Nick Cox Research Fellow, Herschel Science Centre In 2001 I obtained my Master's degree in astronomy & physics at the University of Utrecht (Netherlands), shortly after spending almost a year at the University of Sydney (Australia) for my research project on 'a relic diffuse giant radio galaxy'. For my PhD I 'switched' to astrochemistry, joining the Astronomical Institute "Anton Pannekoek" at the University of Amsterdam and the Astrobiology group at Leiden University (Netherlands). My research revolved around a set of unidentified optical absorption features, called 'diffuse interstellar bands (DIBs)', originating in the diffuse interstellar medium (ISM). Their presence in the ISM is known for over 80 years but not a single carrier has yet been identified! The current idea is that these bands are signatures of electronic transitions of large carbonaceous molecules such as fullerenes or PAHs. I studied the behaviour of these bands and candidate carrier molecules in various Galactic and extra-galactic (e.g. Magellanic Clouds) environments. Molecules similar or related to the carriers of the DIBs, in particular PAHs, are attributed to giving rise to the unidentified or aromatic infrared bands observed ubiquitously in space by ISO and now also with Spitzer & Akari. Alas, no single molecule has yet been identified as contributing to the infrared bands either. My current research continues in the direction of astrochemistry, in particular that of the identification and (spectroscopic) study of interstellar complex organic molecules. I'm interested in the formation, survival and destruction of these molecules, and their connection with other molecular and solid-state features observed in the various phases of star formation (e.g. evolved stars, diffuse ISM, HII regions). For the future, Herschel will certainly provide us with a new and unique view on organics in the Universe!