Scientific career

Ron Heeren obtained a PhD degree in Technical Physics at the University of Amsterdam in 1992. He led a FOM-AMOLF research group focussing on macromolecular ion physics and biomolecular imaging mass spectrometry before his appointment as professor at the chemistry faculty of Utrecht University. Between 1995 and 2015, he developed new approaches towards high spatial resolution and high throughput molecular imaging mass spectrometry using Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometry and Matrix Assisted Laser Desorption and Ionization.

From 2008 to 2013, Heeren was the research director for emerging technologies at the Netherlands Proteomics Centre. In 2012, he co-founded Omics2Image B.V., a company focused on bringing innovative ion detector technology to the analytical market. In 2014 he was appointed at Maastricht University and became one of the scientific directors of M4I, the Maastricht MultiModal Molecular Imaging institute, where he heads the Imaging MS division.