I graduated from Ghent University (UGent, Belgium) as a Master of Electromechanical Engineering in June 1999. I then started as a research and teaching assistant there. I worked on my Ph.D. and assisted with courses and labs. During 2002 and 2003 I obtained an EC Marie Curie Fellowship allowing me to spend 6 months at Leeds University (UK), measuring laminar and turbulent burning velocities of hydrogen mixtures in their "Mk.II" combustion vessel.

In April 2005 I obtained my Ph.D. degree, in Electromechanical Engineering, contributing to experimental and modelling work of hydrogen engines. I then became a postdoctoral assistant, expanding the work to include other alternative fuels (alcohols, biodiesel, vegetable oils and animal fats …). In October 2008, I became a part-time lecturer of Alternative Fuels for Internal Combustion Engines at UGent. This allowed me to independently apply for funding and start up my own research group.

In October 2011, I got a permanent, full-time position as Associate Professor of Internal Combustion Engines at UGent, working on alternative fuels for engines, in-cylinder heat transfer and medium speed diesel engines.

In September 2017 I started working at Lund University as a Senior Lecturer of Combustion Engines. The split between Lund and Ghent varied initially, but has now landed on a 50/50. In 2018 I was promoted to Reader at Lund, and in 2021 to full professor at Ghent.