About me

I grew up in Nijmegen, the Netherlands, where I also pursued my bachelor's degree in Physics and Mathematics and master's degree in mathematical physics. During this I learned about non-commutative geometry and met Walter van Suijlekom, which has shaped my academic path since. For my Ph.D. I moved to London, Ontario to work with Masoud Khalkhali at the University of Western Ontario. There, I developed an interest in random matrix theory, along with continuing my interest in non-commutative geometry.

In my spare time I like to read, my favourite authors include (but are not limited to)

• Neal Stephenson (The Baroque cycle, Seveneves, The Diamond Age)
• Neil Gaiman (Neverwhere, Ocean at the End of the Lane, American Gods)
• N.K. Jemisin (The Broken Earth series)
• Isaac Asimov (Foundation series)

as well as play board or video games and cook.

My love for science fiction and fantasy has always been a contributor to my interest in physics and mathematics. The science fiction connection is perhaps more obvious, with space travel and arcane quantum technologies. I believe fantasy also has a root here, providing essentially toy-models of worlds where the laws of nature are magical, but known, and exploring the consequences of those laws and quirks similar to the fantasy world of mathematics.