Studied (electro)chemistry at the University of Utrecht and obtained his Ph.D. in materials science under Prof. Dr. Burggraaf at the University of Twente on high-temperature electrochemical properties of ceramics. Stayed on as a post-doc until 1993. Then moved to the Forschungszentrum Jülich to work in the field of solid-oxide fuel cells on the characterization of cells and stacks. In 1994 worked as visiting scientist at SIEMENS KWU in Erlangen on SOFC cell tests for one year. Returned to Jülich and was responsible for all SOFC cell and stack tests. Became group leader at the IEK-9 working on the electrochemistry of SOFCs, SOECs, and batteries in 2011.