I am a linguist. I work at Utrecht University as professor of Linguistics / Syntax and Language Variation and Head of the Linguistics section; I am a member of the Committee for Freedom and Responsibility in Science of the International Science Council.

I was the PI of the ERC project Microcontact editor-in-chief of the OA journal Isogloss and of two book series.

I was involved in the JRC Enlightenment 2.0 project (Meaningful and Ethical Communication), and I am part of the International Research Network (IRN) Heritage Languages in Europe (CNRS). My main interests are syntax, language change in contact, heritage languages, language policy and minority languages, and language policy.