People

My group consists of students and postdocs who come from a wide range of countries and backgrounds. Together, we conduct diverse research projects to address current challenges in coral reef biology. We aim to advance our understanding of how corals are impacted by climate and environmental change, and what mechanisms increase coral stress tolerance in a future ocean.

Verena Schoepf

Assistant Professor

MacGillavry Fellow and Vidi Laureate

I'm a marine biologist at the University of Amsterdam investigating how climate and environmental change impact tropical coral reefs, the “rainforests of the sea”. I have published more than 50 papers in leading peer-reviewed scientific journals, including Nature and Science, and have won several awards such as the WA Young Tall Poppy Science Award. As a TEDx Speaker and former Superstar of STEM, I'm passionate about science communication and promoting women in STEM, and my career and research on “super corals” were featured in the documentary series “Women and Oceans”. I currently serve as the Chair of my institute's DEI Council and on the Board of WiF (Women in the Faculty of Science).

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Rene van der Zande

Postdoctoral Researcher

I am a marine ecologist in the group of Dr. Verena Schoepf at the University of Amsterdam. My research focuses on the effects of multiple stressors on coral health, and aims to improve our understanding of how changing environmental conditions interact in shaping coral reefs presently as well as in the future. To achieve this, I mostly use a combination of manipulative laboratory and aquarium experiments, coupled with long-term monitoring and experiments in the field. The process of finding out more and more about the intricate and fascinating mechanisms of evolution and adaptation in nature fuels my passion for the natural world, and I hope to inspire others to develop the same.

Sarah Solomon

PhD Candidate

I am a nature enthusiast and marine biologist with a passion for tropical eco-physiology. I am a PhD candidate at the University of Amsterdam under supervision of Dr. Verena Schoepf, and my research goals involve characterizing how tropical coral reefs will acclimatize to future ocean conditions and understanding the mechanisms that underlie coral resilience in extreme or marginal habitats. I’m inspired by the beauty and complexity of organismal diversity and I aspire to communicate our exciting scientific findings in creative ways to a broad audience.

Kelly Wong Johnson

PhD Candidate

I completed my MS in Biology at California State University, Northridge where my research focused on the capacity for corals and octocorals to occupy space on rubble-dominated reefs in the United States Virgin Islands and French Polynesia. Continuing my interest for coral ecophysiology on Caribbean reefs, I am currently a PhD candidate at the University of Amsterdam under the supervision of Dr. Verena Schoepf. My current research goals are to explore how the environmental variability of particular reefs in Curaçao and Panama, which are characterized by sub-optimal conditions as compared to surrounding reefs, promotes or reduces the physiological performance and stress-tolerance of corals from those reefs. I am impassioned to be a student, diver, and researcher within a large scientific community working towards better understanding how corals will persist when confronted with persistent global climate change.

Ilan Bubb

PhD Candidate

I am a Marine Biologist who fell in love with the ocean growing up in Florida, USA. Since completing my B.A. at New College of Florida and M.E.M. at Duke University I have been working to conserve coral reefs through the reduction of land-based sources of pollution along the coast of Saipan, part of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. Continuing my work in the Pacific, I am co-supervised by Dr. Verena Schoepf and Dr. Lyza Johnston in my research studying the patterns and mechanisms of thermal tolerance in reef building corals. It is our hope that this research will facilitate the restoration of local reefs that were devastated by the 2014-2017 global bleaching event. Outside of my research I am a passionate underwater photographer, long distance hiker and cat dad.

Ashtyn Isaak

PhD Candidate

I am a marine ecologist working towards disentangling the effects of climate change stressors on photosynthesizing organisms in various ocean environments. I completed my BS from Oregon State University and MS in Biology from California State University, Northridge. I am a current PhD student in the Coastal Eco-Physiology Lab Group with Dr. Christopher Cornwall based in Wellington, New Zealand and I’m co-supervised by Dr. Verena Schoepf at the University of Amsterdam. My research focuses on the effects of marine heatwaves and ocean acidification on coral and calcifying macroalgae in the Ningaloo region of Western Australia.

Ilmer Benda

MSc project: Role of environmental variability in modulating multi-stress tolerance

My long present interest in the underwater world, and the drive to bring a positive change to current climate change trends perfectly coincided during my Bachelors project; which focused on the shift in coral reef composition. This project set in stone my dream to further pursue this academic field, which would continue directly after by starting a masters track in freshwater and marine biology. I have recently started a Master's project under the supervision of Kelly Wong and Dr Verena Schoepf which is aimed to attain more insight into the effect of environmental history on the response of corals in combined stressor environments.

Sophie Littke

MSc project: Coral resistance to combined climate change stressors along a strong environmental gradient

My fascination with the marine world initially led me to work as a Scuba Diving Instructor for several years. During this time, my curiosity about the underwater environment, particularly coral reefs, grew steadily. This passion drove me to pursue a Master's in Marine Biology at the University of Algarve, Portugal. Now, I am conducting research for my master’s thesis at the University of Amsterdam, under the supervision of Kelly Wong, Dr. Verena Schoepf and Dr. Aschwin Engelen. Our project aims at assessing the coral health status of specific reefs in Panama and investigating the combined impacts of hypoxia and other climate stressors on these corals, and how environmental history influences their stress response. I am excited to contribute to this important research, and to work towards a deeper understanding of coral resilience in the face of climate change.

Joe Pilmeijer

MSc Project: Drivers of coral heat tolerance during the 2023 bleaching event in Bocas del Toro, Panama

For my second MSc research project, I aim to understand what the role of Symbiodiniaceae community composition is in heat stress tolerance of corals from Panama’s Bahia Almirante. I am also analysing coral reef transect images to assess whether corals from more thermally extreme habitats have a higher bleaching capacity than corals from more thermally stable habitats. I am keen to further develop my scientific and communication skills, and to contribute to the understanding of coral reefs in the context of climate change. Beyond my MSc degree, I am also a musician, film photographer and diver.

Amelie Wittig

MSc project: Coral symbiont composition across a strong environmental gradient in Bocas del Toro, Panama

I am a Master’s student in Freshwater and Marine Biology at the University of Amsterdam with a deep passion for marine biology, especially marine microbiology, molecular biology and symbioses. In my research project, I’m using ITS2 symbiont typing to discover whether the algal coral microbiome differs along an environmental gradient in Bahia Almirante, Bocas del Toro, Panama. With this, I hope to contribute to the understanding of the role of Symbiodiniaceae in the stress tolerance and bleaching of corals. I am excited to learn more about corals and their symbionts while furthering our understanding of how corals cope with climate change.

Antonie Kooymans

'MSc Project: Effects of different environmental regimes on coral community responses to heat stress and coral bleaching during the 2023-24 bleaching event in Almirante Bay, Panama

I have completed my BSc in Coastal and Marine Management at the Van Hall University of Applied Sciences in Leeuwarden. My passion for the marine environment, particularly the coral reef ecosystem has led me to pursue a MSc in Freshwater and Marine Biology at the University of Amsterdam. My research project explores how varying environmental regimes shape coral community responses to heat stress and bleaching during the 2023-24 global bleaching event in Almirante Bay, Bocas del Toro, Panama. To achieve this, I will analyze coral reef transect images in the context of environmental data. I am incredibly excited to be part of this research group and hope to learn from the expertise of other members.

Former Students and Postdocs

Postdoctoral Fellows

Dr Maite Buchner, 2020 - 2021, joint supervision with Dr Karl Castillo

Graduate Students

Kay Watty, 2025, MSc, daily supervisor Dr Rene van der Zande

Sophia Suvacarov, MSc, 2025, daily supervisor Sarah Solomon

Angelica Verschragen, 2025, MSc, daily supervisor Ashtyn Isaak

Maxine Mouly, 2024, MSc, daily supervisor Dr Rene van der Zande

Riccardo Mazza, 2024, MSc, daily supervisor Sarah Solomon

Rebecca van Oostveen, 2024, MSc, daily supervisor Kelly Wong Johnson

Matteo Bravo, 2023, MSc

Emily Croasdale, 2023, MSc

Chris Lippens, 2023, MSc, daily supervisor Sarah Solomon

Laura Misker, 2022, MSc, daily supervisor Sarah Solomon

Wout van der Heide, 2022, MSc, co-supervisor Dr Chris Cornwall

Chiara de Jong, 2021, MSc

Iris van Os, 2021, MSc

Elias Speelman, 2020, MSc

Guadalupe Sepulveda, 2020, MSc

Claire Ross, 2018, PhD, primary supervisor Prof Malcolm McCulloch

Cyrielle Rigal, 2018, MSc

Maria Jung, 2018, MSc

Andrew Warnes, 2017, MSc, co-supervisors Drs Chris Cornwall and Steeve Comeau

Steven Carrion, 2017, MSc

Morane Le Nohaïc, 2016, MSc

Undergraduate Students

Isabel Guncay Alvarracin, 2024

Joe Pilmeijer, 2022

Lena Faber, 2021

Rebecca van Oostveen, 2020

Anna Groen, 2018

Hermione Sanderson, 2018

Ellis Larcombe, 2018

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