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Staff members with discipline Urban Studies

Academia develops at the interface of different fields. This is one reason why the University of Groningen is home to a wide range of fields, each with a great number of subject specialists. The overview below, which is based on a standard categorization of fields, will help you find the right expert for each field. If you cannot find the expert you are looking for in this list, try searching via a related field or faculty; you may find him or her there.

Overview of all disciplines

urban planning and design, sustainable spatial transformation, regional urbanization, design pedagogy, public real estate
O. (Özlem) Altinkaya-Genel, PhD
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Contact
o.altinkaya rug.nl
Function
Assistant Professor of Design of Healthy and Accessible Cities
Field / Discipline
infrastructure and environmental planning, environmental impact assessment, ex post evaluation
prof. dr. E.J.M.M. (Jos) Arts
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Contact
jos.arts rug.nl
+31 50 36 33895
Function
professor Environmental and Infrastructure Planning
- State-socialist and post-socialist architecture and urbanism
- Architecture and urban planning in East-Central Europe and the Balkans
- Islamic cultural and urban heritage in twentieth- and twenty-first century
- Post-disaster and post-war urban reconstruction
---------- Dr Babic's scholarship explores the intersection of architecture and ideology during the state-socialist and post-socialist periods in East-Central and Southeastern Europe, with a particualr focus on former Yugoslavia. She examines the intertwined nature of architectural production, urban planning, and socio-political events in the state-socialist countries of the twentieth century and the socio-political and architectural developments in contemporary post-communist Europe. Her current work investigates the production and negotiations of urban identities in post-socialist spaces, particularly focusing on state socialist housing estates and urban monuments.  
M. (Maja) Babic, PhD
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Contact
m.babic rug.nl
Function
Assistant Professor History and Theory of Architecture and Urbanism
Farzaneh’s research is on the interplay between mobility systems and urban forms. She holds a Ph.D. from the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, Lausanne (EPFL), Laboratory of Urbanism. Her PhD research, on futures of mobility, sought to identify the levers of change for a transition from car dominance in cities. She is currently working on the role of spatial planning in steering the evolution of smart mobilities and their adoption in the future cities.
F. (Farzaneh) Bahrami, Dr
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Contact
f.bahrami rug.nl
Function
Assistant Professor Urban Design and Mobility
Field / Discipline
I am working on Urban Adaptivity within the domain of planning theory and operationalizing it to the real world. To do so, I find the term "15-Minute City" and its potentials very relevant to operationalize adaptive planning to its place and space.
H. (Hamidreza) Biabani Moghaddam, M
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Contact
h.biabani.moghaddam rug.nl
Function
PhD student
Especially interested in perception, when spaces becomes places and how such processes are influenced by the strategy and governance of the marketing and branding of cities, regions and countries.In addition, interested in every aspect of the historical and contemporary position of cities in the world.
M. (Martin) Boisen, MSc
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Contact
m.boisen rug.nl
Function
Lecturer
I.T.J. (Ingo) Bousema, MSc
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Contact
i.t.j.bousema rug.nl
Function
PhD Candidate
Adaptive water governance and spatial planning
Inclusive flood resilience
Institutional analysis
Framing theory, discourse theory
dr. M.A. (Margo) van den Brink
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Contact
m.a.van.den.brink rug.nl
Function
Associate Professor Water and Planning
K. (Karina) Castro Arce
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Contact
k.castro.arce rug.nl
Function
Dr.
Climate Adaptation
Climate Resilience
Coastal Planning
Urban and Regional Planning
Design-led Planning
Policy Analysis
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Contact
a.n.chandramidi rug.nl
Function
PhD student
Child-friendly cities.
V.A. (Viviana) Cordero Vinueza, MSc
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Contact
v.a.cordero.vinueza rug.nl
Function
PhD student
Field / Discipline
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Contact
q.n.dengerink rug.nl
Function
Junior GIS Specialist
Water Sensitive City
Adaptive Water Governance
Institutional Design
Flood Resilience
Multilevel Governance
Climate Change Adaptation
Indonesia
M. (Martin) Drenth, MSc
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Contact
m.drenth rug.nl
Function
PhD student
Intra-European migration, (Transnational) party organization; Attitudes towards the EU; Mixed methods research
A.V. (Adrian) Favero, PhD
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Contact
a.v.favero rug.nl
Function
Cultural Geography
Children's Geographies
M. (Manuela) Ferreira Torres
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Contact
m.ferreira.torres rug.nl
Function
PhD student
Field / Discipline
revitalisation of city and countryside, especially the provinces of Groningen and Friesland
prof. dr. J.J.M. (Zef) Hemel
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Contact
j.j.m.hemel rug.nl
Function
Field / Discipline
Integrated transport infrastructure- and areadevelopment, (added) value assessment, consensus
A.M. (Anne Marel) Hilbers, MSc
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Contact
a.m.hilbers rug.nl
Function
PhD student
T. (Tabea) Hoffmann, MSc
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Contact
t.hoffmann rug.nl
Function
PhD student
Environmental and Infrastructure Planning, Design Methods, Quality Assurance in Education.
prof. dr. ir. P. (Paul) Ike
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Contact
p.ike rug.nl
+31 50 36 33895
Function
Emeritus Professor of Environmental and Infrastructure Planning
Social Housing, Landmarkets and Land Policy, Housing Associations, Non-profit Organisaztions and Social Enterprise, Housing the Elderly, Area-based Arrangements for Housing and Care, Neighbourhood Redevelopment, Impact of Induced Earthquakes on the Housing Market
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Contact
g.r.w.de.kam rug.nl
Function
Emeritus Professor of Housing and Landmarkets, with a focus on Housing of the Elderly
Field / Discipline
Marine Spatial Planning, offshore system integration, hydrogen, energy transition, North Sea policy
J.E.H. (Juul) Kusters, MSc
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Contact
j.e.h.kusters rug.nl
Function
PhD Candidate
dr. N. (Naim) Laeni, PhD
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Contact
n.laeni rug.nl
Function
leadership in planning processes
planning theory
post-growth planning
regional and state planning
research-practice interfaces
roles of planners
spatial transformations
C.W. (Christian) Lamker, Dr
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Contact
c.w.lamker rug.nl
Function
Assistant Professor Sustainable Transformation and Regional Planning
I research the geography of inequality, poverty, and social exclusion, especially in cities. My expertise is in the following domains and their interactions;

- experiences of poverty and social exclusion
- coming of age in disadvantaged neighbourhoods
- social & spatial justice
- initiatives and interventions in the neighbourhood
- social infrastructure
- intergenerational poverty

View my research minute: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VlpQR18n2Uc
S. (Sander) van Lanen
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Contact
s.van.lanen rug.nl
+31 50 36 33888
Function
Assistant Professor
T. (Tiankun) Li, MSc
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Contact
tiankun.li rug.nl
Function
PhD student
dr. B.T. (Tino) Mager
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Contact
tino.mager rug.nl
Function
Assistant Professor History and Theory of Architecture and Urbanism
Field / Discipline
Environmental child-friendliness, spatial analysis, GIS, PPGIS.
S. (Soran, In Kurdish: سۆران) Mansournia, MSc
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Contact
s.mansournia rug.nl
Function
PhD student
Soundscape studies, Affective Geographies, Citizen Science, Spatial Inequalities, Environmental Justice, Critical GIS. Open to PhD supervision.
E. (Efstathios) Margaritis, PhD
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Contact
e.margaritis rug.nl
+31 50 36 33146
Function
history of modern and contemporary architecture and urbanism / international transfer of urban and typological models / non-western regions / Bildung through Architecture and place making / post-conflict and - trauma urban renewal.
dr. A.M. (Aurora Marijke) Martin
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Contact
a.m.martin rug.nl
+31 50 36 36093
Function
associate professor
Urban & Rural Inequality, Ethnography, Qualitative Methods
dr. E. (Erik) Meij, PhD
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Contact
e.meij rug.nl
Function
Phd researcher
Geography, GIS, Spatial Information
L. (Leon) van der Meulen, MSc
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Contact
leon.van.der.meulen rug.nl
‭06 319 8316 8‬
Function
Technical Consultant & Data engineer
J.G. (Jaap) Nieuwenhuis, PhD
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Contact
j.g.nieuwenhuis rug.nl
Function
Assistant professor
Field / Discipline
Expert in the field of Real Estate Development including financial, legal, spatial and managerial aspects
prof. dr. E.F. (Ed) Nozeman
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Contact
e.f.nozeman rug.nl
+31 50 36 33897
Function
Professor Economic Geography (Faculty of Spatial Sciences)
- entrepreneurial governance
- institutional transformations
- planning and property market dynamics
- residential property investment
- planning theories
S. (Sara) Özogul, PhD
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Contact
s.ozogul rug.nl
Function
Assistant Professor of Urban Planning
Zeqiang did his Master in 2017 on policy-making of collaborative watershed management in the Pearl River Delta City of South-eastern China. Since 2020, his on-going research has focused on the interdependency of integrated planning and communicative planning of community-based urban flood risk management in delta cities of China and the Netherlands.
Z. (Zeqiang) Pan, MSc
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Contact
z.pan rug.nl
Function
PhD student
Land Development
Land Conservation
Complexity Science
R.P. (Rama) Putra, MSc
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Contact
r.p.putra rug.nl
Function
PhD student
Mobility, Accessibility, Travel behavior, Integrated land use and transportation planning, Human-environment interactions, Participatory planning, health and wellbeing
S. (Samira) Ramezani, Dr
No picture available
Contact
s.ramezani rug.nl
Function
Assistant Professor
Adaptive planning
Complexity science & self-organization
Spatial transformation
Peri-urban areas & urban regions
Strategic planning concepts
Neighbourhood renewal
Age-friendly neighbourhoods
Studentification
Sustainable city logistics
Civic initiatives & self-governance
dr. W.S. (Ward) Rauws
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Contact
w.s.rauws rug.nl
Function
Associate Professor Spatial Planning
Mobility hubs; multimodal integration; rural accessibility
T.O. (Tibor) Rongen, MSc
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Contact
t.o.rongen rug.nl
+31 6 1405 1317
Function
PhD Candidate
Research assistant at the Knowledge Platform, which collects and shares knowledge and research that is relevant for social policy in the Groningen gas extraction area. The Knowledge Platform stimulates partnerships to create more attention for social impact. It brings people and knowledge together and strives for a society where industry, state and society are in harmony. I am interested in topics related to Socio-Spatial Planning, Sustainable spatial Development and Spatial Transformation.
W.E. (Willemijn) Schreuder, MSc
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Contact
w.e.schreuder rug.nl
Function
Researcher Kennisplatform Leefbaar en Kansrijk Groningen
Value of nature and landscape; Economics and space; Real estate and green; Evaluation ecology versus economy; Cost-Benefit Analysis, Multi-Criteria Analysis.
dr. F.J. (Frans) Sijtsma
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Contact
f.j.sijtsma rug.nl
+31 6 4098 8442
Function
Director Rudolf Agricola School for Sustainable Development / Associate Professor Faculty of Spatial Sciences
Overall, my work centers around the ‘social side’ of spatial planning. I am predominantly interested in the role of local level initiatives, social innovation and collective action in creating more resilient and sustainable places. The themes I explore within this context include: community resilience and the relevance of cooperative action in declining (rural) areas, flood resilience and local flood action groups, urban food systems and food policy, and the governance of renewable energy initiatives. In my more recent projects I have critically analyzed the ways in which the concept ‘resilience’ can be translated into spatial planning practice and the ways the concept is influencing the governance of vulnerable places. I am specialized in using qualitative, visual and (inter)active research methods such as (participatory) video, mental mapping and go-along interviews. In my previous research projects I explored young people’s place attachment and influential aspects for well-being of rural youths (problem behavior; gender roles; citizenship) in their everyday context.
E.M. (Elen-Maarja) Trell-Zuidema, Dr
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Contact
e.m.trell rug.nl
+31 50 36 33885
Function
Assistant Professor Governing for Resilience in Vulnerable Places
I am interested in people and places, which is why I work as an assistant professor at the Department of Spatial Planning & Environment at the Faculty of Spatial Sciences (FSS). In my position I am involved in academic research and education. My research interests include arts and culture in communities (in terms of community development, liveability, dealing with place change, etc.), how the arts can be used in community engagement and participation processes, and creative research methods. In my teaching activities, I am involved in various courses at both the Bachelor and Master level at the FSS, as well as at the Honours College.
dr. G. (Gwenda) van der Vaart
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Contact
g.van.der.vaart rug.nl
+31 6 5231 7254
Function
Assistant Professor
dr. ir. S.G. (Gerd) Weitkamp
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Contact
s.g.weitkamp rug.nl
Function
Associate Professor
As a researcher, I am Mainly interested in the social and spatial consequences of contemporary socio-economic and institutional developments. My expertise is centered around the following topics and their interaction:

- Housing
- Housing Market Dynamics
- Urban Inequality
- Social / Spatial Justice
- Welfare States
- Urban governance
dr. B.J. (Barend) Wind
No picture available
Contact
b.j.wind rug.nl
Function
Assistant Professor
Johan Woltjer is Professor of Urban Development and Planning, and Dean of the Faculty of Spatial Sciences, University of Groningen, Netherlands. He was previously at the University of Westminster, United Kingdom, and various other universities including the University of Amsterdam and the University of Twente. Professor Woltjer holds a wide range of international positions, in educational development, research networks, and for editorial boards. He also is an Honorary Professor at the Institute of Technology Bandung, Indonesia. He is an editor for CITIES, a globally leading journal in the field of urban studies.
Management skills: research evaluation and coordination, international educational development, department and faculty management;
Research interests: urban and regional development, sustainable cities, human geography, environmental governance, institutional design, international planning, evaluation, water resources and infrastructure development;
Teaching: curriculum development, international classroom, tutorial teaching, comparative learning.
prof. dr. J. (Johan) Woltjer
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Contact
j.woltjer rug.nl
Function
Professor of Urban Development and Planning
Environmental planning, integrated energy planning, sustainable development, governance renewal, decentralization, (post-)contingency theory, adaptive planning
prof. dr. C. (Christian) Zuidema
No picture available
Contact
c.zuidema rug.nl
Function
Associate Professor Spatial Planning
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