I obtained a HBO degree in 1978, graduated in Biology in Utrecht (1991) and received my PhD degree (1996) at the Medical faculty of the University of Amsterdam in the departments of Anatomy (Prof. Lamers) and Histology (Prof. van Noorden). In 2000 I started as a Post-doc assigned by FEI and later by the European Network of Excellence in the department of Electron Microscopy (Prof. Verkleij) where I got a permanent position as assistant professor in 2006. I  specialized in 3D electron microscopical reconstruction methods. I coordinate the EM courses from the Biomolecular Imaging department and since 2010 I am managing director of the Institute of Biomembranes.