Our team
Sander Hogewoning PhD, director/ researcher +31 (0)6 142 715 25
Sander is a grower’s son and has virtually been raised in a greenhouse. At Wageningen University he specialized himself in plant responses to light. During his career at university he saw that scientific knowledge often does not find its way to practice. To bridge the gap between science and practice he founded Plant Lighting in 2011.
Govert Trouwborst PhD, researcher +31 (0)6 109 900 94
Govert already worked in horticulture during childhood and that’s how his in interest in plant physiology was raised. At Wageningen University he was trained as a highly skilled photosynthesis researcher. Plant Lighting gratefully applies his knowledge.
Alex Boonman PhD, researcher +31 (0)6 198 524 81
Alex is an experienced plant physiologist (PhD Utrecht University 2005). He has a broad botanical knowledge and has specific expertise in photosynthesis and seed physiology. Alex started his career in academics and worked for over a decade in the vegetable seed industry before he joined Plant Lighting in 2020.
Stefan van den Boogaart, MSc, researcher +31 (0)6 319 298 91
Stefan is an experienced plant physiologist educated with an MSc in Plant Sciences from Wageningen University and before that at HAS University of Applied sciences. Stefan is also well-aware of the practical aspects of greenhouse horticulture. He is project leader on several research themes, e.g. research on crop transpiration and more sustainable floricultural production.
Marius Bongers (MSc.), researcher +31 (0)6 521 195 00
Marius is educated with an MSc study ‘Plant Sciences’ at Wageningen University. Within the Plant Lighting team Marius has several years of experience with research on flowering and crop development of a diversity of crops such as gerbera, lily and phalaenopsis orchids.
Martijn Wiekens (MSc.), researcher
Martijn works at the interface of physics and plant science. He develops crop models in R and is our specialist in sensor technology. Recently he developed techniques to measure crop transpiration more reliably. Martijn is educated with an MSc study ‘Plant Sciences’ at Wageningen University.
Daphne de Ruiter (MSc.), researcher
Daphne is educated with an MSc study ‘Plant Sciences’ at Wageningen University. Within the Plant Lighting team she works as a plant physiologist researching photosynthesis, flowering and crop development of both vegetable and floricultural crops. Daphne is also actively involved in organizing social team activities.
Laurens van Oostrom (MSc.), crop modeller and researcher
Laurens his educated with an MSc study ‘Plant Sciences’ at Wageningen University. Within the Plant Lighting team he further develops our crop models and the interaction between greenhouse climate and crop growth.
Wilmar Kunz, head grower and research assistant
Wilmar is a true growth-professional with profound experience as head-grower in greenhouse horticulture. Wilmar has worked for more than 13 years in young plant nursery and pot-plant cultivation. He always had a keen interest in research. At Plant Lighting Wilmar contributes to the experimental measurements. He is also our head-grower.
Ursula van Bemmel, research assistant
Ursula is an experienced veterinary assistant and moved to plant research in 2020. Ursula is responsible for crop maintenance, measurements in plant experiments and is our office caretaker.