Prof. Dr. Ir. Ger Rijkers

I am Ger Rijkers, biologist specialized in medical immunology. During the most part of my career I have worked in hospitals as a medical immunologist (Wilhelmina Children’s Hospital and UMC Utrecht, St Antonius Hospital Nieuwegein, and ETZ in Tilburg). I started to work at UCR in 2010, and now I am an emeritus (born in 1952) Professor in the Biomedical and Life Sciences, and although retired, I still teach at UCR and supervise students. I love to teach and I love to do research. I encourage students to do a senior project or academic internship based on their own experimental research. Sometimes this can be done at UCR, in most cases elsewhere in The Netherlands or any other place in the world.
As a biologist I want to understand life, at least the tiny part of it that I focus on: the interaction between microbiota and the immune system. Zooming out: the impact of climate change on human health. With students who share my passion for research, we form groups to study, write and publish papers in peer reviewed journals. Doesn’t earn you a single ECTS, only one beer with bitterballs when the paper is peer reviewed and published.
In my personal life I love to cycle, I love classic rock (including Beatles and Bob Dylan) and Jeroen Bosch, the painter. Apart from cycling, I also (again with UCR students) publish on these topics. I have been married to Riky Lievendag for 46 years, I have 3 sons and 4 grandchildren. I love them even more than I love to teach and do research.