I am holding a M.Sc. degree in environmental planning and design from Wageningen University where I graduated with `cum laude', majoring in spatial planning and GIS, in 1996. In 2007 I obtained my Ph.D. in Social Science from Wageningen University on the use of Multi-Agent Systems for simulating land use changes.

 From 1996 until 1997 I worked as a GIS consultant. I developed GIS applications for provinces, municipalities and water boards. From 1997 till 2000 I was employed at the Agricultural Economics Institute in the Hague. During this period for the greater part of his time I was assigned as a researcher at the Centre for Geo-Information of Wageningen University and later the Alterra research institute of Wageningen UR. During this time I worked on dynamic spatial models and cellular automata.

Currently I am an assistant professor at the Laboratory of Geo-Information and Remote Sensing. My main research interests lie within the field of complex adaptive systems and more specific in simulating social-ecological systems using agent based models. Additionally and related to that I am involved in projects and research around participatory gaming, citizens observatories, and Big Data.

I teach introduction courses on geo-information sciences, advance courses on spatial modelling and statistics a course on advanced modelling and applications for both the Master of Geo-Information of Wageningen University as well as the Geographical Information Management and Applications (GIMA) and inter-university master.  I am involved in research innovation projects as well as the set-up of the Wageningen Teaching Academy.