Ronald Plasterk

Ronald Plasterk 2015 (1)

Ronald Plasterk (born April 12, 1957) is a Dutch politician and scientist. He is a member of the Labour Party (PvdA). Plasterk has held various positions in both the academic and political fields, including serving as the Minister of Education, Culture and Science and the Minister of the Interior and Kingdom Relations.

Early Life and Education

Ronald Plasterk was born in The Hague, Netherlands. He studied biology at the University of Amsterdam, where he obtained his PhD in molecular genetics.

Academic Career

Plasterk began his academic career as a researcher in molecular genetics. He worked at the Netherlands Cancer Institute and later became a professor at the University of Amsterdam. His research focused on the genetics of Caenorhabditis elegans, a model organism in genetic studies.

Political Career

Plasterk entered politics as a member of the Labour Party. He was appointed as the Minister of Education, Culture and Science in the Fourth Balkenende cabinet from 2007 to 2010. During his tenure, he focused on improving the quality of education and increasing funding for scientific research.

In 2012, Plasterk was appointed as the Minister of the Interior and Kingdom Relations in the Second Rutte cabinet. He served in this position until 2017, overseeing domestic policy, public administration, and the relationship between the central government and the municipalities.

Personal Life

Ronald Plasterk is married and has two children. He is known for his contributions to both science and politics, and he continues to be an influential figure in Dutch public life.

See Also

• Labour Party (Netherlands)
• Minister of Education, Culture and Science (Netherlands)
• Minister of the Interior and Kingdom Relations (Netherlands)
• University of Amsterdam
• Netherlands Cancer Institute