He holds a MSc and PhD in mathematical physics from Utrecht University, and has worked as a researcher at the National Institute of Public Health and the Environment (RIVM, Bilthoven, Netherlands), the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK, Potsdam, Germany) and the Universidade Federal do Ceará (UFC, Fortaleza, Brazil). He joined the University of Twente in 2003 and since contributed to research and education of Civil Engineering and Management.