I’ve always been driven by a deep curiosity to understand how things work. This passion led me to pursue Applied Physics and earn a PhD in High Energy Physics, working on the groundbreaking ATLAS experiment at CERN in Geneva from its design, through construction and commissioning to running physics experiments.
My PhD thesis, written during the ATLAS design phase, was awarded the Marc Virchaux prize for outstanding PhD thesis concerned with the ATLAS Muon Spectrometer.
While fundamental research fuelled my love for discovery, I began to miss its tangible application. A two-year break in Kenya gave me time to reflect and led me to roles in the automotive industry and, eventually, applied research. It was here—working on quantum computing and wind energy projects at TNO—that I found my sweet spot: applied research with real-world impact.
Yet, a parallel story runs alongside my career journey.
Growing up, I occasionally visited my father’s workplace in the oil and gas industry. At age 12, inspired by my father’s work, I built a LEGO version of an oil-and-gas drilling rig, winning a preliminary round of a national LEGO building contest. Still, even as a child, I felt there had to be a better way than burning valuable resources. Though renewable energy wasn’t on the map at the time, those memories planted a seed.
Years later, with renewable energy taking centre stage, I refocused my efforts on this field—starting with wind energy and, more recently, exploring the critical area of energy storage.
