After obtaining a bachelor degree in medical biochemistry Melissa started working on the assembly of complex I of the oxidative phosphorylation system at the department of Paediatrics of the UMC St. Radboud. After this she worked on human health in combination with bioactive food components for four years. At the RIKILT and at the Human & Animal Physiology department of the Wageningen University. In the osmoregulation group she will work together with Dr. Ariza and Dr. Robben on their projects about G-protein coupled receptors.