My primary research interest is in modelling digestive and metabolic processes in farm animals, particularly dairy cattle. I focus mainly on challenges in dairy cattle production aiming for healthy animals producing milk at low environmental costs and improving financial profit. I have developed, or have been involved in the development, dynamic mechanistic models suitable for application in the dairy industry or suitable in support of experimental research programmes as research models. My research has shown the importance of the interplay between modelling and experimental research. In the past decade I am increasingly involved and lead projects on experimental research into nutritional physiology of dairy cattle. In the past 5 years I have attracted (as leader or co-leader) major grants totalling over €10 million, involving 10 PhD students and 2 postdoctoral researchers.

Academic esteem (selection):

• Member Journal of Dairy Science Club 100
• Recipient of the American Feed Industry Association Award from ADSA (2015)
• Adjunct professor at the Department of Animal and Poultry Science, University of Guelph, Canada (2009 – present)
• Member (since 2004) and chair (since 2018) of International Advisory Committee of International Workshop on Modelling Nutrient Utilization in Farm Animals (MODNUT; 2004 – present)
• Co-chair of the Feed and Nutrition Network of the Global Research Alliance (2012 – 2019)
• Member of International Advisory Committee of International Symposium on the Nutrition of Herbivores (ISNH) (2003 – 2014)
• Publication award Animal Sciences Group of Wageningen University & Research Centre (2006, 2011 and 2013)

Previous:

PhD Wageningen University (NL) (1993). Graduated with honours 'Simulation of rumen fermentation processes'.

Postdoc researcher Biomathematics Group, Institute of Grassland and Environmental Research, North Wyke (UK) (1993-1997).

Postdoc Royal Netherlands Academy Arts Sciences, based in Wageningen (NL) (1997-2001).

Coordinator and lecturer ANU30306 (Nutrient Dynamics; MSc level). Lecturer in various other MSc courses. Course leader post-academic courses 'Cattle Nutrition' and 'Successful Dairy Heifer rearing' of Wageningen Academy. Supervisor BSc and MSc thesis and internship students.