Miriam Van Eekert

Biography

Miriam van Eekert (born in ‘s-Hertogenbosch, The Netherlands in 1966) is a senior scientist in the field of environmental (bio)technology (and microbiology) and laboratory work coordinator for LeAF since 2007. She has over 20 years of experience in the field of environmental microbiology, digestion, anaerobic wastewater treatment, nutrient recovery and associated processes. Miriam graduated in Wageningen as a Molecular scientist with a strong interest in environmental issues in Wageningen. Thereafter she worked for the TNO Institute for Carbohydrate Research in Groningen, where she was occupied with projects initiated by the starch industry on wastewater treatment and microbial degradation of carbohydrates. Thereafter in 1999, Miriam obtained her PhD in Wageningen with a thesis entitled “Transformation of chlorinated compounds by methanogenic granular sludge”. She returned to TNO, this time as a project leader/researcher at the Institute for Environment, Energy and Process Innovation. Her research was directed more towards the (in situ) bioremediation of contaminated soils and sediments. In the next 5 years at the Laboratory of Microbiology of Wageningen University, she was involved in several EU-funded projects focusing mainly on that subject and the anaerobic microbial transformation of xenobiotic compounds.

Research Interest

Laboratory tests, (anaerobic) microbial conversions, digestion, biogas and other forms of bioenergy, biomass, manure, recovery of nutrients, faecal sludge management, urine, pit latrines, biological conversion of organic matter, in situ bioremediation of contaminated soils and sediments