Who I am and how I work
My background combines academic science with educational leadership, professional development, and cross-sector experience. I hold a PhD in life sciences and have over 25 years of experience working at the intersection of higher education, research, and practice.
I began my career in scientific research and industry in the life sciences sector, including work at Numico Research / Danone, before moving into academia.
At Utrecht University, I spent more than two decades contributing to education, research, and educational innovation. In the first years of my appointment, I combined active research with teaching, supervising students, developing and delivering courses, and working closely with teaching teams — gaining a deep, first-hand understanding of the realities of academic practice.
In later years, my work increasingly focused on education in its broadest sense: curriculum innovation, educational leadership, professional development, mentoring, and the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning.
Over the years, I have worked with universities, organisations, and professionals across a wide range of fields. I support early-career lecturers, experienced educators, project teams, and senior leaders who care deeply about quality, learning, and development — and who sense that things could work better than they do now.
People often come to me when they feel stuck, overwhelmed, or alone in improving learning, developing people, or leading change. They know something needs to shift, but are unsure where to start, how to move forward, or how to do so in a way that fits their context and constraints. I help bring clarity, focus, and direction, translating complexity into concrete steps that work in real educational and organisational settings.
I enjoy building bridges between research and practice, disciplines and sectors. My approach is practical, reflective, and collaborative — shaped by my own experience in teaching, research, and leadership roles. I work with people, not over them, and always keep an eye on what is feasible alongside busy academic and professional lives.
During my appointment at Utrecht University, I was recognised as a Principal Fellow at the Centre for Academic Teaching and Learning, a recognition I now continue as an alumnus Principal Fellow. I am also a Senior Fellow of Advance HE (UK) — reflecting my long-standing commitment to teaching quality, educational leadership, and sustainable educational innovation.
Below you’ll find an overview of the areas where I have built expertise and experience. Curious about recent examples? Explore my latest Projects & Partnerships.
“I have greatly enjoyed working with Irma over the past years, during which she has shown both high productivity and genuine enthusiasm. She combines a sharp vision of the importance of Educational Scholarship in teaching practice with a collaborative and connecting approach. Her leadership in complex projects has consistently resulted in concrete, usable outcomes for lecturers, their teaching, and the university as a whole.”
Femke Kirschner, Educational Adviser and Trainer, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
Areas of expertise and experience
A selection of themes and areas I’ve worked in over the past years — at the intersection of education, science, and professional development. For a more detailed overview of my work, see my full CV.
Curriculum Innovation & Leadership
I have led and co-designed educational programmes such as the College of Pharmaceutical Sciences (UU), and played key roles in curriculum reform and innovation projects at multiple levels. My work bridges scientific content with practical, context-sensitive educational design.
Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SoTL)
I am Chair of the EuroSoTL network and co-author of the Utrecht Roadmap for SoTL. I have played a leading role in building SoTL communities and infrastructures across Europe, connecting educators, researchers, and institutions.
I work to embed evidence-informed teaching practices and reflective professional development at both individual and organisational levels. In addition, I have contributed to and led international SoTL initiatives, including serving as Conference Chair of the ISSOTL 2023 conference, and I am actively involved in the international SoTL community.
Professional Development & Mentoring
I have developed and facilitated teacher development programmes, qualification tracks, retreats, and workshops. I support professionals in articulating their growth, writing portfolios, and building confidence in their educational role.
Scientific Expertise in Life Sciences
I hold a PhD in toxicology, with research experience in oncology and molecular biology, and have published over 40 scientific articles. I am skilled in translating scientific knowledge into engaging learning — from academic settings to knowledge-driven organisations.
Course & Teaching Design
I have designed and taught courses in cell biology, pharmacology, and toxicology. My experience as a teacher continues to shape how I approach learning design, always aiming to make it relevant, clear, and engaging.
“Irma Meijerman played a key role in developing and implementing the senior teaching qualification project at the University for Humanistic Studies several years ago. I found Irma to be an enthusiastic and highly knowledgeable educational professional. She’s a strong communicator, politically sensitive, and proactive in proposing solutions”.
Marco Otten
University of Humanistic Studies,
Utrecht, The Netherlands
Key publications
A selection of key publications
Five publications that reflect my work in educational innovation and professional development — connecting research with practice to support meaningful learning and stronger teaching cultures.
For more, including earlier life-science research, see the full Publications List
Meijerman, I., Wijsman, L., & Kirschner, F. (2024). Adding a scholarly analysis of teaching and learning to SoTL: the development of the hands-on Utrecht Roadmap for SoTL. International Journal for Academic Development, 1–15. https://doi.org/10.1080/1360144X.2024.2361428
Meijerman I, Kirschner F, Prins, F (2023). Experiences with supporting teachers with Scholarship of Teaching and Learning at a research-intensive university: Lessons learned. Teaching and Learning Inquiry 11
https://doi.org/10.20343/teachlearninqu.11.27
Koster A, Schalekamp T, Meijerman I.(2017). Implementation of Competency-Based Pharmacy Education (CBPE). Pharmacy 21;5(1):10.
https://doi.org/10.3390/pharmacy5010010
Meijerman I, Nab J, Koster AS (2016). Designing and implementing an inquiry based undergraduate curriculum in pharmaceutical sciences. Curr Pharm Teach Learn, 8, 905–919
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cptl.2016.08.001
Meijerman I, Storm G, Moret E, Koster AS (2013) Development and student evaluation of an inquiry-based elective course on drug discovery and preclinical drug development. Curr Pharm Teach Learn, 5, 14-22
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cptl.2012.09.009