Damian Boer

Wageningen University & Research · Full-time

Wageningen, Netherlands

• Development and growth of True Potato Seed (TPS)-derived seedlings
• Variation in response of the first generation of hybrid TPS to saline environments
• Physiological and molecular mechanisms underlying contrast in salinity response

Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology (OIST)

Okinawa, Japan

• Studied epigenetic regulation of intragenic transposable elements within Arabidopsis thaliana
• Working for Hidetoshi Saze, Head of Plant Epigenetics at OIST
• Findings resulted in a paper in Nature Communications (2020)

Pharos · Part-time · Hybrid

• Researching access to health care for refugees and those with a migration background in the Netherlands
• Provided translations and editorial work for flyers for Polish workers

Wageningen University & Research

Topic: The role of BrARF3.1 in leaf growth of Brassica rapa

• Cloning (E.coli, Yeast, Agrobacterium) — primer design, isolations, sequencing
• Yeast-2-Hybrid assays • Overexpression lines • Phenotyping

Department of Virology, Wageningen University

Topic: Localization of N-proteins of the Bunyaviridae relative to processing bodies and stress-granules

Non-profit Science Communication

Founded an international non-profit organization: GeneSprout Initiative. Became an official Farm2Fork stakeholder to advice European policy makers. Gave and organized lectures, made proposals for funding, participated in street science events, developed teaching materials, made a website. Lobbied for the development of online courses about genetic editing.

Writing a nursery-rhyme styled book for children about common plants with extraordinary mechanisms that science has elucadated upon recently.

Using photography and generative art (by using coding in p5js) to highlight and/or explain natural phenomena in biology.

Interactive Exhibition

Coded a generative art project where people can interactively generate their own virus-like particles. Featured at the cultural workshop building in Wageningen.

Fine Art & Documentary

Participation to an exhibition in Okinawa, Japan about the contrast in ecology between Antarctica and the tropical landscape of Okinawa. Was featured with my photography of Okinawa's botanically rich landscape.

Fine art photography

Participation to local arts magazines with photography of plant-related details. Exhibitions in local libraries.

Personal projects

I enjoy coding nature-inspired generative art to plot with a pen plotter, or to laser-cut; making anything from framed wall art to custom items such as pattern-filled coasters.

Guiding practicals

Being the supervisor for practicals about flower maturation; teaching analysis methodology to BSc students.

Climbing • Tennis • Badminton • Squash

Helping people gain confidence in their physical and mental abilities, allowing them to overcome fears and achieve their goals.

For students learning Dutch and English

Teaching story-telling, and daily spoken language; in both Dutch and English.

Sportservice De Vallei

Responsible for maintenance, repairs, and safety across four sports complexes.

8.5 years of hands-on experience in car repair and maintenance.

Dutch Government: Ministry of Education, Culture, and Science

Researched and consulted on improving Dutch student mobility to China.

Wageningen International Congress Centre

Hotel reception and security services.

Zideris

Providing (day)care and support services for individuals with mental and physical disabilities.