Draft:Ellen Kooijman

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Ellen Kooijman

Ellen Kooijman is a Dutch geoscientist whose work in research is focused in Mineralogy, Geology, and Geochemistry. She has a Master’s Degree in Earth Science from Utrecht University, and a Doctorate in Geochemistry from the University of Münster. She currently works as the Head of the Department of Geosciences at the Swedish Museum of Natural History. She is also known for her work with The Lego Group as a designer of a few projects, most notably the LEGO Research Institute, which featured women in STEM.

Early life

Kooijman was raised in Gouda, the Netherlands. She became interested in astrology at an early age, but pursued geosciences in university. Although it was not a common field in the Netherlands, Kooijman was enthusiastic about applying physics, mathematics, and chemistry to better know and understand the Earth.

Education

Kooijman earned a Master of Science degree in Earth Science from Utrecht University in the Netherlands. She later pursued a Doctorate in Geochemistry from the University of Münster in Germany under the supervision of acclaimed geochemist Dr. Klaus Mezger, where she performed research focused on Uranium-lead (U–Pb) dating of zircon and rutile using laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS).

Dissertation

Ellen Kooijman received her dissertation at the Institute for Mineralogy, which is located in the University of Münster. It was titled: ‘U-Pb dating of zircon and rutile by laser ablation ICP-MS.’ The dissertation consists of "a robust method for U-Pb dating of zircon by laser ablation ICP-MS [..] using a Thermo-Finnigan Element2 sector field ICP-MS coupled to a New Wave UP193HE ArF Excimer laser system. [With] results indicat[ing] that the precision and accuracy obtained using the technique presented in this study are similar to those of other LA-ICP-MS laboratories and SIMS analyses".

Career

After completing her doctorate, she stayed for a year at Münster as a postdoctoral researcher, before working as an assistant professional researcher at the University of California in Santa Barbara for a few years where she could continue her work with LA-ICP-MS. In 2013, Kooijman began working at the Swedish Museum of Natural History as a senior researcher. She is currently the Head of the Department of Geoscience and the Director of the NordSIMS-Vegacenter, a merged laboratory funded by the Swedish Research Council. Kooijman currently has over 130 publications covering topics such as mineralogy, petrology, and geochemistry.

Publications

Kooijman is actively performing, writing, and publishing research in the geosciences—a few of her most recent publications being from September of 2024, examples of the most recent articles she co-authored being “Origin and Affinities of the Malmberget Iron Oxide-Apatite Deposit, Northern Sweden: Insights From Magnetite Chemistry and Fe-O Isotopes”, “Late Cretaceous and Early Paleogene Fluid Circulation and Microbial Activity in Deep Fracture Networks of the Precambrian Basement of Western Greenland”, and “A common precursor for global hotspot lavas”. which highlight her skills and expertise in numerous geoscientific areas and technologies including, but not limited to, geochronology, tectonics, isotope geochemistry, and Laser Ablation-Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectroscopy (LA-ICP-MS).

Work with LEGO

Kooijman is also recognized for her impact on popular culture as a designer for LEGO. Under the alias "Alatariel," she created the LEGO Research Institute set, which featured women in STEM roles. This set featured female minifigures in STEM roles: a paleontologist, an astronomer, and a chemist. It gained massive support from the LEGO community, quickly reaching the 10,000 votes required for official review. The set, released in 2014, became a landmark in gender representation, showcasing women in professional roles and inspiring both children and adults. The Research Institute was celebrated for challenging gender stereotypes and promoting STEM careers among young girls. It sold out within days of release and garnered extensive international attention. Kooijman also collaborated on the LEGO Big Bang Theory set, highlighting the popular sitcom’s scientist characters and later co-designed the Amelia Earhart Tribute set, inspired by the historical aviator.. These contributions cemented her reputation as a designer who bridges education, creativity, and inclusivity in her designs.

Impact

Kooijman’s work bridges science and popular culture, inspiring future generations of scientists and creatives alike. Her advocacy for female representation in STEM through LEGO sets has been recognized by media outlets, educators, and enthusiasts worldwide. The LEGO Research Insititute was a reported success, having sold out after a few hours of it being released.

Awards

• 2010 Young Scientist Outstanding Poster Paper (YSOPP) Award