Coastal dune systems provide valuable functions that are threatened by human activity and climate change. Preserving and strengthening coastal dunes through coastal management and the implementation of interventions requires accurate predictions of coastal dune development. Christa's research aims to improve these predictions by studying coastal dune development and wind-driven (aeolian) sand transport using state-of-the-art techniques.

Christa's current research includes 1) long-term coastal data analysis to investigate processes that affect coastal dune development, 2) field measurements to better understand marine and aeolian sediment transport processes, 3) modeling to quantify the effect of aeolian and marine processes, and 4) modeling to predict coastal dune development.

Christa van IJzendoorn is a PhD candidate in the Coastal Engineering group of the Hydraulic Engineering department at TU Delft university. She has B.Sc. degree in Earth Sciences and an M.Sc in Physical Geography with a specialization in River and Coastal Morphology and Remote Sensing. After her M.Sc., she worked as a Junior Advisor/Researcher in the Flood Risk Managment department of Deltares. Her PhD on coastal dune development and aeolian sediment transport at the TU Delft is funded by NWO (Dutch Research Council) and supported by multiple government agencies and industry partners. During the PhD, she has visited and collaborated with researchers at several institutions abroad such as KU Leuven, Lund University, Oregon State University, Deltares, and the USACE Field Research Facility.