Simon was born on January 19th, 1995 in Ghent, Belgium. He started his studies in Rehabilitation Sciences and Physiotherapy in 2013 and obtained a Master’s degree in Rehabilitation of Internal Diseases in 2018 (Summa Cum Laude). From 2018, he conducted his doctoral research at the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences (Ghent University) supervised by Prof. Patrick Calders (Rehabilitation Sciences), Prof. Bruno Lapauw (Endocrinology, Ghent University Hospital) and Prof. Tine De Backer (Cardiology, Ghent University Hospital). His research was situated in what he refers to as “the interesting but challenging triangle” between glycemic control, cardiovascular health and exercise in people with type 1 diabetes. He was funded by a personal PhD fellowship first from Bijzonder Onderzoeksfonds (BOF) Ghent University, followed by a PhD grant from Research Foundation Flanders (FWO), and obtained his PhD in July 2023. Simon has won the Faculty thesis prize 2023 for best PhD dissertation at the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences of Ghent University, in the category ‘Translational and Clinical Research’. Simon’s personal interests include (clinical) exercise physiology, (muscle) metabolism, athletic performance and training, with a specific interest in endurance sports (cycling and running). Healthy lifestyle, aging, and nutrition are aspects that he is likewise interested in. He is a sports enthusiast, being a passionate cyclist himself, and lastly, he likes to enjoy the sun in a soothing mountain scenery.