From 1985 to 1988, Bols did PhD with Professor Inge Lundt at the Technical University of Denmark. From 1988 to 1989, he did a post doc with professor Walter Szarek at Queens University before joining Leo Pharmaceuticals in 1989. From 1991 to 1995, he was Ass. Prof. at DTU only interrupted by a visit in the last 6 month of 1994 Gilbert Storks group at Columbia University. From 1995 to 2000, he was Assoc. Prof. (Lektor) at University of Aarhus during which period he became Dr. Scient. (1997). From 1998 to 2000 and from 2004 to 2006, he was Head of the chemistry department at university of Aarhus. From 2000 to 2005, he became Lundbeckfondsprofessor and subsequently (2005-2007) ordinary professor.  In 2007, he became professor and Head of department of the Department of Chemistry at University of Copenhagen.