This page contains my curriculum vitae as a geologist, geochemist and paleoclimatologist.

Robin van der Ploeg

Professional experience

Current position(s)

  • Geochemist at Shell, Amsterdam (October 2019 – present)
  • Founder and Owner at The Biogeologist (September 2014 – present)

Past positions

  • Postdoctoral Researcher at Department of Earth Sciences, Faculty of Geosciences, Utrecht University (January 2019 – September 2019)
  • PhD Candidate at Department of Earth Sciences, Faculty of Geosciences, Utrecht University (November 2014 – November 2018)
  • Exploration geochemistry intern at Shell Global Solutions BV, Rijswijk (May 2014 – July 2014)
  • Research trainee at Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences (KNAW) and Department of Earth Sciences, Faculty of Geosciences, Utrecht University (January 2013 – December 2013)
  • Student teaching assistant at Department of Earth Sciences, Faculty of Geosciences, Utrecht University (November 2010 – January 2013)
  • Student member at Faculty Council of Faculty of Geosciences, Utrecht University (September 2011 – August 2012)

    Additional experience

    • Secretary at Paleobotanical and Palynological Society Utrecht (2015 – 2018)
    • President at Geological Society Miölnir (2013 – 2014)

    Field experience

    Estimated number of field days: 150

    Fieldwork:

    • Pyrenees, Spain (June 2018, 2 weeks)
    • Caucasus, Russia (August 2017, 10 days)
    • Pyrenees, Spain (June 2017, 2 weeks)
    • Pyrenees, Spain (June 2016, 2 weeks)
    • Pyrenees, Spain (June 2015, 2 weeks)
    • Sorbas, Spain (June 2013, 4 weeks)
    • Tremp, Spain (June 2011, 3 weeks)
    • Aliaga, Spain (June 2010, 4 weeks)
    • Ardennes, Belgium (October 2009, 4 days)

    Field excursions:

    • Andalusia, Spain (February 2020, 1 week)
    • Sicily, Italy (April 2018, 8 days)
    • Utah, United States (September 2017, 2 days)
    • Jurassic Coast, United Kingdom (April 2016, 4 days)
    • Eifel, Germany (April 2015, 4 days)
    • Dinarides, Serbia and Montenegro (April 2013, 10 days)
    • Boulonnais, France (April 2012, 4 days)

    Reviewer activities

    I have reviewed manuscripts for the following scientific journals:

    • Geochemical Perspectives Letters
    • Science Advances
    • Scientific Reports

    Grants

    I have received the following grants:

    • NESSC Exchange Program (2016): € 1750,-

    Education and Qualifications

    PhD in Earth Sciences at Utrecht University (2019)

    • PhD Thesis: “Balance and imbalance: a middle Eocene perspective on coupled carbon cycle and climate change”, successfully defended on March 29th, 2019. Supervised by Appy Sluijs (Utrecht University), Jack Middelburg (Utrecht University) and Steven Bohaty (University of Southampton).

    Postgraduate Courses

    • NERC Advanced Training Short Course: Taxonomy and stratigraphy of Cenozoic planktonic foraminifera, Natural History Museum, London (2018).
    • Maintaining Scientific Integrity in Present Day Academic Reality, Utrecht University (2015-2016).
    • 12th Urbino Summer School in Paleoclimatology, Urbino, Italy (2015).

    MSc in Earth Sciences at Utrecht University (2012 – 2014)

    • Graduated cum laude (top 10 %), GPA 4.0
    • MSc Thesis: “Plant diversity and floral change during the Paleozoic-Mesozoic transition”. Supervised by Ivo Duijnstee and Cindy Looy, Utrecht University and University of California at Berkeley

    BSc in Earth Sciences at Utrecht Unversity (2009 – 2012)

    • Graduated cum laude (top 10%), GPA 4.0
    • Successfully participated in the prestigious Honours Programme of the Faculty of Geosciences
    • BSc Thesis: “Hydrographical changes in the Mediterranean during marine isotope stages 7 – 8 (210 – 270 ka): Inferences from a high-resolution stable isotope study of ODP Site 968”. Supervised by Lucas Lourens and Frits Hilgen, Utrecht University

    Memberships

    • European Association of Geochemistry (2017 – present)
    • American Geophysical Union (2016 – present)
    • Paleobotanical and Palynological Society Utrecht (2012 – present)
    • Geological Society Miölnir (2011 – present)
    • Utrechtse Aardwetenschappen Vereniging (2009 – 2014)