Prof. dr. ir. P.(Piet) F.M. Verdonschot received his MSc in Biology (specialization populations/ecosystems) at the Wageningen University in 1978. He defended his PhD study entitled ‘Ecological characterization of surface waters in the province of Overijssel (The Netherlands)’ in 1990 at the Wageningen University. He holds a special chair in Wetland Restoration Ecology at the Freshwater & Marine Ecology Group, Institute of Biodiversity and Ecosystem Dynamics, University of Amsterdam.

He did research on a variety of aquatic ecosystems, such as streams, ditches, pools and lakes. His focus is on wetland ecosystem structure and functioning and restoration ecology. He specialized in ecosystem typologies, community studies, assessment, monitoring, restoration, biodiversity, and water and nature development and management. He did several studies on water policy making, setting standards and societal interaction. He specialized in macro-invertebrates, with special expertise on oligochaetes and biting insects. He is experienced with statistical techniques, especially multivariate analyses, in working with field experiments, mesocosm studies, and field and laboratory experimental approaches.