Bart P.H.J. Thomma (born in Maastricht in 1972) graduated cum laude in Plant Pathology at Wageningen University and received his doctorate in Applied Biological Sciences in Leuven in 2000. Until 1 February of this year, he was an associate professor of Phytopathology at Wageningen University. Thomma has received a number of awards and grants for his work, including an NWO Veni in 2004, an NWO Vidi in 2009 and an NWO Vici in 2012. Thomma is also an editor for various scientific journals.Bart Thomma is actively involved in the Wageningen Young Academy, a club of young, enthusiastic and ambitious Wageningen scientist.