Majid Hassanizadeh
Encyclopedia
Seyed Majid Hassanizadeh is a professor of hydrogeology
at Utrecht University
, where he heads the hydrogeology
group at the Faculty of Geosciences. He also is a senior advisor with the Soil and Groundwater Department of TNO
-Deltares. His research focuses on various flow and transport in porous media, through theory development, experimental studies, and modeling work. In particular, he focuses on two-phase flow, reactive transport in variably-saturated porous media, transport of micro-organisms, and biodegradation
.
Formerly, he has been with Abadan Institute of Technology (Iran, 1979–1982), Project Manager with Yekom Consulting Engineers (Iran, 1982–1984), senior researcher with the National Institute of Public Health and Environment, RIVM (Bilthoven, The Netherlands, 1984–1995), Associate Professor (1995–2001) and later Professor (2001–2003) with the Faculty of Civil Engineering and Geosciences, Delft University of Technology
. He has also held visiting faculty appointments at Notre Dame University, US, University of Bordeaux, France, and EPF Lausanne, Switzerland.
He has contributed to around 200 publications in journals, books, or as technical reports. Former Editor of Advances in Water Resources (1991–2001), Associate Editor of Vadose Zone Journal (2002–2008) and Water Resources Research (2004–2010), member of International Advisory Board of Journal of Hydrologic Engineering (since 2004), and on the editorial boards of Transport in Porous Media (since 1989), Advances in Water Resources (1988–2010), The Open Civil Engineering Journal (since 2007), The Open Hydrology Journal (since 2007), Journal of Porous Media (since 2009), and Special Topics & Reviews in Porous Media; An International Journal(since 2009).
He is active as session organizer or member of various committees for the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences
, NWO
, American Geophysical Union
, Soil Science Society of America
, European Geosciences Union
, and International Association of Hydrological Sciences
. He has been leading and/or participating in a large number of projects funded by NWO, EU
, TRIAS, SKB, TNO
, BTS. He has supervised more than 35 graduate students; has (co-)organized around 30 international conferences, workshops, and short courses; has been on the organizing or scientific committees of 25 international conferences/workshops; has given invited lectures in nearly 50 international meetings and short courses.
in the west of Iran. His father was a teacher at a local school. When nine years old, his family moved to the city of Ilam in the Kurdish western part of Iran. Eight years later, they moved to the city of Karaj (near Tehran) where he finished his last year of high school. Throughout the secondary school, he was the first-ranking student. Then, he decided to study civil engineering
at the Pahlavi University in Shiraz
. He focussed on optional courses dealing with water, partly because of the poetic value of water in his country.
After his graduation, he was offered a scholarship at Princeton university
. But, first, he wanted to marry before he left his country. After a short search he was introduced to Forooz, a second cousin from his mother's side. The two hit it off and married shortly after. During his studies at Princeton he became very active in the protests against the Shah
regime in Iran. This earned him the nickname 'the phantom' during his fourth year because he was hardly seen at his desk, but left traces of study all the same.
After he obtained his PhD in 1979, he had the opportunity to stay and work in US. However, the Iranian Revolution
had just started in Iran and, like 95% of the Iranian population, he supported Khomeini. So he decided to return to Iran. He was bitterly disappointed. After about half a year, the new regime launched the so-called "cultural revolution", closed all universities, and encouraged all students and teachers to work in industry or agriculture.
While working at a consulting company on drainage and irrigation projects, Majid learned about a post-graduate course in hydraulic engineering at IHE Institute in Delft, the Netherlands. He managed to obtain an exit visa through contacts of his employer and left for the Netherlands. After finishing the course he was offered a research position at the Netherlands National Institute for Public Health and the Environment
(RIVM). He and his wife had originally planned to return to Iran, but he was now offered the chance to stay in science. Although torn, he decided to stay in the Netherlands, where he lives till today.
in 2002 and Fellow of American Association for the Advancement of Science
in 2007. He was awarded the honorary degree of Doktor-Ingenieur
from Stuttgart University in 2008. In 2010, he was awarded a Humboldt Prize
.. In May 2012, he was selected by the US National Ground Water Association
as the Darcy Distinguished Lecturer for 2012 . In June 2011, he was elected by the Soil Science Society of America
to receive the Don and Bety Kirkham Soil Physics Award .
Hydrogeology
Hydrogeology is the area of geology that deals with the distribution and movement of groundwater in the soil and rocks of the Earth's crust, . The term geohydrology is often used interchangeably...
at Utrecht University
Utrecht University
Utrecht University is a university in Utrecht, Netherlands. It is one of the oldest universities in the Netherlands and one of the largest in Europe. Established March 26, 1636, it had an enrollment of 29,082 students in 2008, and employed 8,614 faculty and staff, 570 of which are full professors....
, where he heads the hydrogeology
Hydrogeology
Hydrogeology is the area of geology that deals with the distribution and movement of groundwater in the soil and rocks of the Earth's crust, . The term geohydrology is often used interchangeably...
group at the Faculty of Geosciences. He also is a senior advisor with the Soil and Groundwater Department of TNO
Netherlands Organisation for Applied Scientific Research
Nederlandse Organisatie voor Toegepast Natuurwetenschappelijk Onderzoek or TNO is a not-for-profit organization in the Netherlands that focuses on applied science. The main office of TNO is located in Delft...
-Deltares. His research focuses on various flow and transport in porous media, through theory development, experimental studies, and modeling work. In particular, he focuses on two-phase flow, reactive transport in variably-saturated porous media, transport of micro-organisms, and biodegradation
Biodegradation
Biodegradation or biotic degradation or biotic decomposition is the chemical dissolution of materials by bacteria or other biological means...
.
Formerly, he has been with Abadan Institute of Technology (Iran, 1979–1982), Project Manager with Yekom Consulting Engineers (Iran, 1982–1984), senior researcher with the National Institute of Public Health and Environment, RIVM (Bilthoven, The Netherlands, 1984–1995), Associate Professor (1995–2001) and later Professor (2001–2003) with the Faculty of Civil Engineering and Geosciences, Delft University of Technology
Delft University of Technology
Delft University of Technology , also known as TU Delft, is the largest and oldest Dutch public technical university, located in Delft, Netherlands...
. He has also held visiting faculty appointments at Notre Dame University, US, University of Bordeaux, France, and EPF Lausanne, Switzerland.
He has contributed to around 200 publications in journals, books, or as technical reports. Former Editor of Advances in Water Resources (1991–2001), Associate Editor of Vadose Zone Journal (2002–2008) and Water Resources Research (2004–2010), member of International Advisory Board of Journal of Hydrologic Engineering (since 2004), and on the editorial boards of Transport in Porous Media (since 1989), Advances in Water Resources (1988–2010), The Open Civil Engineering Journal (since 2007), The Open Hydrology Journal (since 2007), Journal of Porous Media (since 2009), and Special Topics & Reviews in Porous Media; An International Journal(since 2009).
He is active as session organizer or member of various committees for the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences
Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences
The Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences is an organisation dedicated to the advancement of science and literature in the Netherlands...
, NWO
Nederlandse Organisatie voor Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek
The Nederlandse Organisatie voor Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek is a scientific research organization in the Netherlands....
, American Geophysical Union
American Geophysical Union
The American Geophysical Union is a nonprofit organization of geophysicists, consisting of over 50,000 members from over 135 countries. AGU's activities are focused on the organization and dissemination of scientific information in the interdisciplinary and international field of geophysics...
, Soil Science Society of America
Soil Science Society of America
The Soil Science Society of America , is a scientific and professional society of soil scientists, principally in the U.S. but with a large number of non-U.S. members as well...
, European Geosciences Union
European Geosciences Union
The European Geosciences Union is an interdisciplinary non-profit learned society open to individuals who are professionally engaged in or associated with geosciences, planetary and space sciences, and related studies.The mission statement of the EGU is "Dedicated to the pursuit of excellence in...
, and International Association of Hydrological Sciences
International Association of Hydrological Sciences
The International Association of Hydrological Sciences is a non-profit non-governmental scientific organization committed to serving the science of hydrology and the worldwide community of hydrologists...
. He has been leading and/or participating in a large number of projects funded by NWO, EU
European Union
The European Union is an economic and political union of 27 independent member states which are located primarily in Europe. The EU traces its origins from the European Coal and Steel Community and the European Economic Community , formed by six countries in 1958...
, TRIAS, SKB, TNO
Netherlands Organisation for Applied Scientific Research
Nederlandse Organisatie voor Toegepast Natuurwetenschappelijk Onderzoek or TNO is a not-for-profit organization in the Netherlands that focuses on applied science. The main office of TNO is located in Delft...
, BTS. He has supervised more than 35 graduate students; has (co-)organized around 30 international conferences, workshops, and short courses; has been on the organizing or scientific committees of 25 international conferences/workshops; has given invited lectures in nearly 50 international meetings and short courses.
Biography
Majid Hassinizadeh was born in the city of ToyserkanToyserkan
Tuyserkan is a city in and capital of Tuyserkan County, Hamadan Province, Iran. At the 2006 census, its population was 42,520, in 11,802 families....
in the west of Iran. His father was a teacher at a local school. When nine years old, his family moved to the city of Ilam in the Kurdish western part of Iran. Eight years later, they moved to the city of Karaj (near Tehran) where he finished his last year of high school. Throughout the secondary school, he was the first-ranking student. Then, he decided to study civil engineering
Civil engineering
Civil engineering is a professional engineering discipline that deals with the design, construction, and maintenance of the physical and naturally built environment, including works like roads, bridges, canals, dams, and buildings...
at the Pahlavi University in Shiraz
Shiraz
Shiraz may refer to:* Shiraz, Iran, a city in Iran* Shiraz County, an administrative subdivision of Iran* Vosketap, Armenia, formerly called ShirazPeople:* Hovhannes Shiraz, Armenian poet* Ara Shiraz, Armenian sculptor...
. He focussed on optional courses dealing with water, partly because of the poetic value of water in his country.
After his graduation, he was offered a scholarship at Princeton university
Princeton University
Princeton University is a private research university located in Princeton, New Jersey, United States. The school is one of the eight universities of the Ivy League, and is one of the nine Colonial Colleges founded before the American Revolution....
. But, first, he wanted to marry before he left his country. After a short search he was introduced to Forooz, a second cousin from his mother's side. The two hit it off and married shortly after. During his studies at Princeton he became very active in the protests against the Shah
Shah
Shāh is the title of the ruler of certain Southwest Asian and Central Asian countries, especially Persia , and derives from the Persian word shah, meaning "king".-History:...
regime in Iran. This earned him the nickname 'the phantom' during his fourth year because he was hardly seen at his desk, but left traces of study all the same.
After he obtained his PhD in 1979, he had the opportunity to stay and work in US. However, the Iranian Revolution
Iranian Revolution
The Iranian Revolution refers to events involving the overthrow of Iran's monarchy under Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi and its replacement with an Islamic republic under Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, the leader of the...
had just started in Iran and, like 95% of the Iranian population, he supported Khomeini. So he decided to return to Iran. He was bitterly disappointed. After about half a year, the new regime launched the so-called "cultural revolution", closed all universities, and encouraged all students and teachers to work in industry or agriculture.
While working at a consulting company on drainage and irrigation projects, Majid learned about a post-graduate course in hydraulic engineering at IHE Institute in Delft, the Netherlands. He managed to obtain an exit visa through contacts of his employer and left for the Netherlands. After finishing the course he was offered a research position at the Netherlands National Institute for Public Health and the Environment
Netherlands National Institute for Public Health and the Environment
The Netherlands National Institute for Public Health and the Environment , is a Dutch research institute that is an independent agency of the Dutch Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport....
(RIVM). He and his wife had originally planned to return to Iran, but he was now offered the chance to stay in science. Although torn, he decided to stay in the Netherlands, where he lives till today.
Education
- MSc & PhD, Civil Engineering, Princeton UniversityPrinceton UniversityPrinceton University is a private research university located in Princeton, New Jersey, United States. The school is one of the eight universities of the Ivy League, and is one of the nine Colonial Colleges founded before the American Revolution....
, USA, 1979 - BSc, Civil Engineering, Pahlavi University, Iran, 1975
Scientific Honors
He was elected Fellow of American Geophysical UnionAmerican Geophysical Union
The American Geophysical Union is a nonprofit organization of geophysicists, consisting of over 50,000 members from over 135 countries. AGU's activities are focused on the organization and dissemination of scientific information in the interdisciplinary and international field of geophysics...
in 2002 and Fellow of American Association for the Advancement of Science
American Association for the Advancement of Science
The American Association for the Advancement of Science is an international non-profit organization with the stated goals of promoting cooperation among scientists, defending scientific freedom, encouraging scientific responsibility, and supporting scientific education and science outreach for the...
in 2007. He was awarded the honorary degree of Doktor-Ingenieur
Doktor-Ingenieur
The Dr.-Ing. is the German engineering doctorate degree, comparable to the Doctor of Engineering, Doctor of Science and Doctor of Science ....
from Stuttgart University in 2008. In 2010, he was awarded a Humboldt Prize
Humboldt Prize
The Humboldt Prize, also known as the Humboldt Research Award, is an award given by the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation to internationally renowned scientists and scholars, and is currently valued at € 60,000 with the possibility of further support during the prize winner's life. Up to one...
.. In May 2012, he was selected by the US National Ground Water Association
National Ground Water Association
The National Ground Water Association , headquartered in Westerville, Ohio, is a membership-based nonprofit organization. Its mission statement reads: Dedicated to advancing the expertise of all ground water professionals and to furthering ground water awareness and protection through education and...
as the Darcy Distinguished Lecturer for 2012 . In June 2011, he was elected by the Soil Science Society of America
Soil Science Society of America
The Soil Science Society of America , is a scientific and professional society of soil scientists, principally in the U.S. but with a large number of non-U.S. members as well...
to receive the Don and Bety Kirkham Soil Physics Award .