamics and spatial management of coastal and estuarine systems. My work includes:

• Sand extraction for coastal protection and infrastructure.

• Marine Spatial Planning and implementation of the Marine Strategy Framework Directive.

• Analysis of long-term system changes in the Western Scheldt.
  
  

🌊 Consultancy Experience

Consultant – Rivers, Coasts & Seas

Arcadis Netherlands (June 2019 – Sept 2021)
At Arcadis, I contributed to projects on:

• Offshore wind energy development.

• Environmental impact studies for river and delta restoration.

• Silt plume modeling in the Middle East and the Netherlands.

• Plastic pollution mitigation in collaboration with UN-Habitat Philippines.
  
  

🔬 Academic Research

Postdoctoral Researcher

Utrecht University (May 2016 – April 2019)
As part of the Vici project "Turning the Tide" (Prof. Dr. Maarten Kleinhans), I focused on:

• Understanding shoal margin collapses in the Western Scheldt.

• Modeling their morphodynamic effects using Delft3D.

• Assessing the impact of dredging and disposal on estuarine evolution.
  
  

Postdoctoral Researcher

Durham University (Oct 2013 – Feb 2016)
Part of the Changing Water Cycle program (NERC–MoES):

• Investigated aquifer geometry and connectivity in NW India.

• Reconstructed Holocene-scale groundwater evolution in the Indo-Gangetic Plains.

• Combined remote sensing, geomorphology, and stratigraphic analysis.
  
  

Postdoc – Flume & Delta Research

Utrecht University (April 2013 – Aug 2013)
Short-term postdoc position focused on physical experiments and sediment dynamics.

🎓 Education

PhD in Physical Geography

Utrecht University (2009 – 2013)
Dissertation: Meandering rivers – feedbacks between channel dynamics, floodplain, and vegetation

• Created lab-scale meandering rivers using variable discharge and sediment conditions.

• Studied the role of vegetation and cohesive fines in channel formation.

• Highlighted the challenges of scaling laws in flume experiments.

• Awards Union Outstanding Student Poster (OSP) award EGU General Assembly 2012 (Geomorphology)

MSc in Physical Geography

Utrecht University (2006 – 2009)
Thesis: Effect of bank strength on experimental meandering rivers
Internship: Deltares, Delft – Department of River Science (focus on sediment transport and water systems)

BSc in Earth Sciences

Utrecht University (2003 – 2006)
Thesis: River deltas on Earth as analogues for Martian river deltas

ResearcherID K-9411-2013                  citations: 1115, h-index: 19
Scopus Author ID 55550583100         citations: 1278, h-index: 21
Google Scholar Wout M. van Dijk     citations: 1872, h-index: 23  
Researchgate Wout M van Dijk   citations: 1605, h-index: 23
ORCID 0000-0002-7276-1824 

Media

Dutch journal for ingenieurs (De Ingenieur)

Dutch newspaper, science (NRC-weekend)

Live interview on national radio (Dutch radio 1, Tros)

Dutch television-program shows labs at the Utrecht University (RTV Utrecht, Bij ons in....)

Dutch VideoBlog (www.wetenschap101.nl)

Our research on Dutch national television told by Maarten Kleinhans (De Wereld Leert Door)