I joined HIMS in the group of Prof. S. Woutersen in 2020, shortly after obtaining my Ph.D at AMOLF under the supervision of Prof. H.J. Bakker (AMOLF) and Prof. G.H. Koenderink (TU Delft). I study the molecular properties of the building blocks of natural biomaterials, such as spiderweb or bones, to determine the remarkable physical properties required for their biological functionalities. I do this by using physical concepts and multiscale methods, ranging from multidimensional infrared spectroscopy to rheology. In 2021, I was granted the prestigious NWO – VENI grant to investigate the molecular origin osteogenesis imperfecta, which is a life-changing, occasionally lethal, disorder caused by mutations in the genes encoding collagen, the main building block of all human connective tissues such as bones and skin.