Master of science and doctorate at the nuclear physics institute at the University of Groningen; later Assistant Professor Physics Department at the Colorado School of Mines; since September 2003 accelerator scientist at the KVI in Groningen, The Netherlands; Languages: English, German, French (limited); hobbies: astronomy, cats, music, ballet, volleyball; one of five candidates from the Netherlands in the 1992 ESA selection (only André Kuipers was selected as an astronaut).