Introducing: Linda van Garderen
What is your qualifying background?
I completed my bachelor in Environmental Sciences at the van Hall Larenstein university of applied sciences in Leeuwarden, the Netherlands. After that I continued my studies with a double master degree programme in both Environmental sciences – Environmental systems analysis and in Climate studies – Biogeochemical cycles at the Wageningen University, the Netherlands. During my internship and master thesis for climate studies I think I got a good view on what it is like to be a scientist and it confirmed that this is what I want to do. My internship was about weather patterns that can cause flooding in Europe at the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK) and my master thesis was concerning changing storm characeristics for the Netherlands at the Royal Netherlands Meteorology Institue (KNMI).
I have now just entered my third PhD year in the Coordination of Storm Themes which is part of the Coastal Impacts and Paleoclimate group. I study the effect of climate change on extreme weather events using global atmospheric modelling.
How would you describe your working daily routine?
Because I work with atmospheric models, my daily routine includes a lot of computer work. I am mainly busy with coding for the ECHAM6 atmospheric model that runs on the super computer in Hamburg, followed data anlysis. The model produces large data files and it is up to me to analyze the results properly through f.i. plotting graphs and maps. In my work it is handy to be familiar with at least 1 coding language. I personally use Python and Bash.
What has been your biggest success so far?
Perservering to become a scientist despite circumstances is my greatest achievement thus far. Not everybody saw a scientist in me throughout high school and even during my bachelors I had to stand my ground. Nevertheless, I was determined and am rewarded for it. I love my work and I enjoy being part of science.
Do you have a big goal?
Yes. I want to my work to make a difference in the world. Climate change has an effect on everybody and I want to contribute in understanding its processes and research the possible solutions and coping strategies. I appreciate both research and education, so my personal goal is to combine that towards a professorship.
Do you have any personal distinctive mark?
Well, what is different about me is that I like to sing opera, I am a high soprano in my classic choir 🙂
Besides that I do regular fitness training and am also a big book nerd 🙂
