Peter R. Luijten received his training in physical and theoretical chemistry from 1972-1979 (Amsterdam). After finalizing his thesis on NMR studies of molecular dynamics in liquid crystals (1984, Amsterdam, San Diego), he became a research scientist at Philips Medical Systems in the Magnetic Resonance Imaging division. He developed multiple new technologies resulting in several patent applications and peer reviewed scientific journals. In 2005 he was appointed Professor of Functional Medical Imaging at the University Medical Center in Utrecht, chair of the imaging department in 2014 and director of the UMC Utrecht Center for Image Sciences in 2015. From 2017 to 2021 chair of the division of Imaging and Oncology in the UMCU. From 2021: vice dean Utrecht Life Sciences, Utrecht University.  In 2007 he was appointed Chief Scientific Officer of the Center for Translational Molecular Medicine, a position he held jointly with his academic appointment at the University of Utrecht.

He served on the board of trustees of the International Society of Magnetic Resonance in Medicine and was appointed a fellow of this society in 1995. He received the European Magnetic Resonance Award for Basic Sciences in 2002.