As a geologist and physical geographer, he is involved in applying earth sciences to archaeology in interdisciplinary research and teaching, with an emphasis on the Anthropocene. He also has substantial experience in project management in (field-based) evaluation of archaeological monuments, extensive teaching and research experience, and has acted as an initiator and project manager to involve cultural history in planning processes.

Sjoerd co-leads the newly established Environmental Humanities Center at the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, and also leads the International Association of Landscape Archaeology (IALA), uniting global geologists, archaeologists and historians. He has vast experience in convening interdisciplinary sessions in soils, landscapes and archaeology at EGU, and is guest editor of multiple special volumes dedicated to this theme. Sjoerd is co-supervising PhD students in the field of landscape archaeology on the interface of archaeology and the earth sciences. Sjoerd has, besides his teaching position, a research and consulting company in earth sciences and works for government agencies and archaeological companies. Sjoerd has a special interest in interdisciplinary collaboration between nature and culture, as well as glacial processes.