Van Dam, who has been instrumental in establishing the university’s interdisciplinary space master’s programme, will still contribute to the programme, but the decision to step will allow her to focus on her research in geophysics and space-based Earth observation, according to the statement.

In 2019, she was awarded the prestigious Vening Meinesz Medal by the European Geosciences Union for her work in geodesy, which uses maths to better understand the Earth’s geometric shape. She also received the grand prize in geological sciences from the Luxembourg’s Institut Grand-ducal in 2017 for her pioneering work. 

In light of her resignation, rector Stéphane Pallage thanked van Dam “for her energy and the commitment that she invested to help the University of Luxembourg move forward on the path of excellence”, as well as “the outstanding way she led the development and launch” of the space master’s programme.

Van Dam, who holds a PhD in geophysics from the University of Colorado (US), added that she was “proud of what was achieved” during her contribution as vice rector.