About Marijke Haverkorn
Marijke Haverkorn studied astronomy at Utrecht University with a minor in theoretical physics. She graduated cum laude in 1998 and obtained her PhD in 2002 at Leiden University for her research into the characterisation and interpretation of polarised radio waves from the Milky Way. From 2002 to 2005, she was a postdoctoral researcher at the Harvard Observatory in the United States. Between 2005 and 2008, she conducted research at the University of California, Berkeley. In 2008, she returned to the Netherlands and worked as a researcher at ASTRON in Dwingeloo and at Leiden University. In 2011, she became an assistant professor at Radboud University (RU) in Nijmegen, in 2017 an associate professor, and in 2020, RU appointed her professor of astrophysical magnetism.
Haverkorn is a worldwide expert on research into the cycle of birth and death of stars in the Milky Way. She focuses in particular on the role of magnetic fields in the gas between the stars. She hopes to develop a complete but detailed model of the magnetic field in the Milky Way.
On joining the Domain Board Science she says: ‘My fundamental motivations in science are curiosity and wonder. I also really enjoy collaborations in which different areas of expertise, backgrounds and methods lead to new insights. I am joining the Domain Board because I enjoy contributing ideas about science at the system level. I am keen to learn about other scientific fields than my own at this level and look forward to working with a broadly oriented board to help steer NWO-Science towards aspects that are important to me, including Recognition and Rewards, and sustainability.’
Domain board ENW
The ENW Domain Board is responsible for developing policy and deciding on the allocation of financial resources. Its members are leading professors in the exact sciences or life sciences at a Dutch university or research institute.
The current board members Maarten van Steen and Ilja Arts will be leaving the Domain Board at the beginning of 2026; their terms expire. As of 1 January, the composition will be as follows:
- Prof. Jan de Boer (University of Amsterdam), chair, also member of the NWO Executive Board
- Prof. Karen Aardal (Delft University of Technology)
- Prof. Ilja Arts (Maastricht University; until 1 May 2026)
- Prof. Huib Bakker (AMOLF)
- Prof. Peter van Bodegom (Leiden University)
- Prof. Ferdinand Grozema (Delft University of Technology)
- Prof. Rob Hamer (formerly Unilever)
- Prof. Marijke Haverkorn (Radboud University Nijmegen)