Ties Ausma was born on July 20, 1994, in Oldekerk, The Netherlands. After he obtained his Gymnasium high school diploma from RSG De Borgen in Leek, he started his bachelor Biology at the University of Groningen with the major Ecology and Evolution. Ties finished his bachelor with honors (cum laude) and subsequently continued with the master Ecology and Evolution. In his master, he focused on Plant Biology and he performed research projects at the Laboratories of Plant Physiology and Microbial Ecology. In the final phase of his master, Ties wrote a research proposal on uncovering the regulation of sulfate metabolism in C₄ plants. This proposal was awarded with a personal PhD grant from the Netherlands Organization for Scientific Research. Ties received his master diploma with honors (cum laude) and commenced his PhD project at the Laboratory of Plant Physiology, under the supervision of Dr. Luit J. De Kok, Dr. mult. Casper J. van der Kooi, and Prof. J. Theo M. Elzenga. After finishing his PhD project, Ties accepted a position as lecturer at the Hanze University of Applied Sciences in Groningen, The Netherlands. In this position he educates students on plant biology. Moreover, under the supervision of Prof. Dr. Rob van Haren, he introduces plant biological research at the Hanze.