Bregje investigates the impacts of microbiome and host interactions on nanomaterial toxicity in aquatic ecosystems

More information about Bregje Brinkmann

Professional experience

Bregje obtained a BSc degree in Biology at Leiden University and a MSc degree in Limnology & Oceanography (Biological Sciences) at the University of Amsterdam (UvA).

In two MSc research projects, Bregje developed a growing interest in the impacts of microbial activity on water quality and ecosystem functioning. In a first project at the research group of Aquatic Microbiology (UvA), she studied the role of cyanotoxin microcystin in the sensitivity of cyanobacteria to strong oxidative stress. In a second project at the research group of Aquatic Environmental Ecology (UvA) and Deltares, she studied limnetic aggregates in relation to algae survival in the turbid water column of large and shallow delta lake Markermeer (the Netherlands). By way of a literature study, she also investigated the role of microbiome and host interactions in the adaptive potential of coral calcification to ocean acidification. During her MSc education, Bregje was awarded the Professor Kees Bakker prijs 2014 and an ISME16 travel grant, supporting her visit to the 16^th International Symposium on Microbial Ecology in Montreal (Canada).

In October 2017, she returned to Leiden University as PhD candidate at the department of Conservation Biology of the Institute of Environmental Sciences.

Research topic

Bregje investigates the impacts of microbiome and host interactions on nanomaterial toxicity in aquatic ecosystems. Her research aims to contribute to understanding potential effects of realistic (long-term and low dose) nanomaterial exposure to ecosystems.

Bregje’s PhD project is part of the EU funded H2020 project PATROLS (‘Physiologically Anchored Tools for Realistic nanOmateriaL hazard aSsessment’) awarded to Martina Vijver and research partners

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Activities