Nicole graduated at the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine at Utrecht University in 1985 and at the Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences at UU in 2009. She had a long career in veterinary practice before she returned to the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine in Utrecht where she did her PhD. She combines doing research with her work as coordinator, advisor and teacher on professionalism. Her interests are professionalism, personal development and work-related wellbeing. Her PhD focuses on the relationship between personal and work characteristics, work related wellbeing and performance, specifically in veterinarians during their transition from student to professional.