Research interests
Water, aqueous solutions
Aqueous interfaces and nanoscopic systems
Nonlinear optics, ultrafast spectroscopy, light scattering
Multiphoton imaging
Soft systems: Interfaces, membranes, electric double layers
Structure and dynamics in living systems
Neuroimaging and neurological activity

Education
2000 – 2004      PhD in Natural Sciences, Leiden University (highest honors)
1997 – 2000      M.Sc. in Physics, Utrecht University (highest honors)
1995 – 2000      M.Sc. in Chemistry, Utrecht University (highest honors)

Biography
2021 – present  Director, Institute of Bioengineering, EPFL, CH.
2020 – present  Full Professor, EPFL, CH.
2018 – 2021      Associate Director, Institute of Bioengineering, EPFL, CH.
2015 – 2020      Associate Professor with tenure, EPFL, CH.
2011 – present  Julia Jacobi Chair in photomedicine, Head of Laboratory for fundamental BioPhotonics, EPFL.
2011 – 2015      Assistant Professor (tenure-track), École Polytechnique Fédérale Lausanne (EPFL), CH.
2005 – 2012      Max Planck Research Group Leader (W2/C3) of a centrally announced open theme independent research group. Host: The Max-Planck Institute for Metals Research, Stuttgart, DE.
2005 – 2005      Alexander von Humboldt Fellow, dept. of Applied Physical Chemistry, Heidelberg University, DE.
2004 – 2005      Postdoctoral Fellow, FOM-Institute for Plasma Physics, NL.

Awards and Distinctions
2022      Elected Member of the Swiss Academy of Engineering Sciences (SATW)
2021      Elected Fellow of Optica (formerly Optical Society of America)
2020      Winner of an ERC Synergy Grant
2020      Elected Fellow of the American Physical Society
2020      ERC Proof of Concept Grant
2019      Featured for OSA living stories2014 – Winner of an ERC Consolidator Grant.
2013      Cover and Featured Professional in the 2013-2014 SPIE Monthly Planner.
2011      Julia Jacobi Chair in photomedicine.
2010      Fellow of the Young Academy of the Berlin-Brandenburg Academy of Sciences and Humanities (BBAW) and the German Academy of Natural Scientists, Leopoldina.
2010      Young member Werner von Siemens Ring (DE).
2010      Selection for the Excellence Network of the Robert-Bosch Foundation (DE).
2009      Winner of an ERC Startup Grant.
2008      Hertha-Sponer-Preis awarded by the German Physical Society (DPG)
2007      Young Researcher prize, ESF conference on Bio-interfaces, Saint Feliu, ES.
2006      Minerva Prize awarded biyearly by the Dutch Foundation for Fundamental Research on Matter (FOM).
2006      Featured Professional in Brilliant Minds for Germany’s international broadcaster Deutsche Welle’s Tomorrow Today (broadcast on television worldwide 06/2006).
2005      Recipient of a Max Planck Research Group Leader position.
2005      Recipient of an Alexander von Humboldt Fellowship.
2005      Prize winner in a Dutch science writing contest of the Dutch Physical Society.
2004      Ph. D. degree with highest honors, awarded to <5% of all candidates.
2003      L. J. Oosterhoff prize, awarded by the University of Leiden.
2002      Young Researcher prize of the Holland Research School for Molecular Chemistry.
2001      Young Researcher prize at the Gordon Research Conference on Surface Dynamics, New Hampshire, USA.
2000      Cum Laude, M. Sc. in chemistry with highest honors, <10% of all candidates.
2000      Cum Laude, M. Sc. in physics with highest honors, <10% of all candidates.