My research is situated at the intersection of probability theory, analysis, discrete mathematics, and mathematical physics. It is driven by fundamental questions about how macroscopic phenomena—such as phase transitions, interfaces, universality, and metastability—emerge from microscopic random interactions, in particular in systems with nonlocal or long-range dependence. Broadly seen, my research aims to build a unified theoretical framework for understanding how (non)-local microscopic interactions give rise to emergent macroscopic structures in complex systems. A recurring theme is the study of scaling limits and their interpretation in terms of (generalized) central limit theorems, which provide a precise link between microscopic randomness and macroscopic laws.

More recently, I have opened new research directions by establishing connections between discrete stochastic models and conformal and logarithmic conformal field theories. By developing discrete analogues of field-theoretic structures, this work bridges probability theory with modern mathematical physics and introduces new frameworks for studying universality in discrete systems.

This research program has been supported by an NWO Klein grant, Towards Constructing New Random Distributions, and an NWO Vidi grant, Equilibrium Shapes from Nonlocal Interactions.

Alongside my research, I am the Director of the Master’s programme in Mathematics at Utrecht University, where I am responsible for curriculum development and program coherence. I also serve on the board of the Centre for Complex Systems Studies (CCSS) and the national Stochastics Theoretical and Applied Research (STAR) cluster, contributing to the strategic development of mathematics and stochastics in the Netherlands. In addition, I serve on several editorial boards of international journals in probability and mathematical physics.