ir. TM (Tamar) Reijnen

I have a background in Plant Breeding and Crop Protection and have obtained both my BSc and MSc degrees from Wageningen University, specializing in Ecological Crop Protection. Throughout my academic education, my main focus was on the biological control of insect pests through the utilization of insect predators, parasitoids, and viruses. This interest led me to complete my minor thesis at the Laboratory of Entomology and my major thesis at the Laboratory of Virology in collaboration with the Chair Group of Theoretical Production Ecology.

To further expand my knowledge, I undertook an internship in entomology at a research center for agroecology in Cesena, Italy. After completing my studies, I embarked on a new chapter by participating in the AIESEC Wageningen exchange program. This opportunity took me to Dehradun, India, where I engaged in organic farming practices, attended courses offered by an Indian NGO, and established connections with local small-scale farmers.

My professional experiences span a diverse range of domains. I have contributed to Student Information Services at Wageningen University, worked with a Dutch farmers' cooperative, worked at a care garden, engaged with a Dutch research institute focused on ecology, honed my teaching skills in plant cultivation at secondary vocational education, been involved with a government service under the Ministry of Agriculture, and even lived and worked on a Dutch arable farm.

In addition to my work engagements, I have served as an active board member of "Vrouwennetwerk Wageningse Ingenieurs (VWI)," advocating for women's networks within the engineering community. In my free time, I have pursued courses on permaculture, food forests, agroecology, and no-till farming, demonstrating my ongoing commitment to continuous learning.

In my current role at Wageningen University, I function as a Research Assistant, Data Steward, and Website Editor for the Chair Group of Plant Production Systems. This multifaceted position enables me to leverage my expertise in supporting research, managing research data, and maintaining the website, all of which contribute to the development of sustainable plant production systems worldwide.