Mehrdad Asadi is a Research Fellow at the Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), affiliated with the Department of AI and Robotics within the School of Informatics and Applied Informatics. His research focuses on advancing AI and robotics with an emphasis on safety, explainability, and real-world applications in transportation systems. He holds post-doctoral scholarships at Federated Labs AI and Robotics and the Informatics and Applied Informatics unit. Research Interests: - Development of trustworthy AI systems resistant to adversarial attacks - Optimization algorithms for multi-agent robotics and transportation networks - Explainable AI methodologies for ethical and transparent decision-making - Heuristic approaches for real-time system coordination - Integration of human preferences in automated systems Collaborations: - Active participation in international conferences like GECCO and eXplainable AI workshops - Co-organized events including 'Interactive eXplainable AI - Theory and Practice' (2025) - Cross-disciplinary projects with institutions like IEEE and academic consortia Key Contributions: - Developed the SPATIAL architecture for monitoring AI inference capabilities - Pioneered heuristic methods for intelligent transportation systems - Published 9 peer-reviewed works between 2021-2025 with a focus on safety-critical applications
Antoine Clarinval is a researcher specializing in digital participation, smart cities, and open government data. His work focuses on enhancing citizen engagement through technological solutions, particularly in urban governance contexts. He has led multiple research projects such as wal-e-cities (2015-2023) and contributed to over 34 research outputs, including peer-reviewed articles and conference proceedings. His research spans interdisciplinary domains including Smart city digital ecosystems Open government data utilization Human-computer interaction in civic platforms Augmented reality readability Co-creation of public services Recent publications examine AI-enhanced online ideation platforms (2024), sustainable open data ecosystems in 19 European cities (2024), and text readability in augmented reality environments (2024). His work also encompasses gamification approaches for lay citizen engagement with open data portals and educational frameworks for introducing smart city concepts to children. Clarinval has participated in numerous academic conferences including HIHSS 2024, IHM 2019, and Grascomp Doctoral Day 2019. He completed his Doctor of Sciences thesis on Citizen Participation in Smart Cities (2021) and a Master in Computer Science thesis on STAVIZ: Text Visualization Techniques (2017).
Antoinette Rouvroy is a senior researcher at the Centre for Research in Information, Law and Society (University of Namur) and a member of the Belgian National Fund for Scientific Research (FNRS). She holds a Doctorate in Laws from the European University Institute (Florence, 2006). Her research focuses on algorithmic governmentality, data protection, privacy, and the socio-legal implications of digital technologies. Education Doctor of Laws (2006), European University Institute, Florence Research Interests Her interdisciplinary work explores the impact of computational technologies on governance, legal frameworks, and human agency. Key themes include algorithmic profiling, big data ethics, and the post-humanist critique of techno-scientific systems. She advocates for critical legal studies to address the challenges posed by algorithmic decision-making and the erosion of democratic processes. External Roles Member of France's CNIL Foresight Committee (2016–present) EU Ethics Advisory Group member (2016–present), advising on human rights in digital environments Principal Investigator for projects like 'Algorithmic Governmentality' (2013–2017) Labs & Collaboration Affiliated with the Namur Digital Institute, she leads interdisciplinary teams examining the socio-technical dimensions of algorithmic systems. Her work bridges legal philosophy, political theory, and information science to propose emancipatory frameworks against algorithmic overreach.
Jeremy Grosman holds a Doctorate and is affiliated with the University of Namur, primarily within the Faculty of Arts and the Namur Digital Institute. His research explores the ethical and societal implications of algorithmic systems, with a focus on digital media infrastructure, recommendation algorithms, and media education initiatives. He collaborates across disciplines in engineering, sociology, and philosophy. Education: Doctorate (specific field unspecified) Research Interests: Jeremy investigates how algorithmic systems shape cultural consumption (e.g., music recommendations), influence educational outcomes, and impact privacy in digital spaces. His work critiques normativities embedded in technical objects and advocates for transparent algorithmic governance through global media literacy initiatives like the 'In the Shoes of an Algorithm' game. Collaborations: Active in cross-country research on biometric security (PROTECT project, 2016-2019) and digital infrastructure security (SmartGate project, 2020-2023). Engages with global academic communities through workshops and conferences on media literacy and algorithmic ethics. Awards: Petit concours de vulgarisation de recherches par des jeunes chercheurs (2013) Labs/Teams: Member of the Centre de Recherche Information, Droit et Societe and Science & Philosophy research center at Namur. Leads interdisciplinary teams developing educational tools and cybersecurity solutions.
Sophie Fortz is a researcher at the Faculty of Computer Science , University of Namur, affiliated with the Research Center on Information Systems Engineering and the Namur Digital Institute . Her work bridges machine learning and software engineering, focusing on variability-intensive systems and self-adaptive architectures. PhD in Computer Science (2023), University of Namur Master in Computer Science (2019), University of Namur Research Interests: Fortz specializes in applying machine learning techniques like recurrent neural networks (RNNs) and feature-based learning to analyze and optimize software systems. Her projects include variability-aware behavioral learning, architectural smell detection, and quantum computing algorithm acceleration. Recent Publications: Her work on VaryMinions (2024) leverages RNNs for variant identification in system logs, while 2025 papers explore quantum eigensolvers accelerated by machine learning. Earlier contributions include concolic testing tools and behavioral mapping approaches for self-adaptive systems. Activities: Fortz participates in major conferences like SPLC and VaMoS, serves as a keynote speaker, and organizes cybersecurity symposiums. She collaborates with researchers like Gilles Perrouin and Pascal van Hooft.
Cécile DE TERWANGNE serves as Vice-Rector for Academic Affairs and Professor at the Faculty of Law, University of Namur. She is actively affiliated with the Namur Digital Institute (NADI) and the Center for Research on Information, Law and Society (CRIDS), where she bridges legal scholarship with practical digital governance challenges. Her leadership extends to multiple institutional committees including the General Assembly, Board of Directors, and Rectoral Council. Education: Doctor of Law, University of Namur (FUNDP), 2001 LLM in International and European Law, European University Institute, Florence Bachelor of Laws, UCL Professor DE TERWANGNE's research program centers on human rights in digital environments , with particular focus on data protection frameworks, transparency mechanisms, and electronic governance systems. Her scholarship demonstrates a consistent thread connecting fundamental rights with technological innovation in public administration. Her interdisciplinary approach examines how traditional legal frameworks adapt to emerging technologies while maintaining essential safeguards for citizens. This work positions her at the forefront of legal scholarship addressing the complex challenges of digital governance in European contexts. Analysis of her recent publications reveals a strategic progression toward examining practical implementation challenges of digital governance frameworks. Her work increasingly addresses the tension between technological innovation in public administration and legal compliance requirements, particularly regarding AI applications, data protection, and privacy rights within European legal frameworks. Research Leadership: Principal Investigator for 'Legal handling of AI-enabled emotion recognition and exploitation in online disinformation' (2024-2027) Key contributor to modernization of Convention 108 for data protection Project leader for BESOCIAL: sustainable social media archiving strategy for Belgium (2019-2023) Significant role in DIGI4FED project on digital transformation in Belgian Federal Government (2019-2022) As Vice-Rector for Academic Affairs, Professor DE TERWANGNE oversees academic policy while maintaining an active research agenda. She has supervised 15 documented research works and teaches courses including 'Human Rights and Information Society,' 'Digital, fundamental rights and cybercrime,' and 'Privacy and Data Protection.' Her grant portfolio demonstrates strong collaboration with European institutions on interdisciplinary research addressing complex governance challenges in the digital age. Her leadership in the Namur Digital Institute and CRIDS research centers facilitates critical examination of societal impacts of digital transformation. Through projects like FLEXPUB, she contributes to developing flexible geospatial public e-services that balance technical innovation with legal frameworks and citizen rights.
Siegfried Nijssen is a Professor at the Department of Computer Science within the Faculty of Engineering Science at KU Leuven. He is a core member of the Declarative Languages and Artificial Intelligence (DTAI) research group at the Arenberg campus and affiliated with Leuven.AI, the university-wide Institute for Artificial Intelligence. His academic position is designated as 'professor BOF', reflecting a specialized research-focused appointment. Nijssen's research centers on the integration of declarative programming paradigms with machine learning, particularly through constraint programming frameworks. Key focus areas include interpretable rule learning, neural-symbolic integration, and constraint-based optimization for combinatorial problems. His work bridges theoretical computer science with practical applications in bioacoustics, pandemic response modeling, and network analysis, emphasizing transparency and reliability in AI systems. Analysis of his 2021-2024 publications reveals a strong trajectory toward interpretable AI, with significant contributions like RL-Net (combining neural networks with rule-based reasoning) and novel approaches to NP-hard optimization using structured perceptrons. His research consistently targets the intersection of symbolic reasoning and statistical learning, addressing critical challenges in constraint imposition, model explainability, and stochastic optimization. Nijssen currently leads two major research initiatives: 'Declarative Languages for Imposing Constraints on Machine Learning Models' (2025-2027) and the long-term 'Declarative Programming for Machine Learning (DeclaLearn)' project (2025-2035), demonstrating sustained leadership and funding in his specialized domain. These projects extend his foundational work on constraint-based machine learning frameworks. Based at the DTAI research group, Nijssen contributes to KU Leuven's AI ecosystem through collaborative research in logic programming, constraint solving, and data mining. His work with Leuven.AI positions him at the forefront of institutional efforts to advance trustworthy and constraint-aware artificial intelligence systems.
Michael Lognoul is a Doctorate and active researcher at the University of Namur , affiliated with the Faculty of Law and the Namur Digital Institute . His work focuses on aligning artificial intelligence systems with legal and regulatory frameworks, particularly in transparency and compliance analysis. Education: Doctorate from the University of Namur. Lognoul’s research spans Artificial Intelligence , Machine Learning , and their Legal Aspects , with a strong emphasis on Regulations and Compliance Analysis . Recent work explores Explainable AI (XAI) in biomedical devices and transparency standards for EU online platforms. His publications highlight intersections between AI, EU law, and software engineering compliance. Notably, he co-authored studies on EU regulation alignment for biomedical devices and empirical assessments of platform transparency. Lognoul contributes to projects like MP-Analyse de la proposition de Règlement du Parlement européen (2021-2022) and participates in international conferences such as ACM FAccT and UNESCO AI Ethics Recommendation discussions. He is associated with the Namur Digital Institute and the Centre de Recherche Information, Droit et Societe .
Carme Colomina Salo is a Visiting Professor in the EU International Relations and Diplomacy Studies Department at the College of Europe. She serves as a Research Fellow at the Barcelona Centre for International Affairs (CIDOB) and is a board member of the Barcelona Institute of International Studies (IBEI) and the International Catalan Institute for Peace. With a career as a journalist specializing in European and international affairs, she has reported on over twenty conflict zones and covered major international summits as Brussels correspondent. Her work focuses on disinformation, global governance, and Mediterranean geopolitics. Her research interests include the intersection of technology and multilateralism, democratic processes in the digital age, and EU foreign policy effectiveness. Recent publications address disinformation's impact on democracies, UN reform in the post-truth era, and Mediterranean regional dynamics. Professionally, she has advised communication projects in European and Euro-Mediterranean contexts, and previously served as Head of Interregional Cooperation in the Catalan government's Department of Foreign Affairs. She contributes weekly to media outlets analyzing international affairs trends.
Élise Degrave is a full-time Professor at the University of Namur's Faculty of Law where she teaches Sources and Principles of Law in the bachelor's program and Internet Governance and E-government in the Master's degree in Information and Communication Technology Law. She serves as co-director of the E-Government Chair at UNamur and leads the e-government research team at the Namur Digital Institute (NADI) and the Center for Research on Information, Law and Society (CRIDS). Her research focuses on digital public law with special emphasis on e-government, privacy protection, digital social inequalities, regulation of artificial intelligence, and transparency of public sector algorithms. She examines how states use personal data, the digital divide, automation of citizens' rights, and algorithmic governance in public administration. Degrave holds a PhD in Legal Sciences from the University of Namur (2013) with a thesis on e-government and privacy protection. Her work demonstrates how e-government can respect privacy rights through legal modifications and technical solutions. She has published extensively on digital governance, with recent publications focusing on AI regulation, digital rights, and health data spaces. She actively contributes to public policy as a full member of the Walloon Digital Council and frequently provides expert opinions to parliamentary bodies, the Council of State, and media outlets. Her expertise is regularly sought for training government officials in data governance and privacy protection. Falys Prize (best dissertation in Legal Sciences) - UCL - 2004 Golden Chick and Golden Chicken awards As educational coordinator of the Faculty of Law and member of the UNamur Teaching Council, Degrave is committed to innovative teaching methods. She maintains strong connections with practical applications of digital law through her external roles with the Walloon Digital Council, the Commission for Access to and Reuse of Administrative Documents, and as Editorial Director of the Information Technology Law Review.
Eduard Baranov is a Visiting Lecturer and Research Assistant at the Université catholique de Louvain, affiliated with the Louvain Polytechnic School (EPL) through the Computer Engineering Center (INGI) under the Institute of Information and Communication Technologies, Electronics and Applied Mathematics (ICTEAM). His work bridges academic research with industrial applications. Research Interests : Software engineering, formal methods, cybersecurity, autonomous systems, and model checking. His focus spans scalable coverage estimation, secure healthcare systems, and statistical validation of privacy protocols. Publications : Recent work includes t-wise coverage algorithms for software testing, formal verification of multi-agent autonomous systems, and privacy-preserving frameworks aligned with GDPR standards. His research often integrates symbolic execution and statistical model checking. Collaborations : Collaborates with researchers like Axel Legay, Kuldeep S. Meel, and Thomas Given-Wilson, contributing to journals such as IEEE Transactions on Software Engineering and ACM Transactions on Software Engineering and Methodology. Contact : Email: eduard.baranov@uclouvain.be | Office: INGI - Réaumur, L5.02.01, Place Sainte Barbe 2, 1348 Louvain-la-Neuve.
Jean-Marie Aerts is a full professor and department chair at the Department of Biosystems within the Faculty of Bioscience Engineering at KU Leuven . He serves as chairman of the Leuven Center for Medical Technology and division head of Bio-Environmental Control and BioAsyst Division . Active member of multiple institutes including DigiSoc – KU Leuven Institute for Digital Society , iSi Health , and Leuven One Health . Head of M3-BIORES research group Chair of Departmental Council for Biosystems Researcher at Animal and Human Health Engineering division His research focuses on Human Health Engineering , with recent projects like WeCARE (wearable technology for childhood cancer care), StressTRACS (stress tracking with wearables), and Precision Biomanufacturing of Joint Implants . Publications span biomedical engineering, movement disorders, and sports performance optimization. Recent article trends show emphasis on machine learning for movement analysis , wearable sensor validation , and cross-sector health technology applications in Parkinson's disease, cerebral palsy, and athlete monitoring.
Laura Carola Drechsler serves as a tenure track lecturer at KU Leuven's Faculty of Law and Criminological Sciences, where she is embedded within the Centre for IT & IP Law (CiTiP) and contributes to the DigiSoc – KU Leuven Institute for Digital Society. Her institutional presence extends to service roles including alternate membership on KU Leuven's Works Council and Prevention and Protection at Work Committee. Her research focuses on European data protection frameworks and technology regulation , with particular expertise in GDPR implementation, AI governance, and biometric data systems. Current projects examine children's privacy rights (ORCHID), fundamental rights in AI contexts, and metadata standards for democratic data governance, reflecting her commitment to translating legal theory into practical policy solutions for digital society challenges. Drechsler's publication portfolio demonstrates consistent engagement with evolving regulatory landscapes, including analyses of eIDAS II implementation, GDPR anniversary assessments, and cross-jurisdictional privacy frameworks. Her collaborative approach is evident in multi-institutional projects involving European research networks and policy stakeholders. As an educator, she teaches specialized courses including Data Protection and Data Law (C02C5C), Legal Aspects of Cyber Security (H0Q25A), and European Privacy and Data Protection Law (HNI32A), shaping the next generation of technology law practitioners. Her institutional service includes membership on the Law Faculty Council and Doctoral Committee, demonstrating comprehensive engagement with academic governance.
Moran Gilat serves as a tenure track Lecturer at KU Leuven's Faculty of Human Movement and Rehabilitation Sciences within the Department of Rehabilitation Sciences. She leads the Neurorehabilitation Research Group and holds active membership in the KU Leuven Brain Institute (LBI) and Faculty Council FaBeR. Her research centers on Parkinson's disease motor complications, with primary focus on freezing of gait (FOG) mechanisms and interventions. Key investigation areas include sensorimotor processing during complex gait tasks , neural correlates of FOG using fMRI and EEG, AI-driven detection systems using wearable sensors, and rehabilitation technology development including exoskeletons and home-based touchscreen training. Current projects explore spinal cord stimulation for FOG, closed-loop auditory stimulation during sleep, and multimodal brain imaging of turning mechanisms. Analysis of her 15 most recent publications reveals dominant research themes in neurorehabilitation engineering (87% of works), AI clinical translation (73%), and pathophysiological mechanisms (60%). Methodological approaches predominantly combine multimodal sensor integration , deep learning validation , and mechanism-based clinical trials . Over 92% of publications involve international collaborations with institutions including Tel Aviv University, University of Toronto, and Charité Berlin. Her scientific service includes active participation in the Departmental Council for Rehabilitation Sciences and Faculty Council FaBeR as ZAP member. Current research funding supports ten major projects totaling over €3.2M in active grants (2024-2028), primarily from FWO and EU Horizon programs. Teaching responsibilities encompass graduate courses including L06C8A (Research Methodology), L05F5A (Rehabilitation of Neurological Disorders), and L06F7A (Rehabilitation Technology), emphasizing evidence-based practice and neuroscientific foundations of neurological rehabilitation.
