After a study Biology at Utrecht University with the focus on Molecular and Cellular Biology, I performed a PhD study at the Laboratory of Virology at Wageningen University (WU) and defended my thesis in 1994. I continued my career with post-doctoral fellowships at Leiden University (plant defense against viruses), and at Utrecht University (viruses and the effects  on the host translational machinery). In 1999 I returned to Wageningen to the Laboratory of Virology to study the functional genomics and biotechnological applications of baculoviruses. A personal MEERVOUD grant from NWO allowed me to initiate research on behavioural manipulation of insects by viruses. I obtained a tenure position as assistant professor in 2006, and became associate professor in 2010 (tenure track).. Since 2013., I have a postion of full professor of Virology at Wageningen University. I am specialised in insect viruses and coordinate the INSECT DOCTORS MCSA-2019-ITN programme, aimed at education of insect pathologists that can support the insect mass-rearing industry after their graduation. I also coordiante the NWO-TTW BACFREE project, aimed at improving the baculovirus expression system.