dr. R (Reindert) Nijland

“I sequence anything, anywhere, to understand changing marine ecosystems”

Reindert Nijland is Associate Professor (UHD1) in Molecular Marine Ecology at the Marine Animal Ecology group (MAE). His research focuses on understanding how marine ecosystems respond to anthropogenic and climate-driven change, combining field observations with molecular approaches such as Nanopore sequencing and eDNA metabarcoding to track how marine biodiversity and ecosystems are changing

Research
Since joining MAE in 2017, Reindert has built a nationally leading research program in molecular marine ecology, organised around three integrated lines of work that together link biodiversity monitoring, population processes, and ecosystem-level understanding.

Integration of molecular approaches in ecosystem research
The first line concerns the integration of molecular approaches within broader ecosystem research, particularly in the context of the rapid transformation of the North Sea through offshore wind development and climate change. This work connects biodiversity data to ecosystem functioning, enabling cross-scale analyses of community dynamics and environmental change.

Development and application of molecular tools
The second focuses on the development of eDNA metabarcoding as a scalable and policy-relevant approach to marine biodiversity monitoring. Applications range from benthic communities in offshore wind farms to the diversity and trophic ecology of sharks, rays, and bony fishes across the North Sea.

Population genomics and conservation genomics
The third line focuses on population genomics and conservation genomics of marine fish and other animals. This includes an ambitious initiative to sequence approximately 10,000 fish genomes across all Dutch marine and freshwater fish species: the Fish Genetic Variation Atlas.

Academic career
Reindert studied biology at the University of Groningen, where he also completed his PhD in molecular genetics. He held postdoctoral positions at Newcastle University (Marie Curie Fellow) and UMC Utrecht before joining Wageningen University in 2014. He is the recipient of the KNVM Van Leeuwenhoek Award and has a longstanding personal passion for marine biology, crustaceans, scuba diving, and underwater photography.