Prof. dr. Nico Van de Weghe is a full Professor of GIScience at the University of Ghent (UGent), affiliated with the CartoGIS research unit. His work bridges computer science, social science, and natural science through geospatial information studies, focusing on enabling machines to reason spatially (GeoAI). Since 2004, he has specialized in knowledge-based AI, particularly spatiotemporal reasoning and moving object analysis, with applications in animal behavior, criminology, healthcare, mobility, and sports. Van de Weghe's research emphasizes hybrid GeoAI systems combining knowledge-driven and data-driven approaches. Keywords include GeoAI, GIScience, Spatiotemporal Analysis, Moving Objects, and Data Mining. Recent publications highlight urban road network analysis, hybrid trajectory modeling, BIM semantic enrichment, and cycling safety studies using virtual reality.
Geert Deconinck is a full professor at KU Leuven , leading the Electrical Energy Systems and Applications (ELECTA) research group within the Department of Electrical Engineering (ESAT). He also serves as scientific leader of the EnergyVille research center's algorithms domain, focusing on smart electrical networks and thermal systems. M.Sc. and Ph.D. from KU Leuven Head of ELECTA since 2012 (10 professors, 8 postdocs, 70+ PhDs) Over 8 million EUR research budget in last 5 years 44 completed PhDs and 10 current advisees IEEE Transactions editorial board member His research spans smart grid architectures , distributed control , and cyber-physical security , with recent focus on EV-grid integration , renewable energy democratization , and multi-carrier energy systems . Current projects include: Smart Charging - E-Mobility meets Renewable Energy Early Detection and Defense Systems for Smart Grids Open-source P2P energy sharing platforms Microgrid control strategies for PV-battery systems Awarded IET Fellow and IEEE Senior Member status, his work combines machine learning with power systems engineering through both theoretical modeling and experimental validation . He has contributed over 575 publications with 9800+ Google Scholar citations.
Catherine Legrand serves as Professor of Biostatistics at UCLouvain (Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium), affiliated with the Institute of Statistics, Biostatistics and Actuarial Sciences (ISBA) and the Louvain School of Statistics, Biostatistics and Actuarial Sciences (LSBA) within the Faculty of Science. She chaired ISBA from 2019-2022 and currently presides over the Louvain Institute for Data Analysis and Modeling (LIDAM). Her academic foundation includes: Master Degree in Mathematics from Université Libre de Bruxelles (1998) PhD in Statistics from Hasselt University (2005) supervised by Prof. Paul Janssen and Prof. Luc Duchateau, specializing in survival analysis and frailty models Her research program centers on Survival Data Analysis with emphasis on frailty models, cure models, and Joint Models for Longitudinal and Survival Data. She develops methodologies for clinical trial design and analysis with direct applications in oncology data, bridging theoretical statistics and clinical practice through collaborations with medical researchers. Analysis of her recent publications (2023-2025) reveals three dominant trends: 1) Advanced survival modeling techniques (semi-Markov, cure rate models) for disease progression; 2) Validation frameworks for surrogate endpoints in clinical trials using joint modeling; 3) Emerging applications in health insurance analytics and public health systems. Her work increasingly addresses real-world healthcare challenges while maintaining methodological rigor. No scientific awards were documented in the available sources. Information regarding student supervision and research grant funding was not provided in the current materials. She leads research within LIDAM and ISBA, building on her prior role as primary statistician for the EORTC Lung Cancer Group where she contributed to multiple Phase II/III trials in lung cancer and mesothelioma. Her current work integrates biostatistical methodology development with practical applications across oncology, public health, and actuarial science domains.
Wout Joseph is a Professor in the domain of Experimental Characterization of wireless communication systems at Ghent University (Belgium), where he has been working since October 2009. He is also an IMEC Principal Investigator since 2017. His research is conducted within the wireless, acoustics, environment & expert systems (WAVES) research unit at the Department of Information Technology (INTEC). Dr. Joseph was born in Ostend, Belgium on October 21, 1977. He received his M.Sc. degree in electrical engineering from Ghent University in July 2000. From September 2000 to March 2005 he was a research assistant at the Department of Information Technology (INTEC), where his scientific work focused on electromagnetic exposure assessment around base stations for mobile communications related to health effects. This work led to his Ph.D. degree in March 2005. Professor Joseph's research expertise spans multiple domains within wireless communications and bioelectromagnetics. His primary research interests include electromagnetic field exposure assessment, in-body electromagnetic field modeling, electromagnetic medical applications, propagation for wireless communication systems, IoT, antennas and calibration. He also specializes in wireless performance analysis, industry 4.0 applications, wireless localization, and Quality of Experience metrics. His work is particularly notable for its focus on dosimetric studies in the radiofrequency range, where his research is ranked first in number of peer-reviewed studies. His research has practical applications in wireless network planning, occupational safety, and public health policy related to electromagnetic fields. His extensive publication record (over 886 publications with an h-index of 45 in ISI Web of Science and 66 in Google Scholar) demonstrates a clear trajectory from fundamental electromagnetic field measurements to applied research in industrial wireless networks and bioelectromagnetic applications. Recent work shows a strong emphasis on 5G exposure assessment across multiple European countries, millimeter-wave channel modeling, and the application of machine learning techniques to exposure assessment and wireless localization. EBEA council board member (2015-2018) EBEA board member at large (2019) Bioelectromagnetics Society board member (2022) Bioelectromagnetics Society board member (2024) 24 research awards Professor Joseph leads significant research efforts in electromagnetic field exposure assessment, with particular emphasis on developing measurement methodologies and computational models for real-world exposure scenarios. His work bridges theoretical electromagnetic modeling with practical applications in wireless communications and bioelectromagnetics. His research group within the WAVES unit is highly active in both theoretical and experimental aspects of wireless communications and bioelectromagnetics, with current projects focusing on 5G exposure assessment across Europe, millimeter-wave channel modeling for data centers and industrial environments, and the development of novel exposure assessment methodologies using advanced signal processing and machine learning techniques.
Jan Elen is a full Professor at KU Leuven, specifically within the Instructional Psychology and Technology department of the Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences. They are also a member of DigiSoc – KU Leuven Institute for Digital Society and LIVO – KU Leuven Institute for Educational Research. Jan Elen's research interests focus on: Educational Technology and Digital Learning Instructional Psychology and Knowledge Scientific Reasoning and Argumentation in Education Educational Curation and Resource Management Teacher Education and Professional Development Assessment Methods and Educational Measurement Current research projects include Sabbatperiode Jan Elen: Fundamenten voor onderwijskundig redeneren (2023-2024), ICT in de lerarenopleiding: affordance versus daadwerkelijk gebruik in geselecteerde lerarenopleidingen in Ethiopië (2023-2027), and Naar een complementariteit tussen leraar en GenAI in de rol van de leraar als ontwerper van leeromgevingen (2022-2026). Their recent publications demonstrate a strong focus on the intersection of educational psychology, technology integration, and instructional design, particularly examining how teachers and students interact with digital learning environments and develop scientific reasoning skills, with emerging work on generative AI applications in education. Jan Elen serves in various academic capacities: Observer of the POC Criminological Sciences Observer of the POC Rights Member (as ZAP) of the PPW Faculty Council Member of the Assessment Committee of the Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences Observer of the OC Master of Psychology: Theory and Research Jan Elen teaches courses related to Leren in maatschappelijk betrokken onderwijs (Learning in socially engaged education) and supervises student placements in psychology and educational sciences across multiple formats including distance learning.
Patrick Develtere is a Professor at the Leuven International and European Studies (LINES) department within the Faculty of Social Sciences at KU Leuven. His research focuses on international development cooperation, public health in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), and European-African scientific collaboration. He serves as an invited member of the Council of the Faculty of Social Sciences and an observer of the Politieke wetenschappen programme committee. Key research projects include studies on informal employment and social health insurance in Tanzania, microcredit impacts in Bangladesh, and transnational air quality initiatives in sub-Saharan Africa. He has also led work on EU homelessness data systems and global resilience strategies through cooperatives. Recent publications span topics from homelessness policy in Europe to lung health challenges in LMICs. Develtere collaborates extensively with institutions like HIVA-KU Leuven and Egerton University in Kenya. His work integrates interdisciplinary approaches to address socio-environmental challenges, emphasizing transnational cooperation and evidence-based policy solutions.
Maarten Bassier is an Assistant Professor (tenure track) at KU Leuven, affiliated with the Department of Civil Engineering within the Faculty of Engineering Technology. He is based at the Geomatics unit operating at the Ghent and Aalst Campuses. His academic profile combines research, teaching, and institutional service, with significant contributions to the field of digital construction technologies. As senior academic staff, he serves on both the Council of the Faculty of Engineering Technology and the Civil Engineering Department Council, actively participating in institutional governance while maintaining a robust research program focused on Scan-to-BIM methodologies and geospatial applications in construction. Dr. Bassier's research centers on Scan-to-BIM methodologies, which involve converting 3D scans of existing buildings into Building Information Models. His work bridges geomatics, computer vision, and civil engineering, with applications in construction progress monitoring, infrastructure inspection, and heritage documentation. He applies machine learning techniques to automate aspects of the modeling process, particularly semantic segmentation of point clouds and integration of UAV (drone) data. His research increasingly incorporates deep learning approaches for object detection, segmentation, and completion in complex built environments, with practical applications spanning road construction, bridge inspections, and electrical substation modeling. His interdisciplinary approach connects civil engineering with computer science to solve practical construction challenges through digital innovation. Bassier's recent publication record demonstrates a strong focus on automating the Scan-to-BIM process through advanced computational techniques. His work spans multiple application domains while maintaining a consistent methodological thread of integrating sensing technologies with semantic understanding of construction environments. The trajectory of his research shows increasing sophistication in machine learning applications, moving from basic point cloud processing to complex semantic understanding and automated model generation. His publications appear in high-impact journals across civil engineering, remote sensing, and computer vision domains, reflecting the interdisciplinary nature of his work. SESAME - Semantic Segmentation of Electrical Substations and Derived Models for Engineering (2024-2026) - Promotor UAV-assisted bridge inspections (2022-2027) - Co-promotor XR-empowered dynamic reality modeling for AECO applications (2021-2026) - Co-promotor Digitization in road construction: automating as-built models (2020-2026) - Co-promotor SCAN-to-BIM Automation of as-built BIM production through digitization and machine learning (2020-2025) - Co-promotor As a member of the Division Digital and Sustainable Civil Engineering and the Subdivision Geomatics Ghent, Dr. Bassier contributes to KU Leuven's research ecosystem focused on digital transformation in civil engineering. His teaching portfolio includes courses on BIM, industrial measurements, Scan-to-BIM, 3D modeling, and geomatics, preparing the next generation of civil engineers for the digital construction landscape. His work represents the cutting edge of digital construction technologies, with practical applications that address real-world challenges in infrastructure development and maintenance.
Rajan Filomeno Coelho is a Visiting Professor at the Mechanics of Materials and Constructions department of Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Belgium. His research focuses on structural engineering, composite materials, and sensitivity analysis, with notable contributions to hybrid composite-concrete structures and deployable systems. His work emphasizes multi-objective optimization of structural components and BIM automation , reflecting expertise in computational modeling, material efficiency, and cost-benefit analysis. Key projects include investigations into scissor arches and hybrid beams. He has supervised research such as the 2020 thesis on Automated Classification of BIM Elements Using Supervised Machine Learning , though no scientific awards are documented in the provided texts.
Prof. Dieter De Witte serves as a Professor at Ghent University, dedicating 50% of his time to the Internet Technology and Data Science Lab (IDLab) while simultaneously contributing 50% to the Royal Museums of Fine Arts Belgium (RMFAB) in Brussels through a FED-tWIN mandate from Belspo. At RMFAB, he spearheads the strategic overhaul of digital infrastructure toward FAIR-compliant and data-driven systems, while at Ghent University he collaborates with Prof. Steven Verstockt on applied AI projects across heritage, mental healthcare, and education domains. His academic foundation includes a Master's in Engineering Physics from Ghent University (2008) followed by doctoral research on Big Data technologies and FAIR data for life sciences. Prior to returning to academia in 2021, he gained industry experience as an AI consultant and team lead at Telenet and Ordina. De Witte's research centers on AI-driven transformation of cultural heritage through FAIR data publication , collection enrichment , and intuitive querying interfaces . His technical expertise spans multimodal algorithms, image segmentation, pose estimation, large language models (LLMs), and semantic technologies including SPARQL and IIIF. Current projects focus on human-in-the-loop AI systems that combine diverse AI building blocks for practical heritage applications. Analysis of his 15 most recent publications reveals a clear trajectory from early bioinformatics work (2007-2018) on genomic motif discovery and life sciences data infrastructure toward contemporary cultural heritage applications (2023-2024). Recent outputs demonstrate innovative fusion of pose estimation, linked data frameworks, and multimodal AI for museum contexts, highlighting increasing specialization in AI enrichment of digital collections while maintaining core expertise in FAIR data principles. His FED-tWIN grant enables critical knowledge transfer between academic research and cultural heritage institutions, supporting development of next-generation digital infrastructure at RMFAB. Current projects involve creating AI tools for intuitive collection exploration and systematic enrichment of heritage assets through advanced computational methods. De Witte operates within Ghent University's Internet Technology and Data Science Lab (IDLab), participating in interdisciplinary teams developing applied AI solutions. His work bridges technical innovation with practical implementation in cultural institutions, focusing on sustainable, interoperable systems that enhance public access to digital heritage collections through cutting-edge AI interaction paradigms.
Sabine Henry is a Professor in the Department of Geography within the Faculty of Sciences at the University of Namur, Belgium. Her research focuses on the interaction between environment and migration at household and individual levels, with extensive fieldwork across Africa, Southeast Asia, and Central America. She leads a research team within the Institute of Life-Earth-Environment (ILEE) and maintains active collaborations with institutions worldwide including the London School of Economics, University of Neuchâtel, and universities in the Philippines and Ecuador. Doctor of Geographical Sciences, Université Catholique de Louvain (2003) DESS in Demography, University of Human Sciences of Strasbourg (1998) Degree in Geographical Sciences, Université Catholique de Louvain (1997) Professor Henry's research centers on environmental migration, vulnerability assessment, and resilience building in contexts of climate change and natural disasters. Her work explores who is likely to migrate based on gender, age, socio-economic status, and education, as well as how environmental changes are perceived by potential migrants. She employs diverse methodological approaches including event-history analysis, qualitative methods, and innovative techniques like board games to capture complex decision-making processes. Her fieldwork spans Burkina Faso (drought-migration links), Philippines (typhoon impacts), Ecuador (environmental benefits of migration), and multiple African nations (vulnerability assessments). Her research output shows consistent focus on environmental migration patterns, with recent publications addressing community vulnerability in Rwanda, hydrological changes in Senegal, and seismic risk perception in Haiti. The work demonstrates interdisciplinary integration of geography, demography, and environmental science with strong methodological diversity. Best Poster Award, Population Association of America (2008) Best Poster Award, UISSP (2013) Poster Award for 'The nexus between international migrations and ecological services uses...' (2012) Professor Henry currently supervises 5 PhD students and one permanent scientific collaborator, supported by multiple international and national projects. Her team has received significant funding including FNRS PDR projects, PRD-ARES grants, and collaborations with institutions in Switzerland, Senegal, and Romania. Current projects include vulnerability assessments for earthquakes in Haiti (2018-23), landslides and floods in Rwanda (2019-23), and flash floods in Burundi (2019-23), alongside ongoing work on environmental modifications and human mobility in Sub-Saharan Africa. Her research group operates within the Hugo Observatory, a research center committed to studying interactions between environmental changes, human migration, and politics. The team employs community participatory approaches to ensure durability of project outcomes and examines migration-environment links from multiple angles including drivers, vulnerability, resilience, and disaster impacts.
Femke Ongenae is an Associate Professor at Ghent University's Faculty of Engineering and Architecture within the Department of Information Technology . She leads research at the IMEC postdoctoral level in areas bridging eHealth, predictive healthcare, and knowledge graph technologies . Her work focuses on context-aware systems, stream reasoning, and hybrid AI for healthcare and smart infrastructure applications. Key research domains: Artificial Intelligence , Health Informatics , Knowledge Graphs Leadership roles: Digital Innovation for Man and Society research unit, eBehaviourChange group Her recent publications (2023-2025) highlight advancements in: Semantic rule mining for decision support systems Anomaly detection in healthcare and water networks Context-aware machine learning for COPD and migraine monitoring Knowledge graph embeddings for industrial process monitoring Collaborative projects involve: Developing INK framework for knowledge graph rule mining Building DIVIDE system for adaptive IoT querying Creating MASSIF platform for semantic IoT services Advancing stream reasoning for real-time healthcare applications
Anthony SIMONOFSKI is an Associate Professor at the Department of Management Sciences within the Faculty of Economic, Social and Management Sciences at the University of Namur. He is actively involved in the Namur Digital Institute (NADI) and leads the Management of INformation and DIgital Transformation (MIND IT) research group. His academic background includes dual doctorates in Business Economics from KU Leuven and Computer Science from UNamur. His educational background demonstrates exceptional interdisciplinary training: Doctor in Business Economics, KU Leuven Doctor in Sciences (Computer Science), UNamur Master in Business Engineering - Information Management, UNamur Master in Handelsingenieur in de Beleidsinformatica, KU Leuven Bachelor in Business Engineering - Information Management, UNamur SIMONOFSKI's research focuses at the intersection of digital technology and public administration, with particular expertise in digital transformation, smart cities, and citizen participation. His work bridges information systems theory with practical governance challenges, developing frameworks for more responsive public services. His recent publications reveal a strong trend toward AI applications in citizen engagement, with increasing focus on ethical implementation and practical frameworks for public sector use. His scientific contributions have been recognized with several prestigious awards: Best Paper Award at the 19th IEEE Conference on Business Informatics (2017) Publica Award for Methodological Guidance of La Louvière (2019) Nomination for the De Woot Award for Master's Thesis (2018) As Principal Investigator, SIMONOFSKI leads seven major research projects with significant funding, including PARIS2 (2025-2029) on proactive digital public services and Di-Fic (2025-2030) on digital citizenship education. He has supervised numerous graduate students and contributes to the academic community through committee service, including serving on the Faculty Council of Economic, Social and Management Sciences. His work with the ALMEN Alumni Association Committee (as Member 2016-2017 and President 2017-2020) demonstrates his commitment to academic community building. He directs the MIND IT research group which focuses on practical applications of digital transformation in public administration, with particular emphasis on citizen-centered design and implementation challenges in real-world governance contexts.
Clark C. Gibson is an Associate Professor of Political Science at Indiana University Bloomington, specializing in political economy and environmental governance. His research focuses on the intersection of institutions, communities, and natural resource management across diverse geographical contexts. Dr. Gibson's research interests center on political economy approaches to environmental policy, with particular expertise in community-based conservation, wildlife management, and development aid. His work employs comparative institutional analysis to understand how local communities govern natural resources, examining the complex relationships between formal and informal governance structures. He investigates how political incentives shape environmental policy implementation, particularly in developing country contexts where state capacity is limited. His publication record reveals a consistent focus on institutional analysis of environmental governance, with particular attention to how local communities manage forests and wildlife resources. Gibson's research spans multiple continents, with fieldwork conducted in Africa, South Asia, and Latin America. His work demonstrates how local rules and community-based institutions can complement or substitute for state-led conservation efforts. Gibson has made significant contributions to understanding the political economy of development aid through his work on 'The Samaritan's Dilemma,' which examines the unintended consequences of foreign assistance. His research shows how aid interventions can distort local political incentives and undermine endogenous institution-building processes. As an academic advisor, Gibson has supervised numerous graduate students working on political economy and environmental governance topics. His methodological approach combines qualitative fieldwork with rigorous institutional analysis, contributing to both theoretical and practical understanding of environmental governance challenges. Dr. Gibson is affiliated with research centers focused on institutional analysis and environmental change, collaborating with interdisciplinary teams to address complex sustainability challenges. His work bridges political science, economics, and environmental studies, offering nuanced perspectives on how institutions shape human-environment interactions.
Aron Decuyper is an active researcher at Ghent University's Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, Department of Educational Studies, specializing in collaborative teaching dynamics and teacher professional development. His work primarily focuses on team teaching implementation, teacher self-efficacy, and instructional effectiveness within the Flemish educational context. His research interests center on educational psychology and teacher training , with specific expertise in collaborative pedagogy, classroom dynamics, and teacher self-efficacy. Decuyper investigates how team teaching structures impact instructional quality, teacher collaboration patterns, and professional development needs, employing both quantitative large-scale surveys and qualitative video-based observation methodologies. Analysis of his 15 most recent publications reveals a consistent focus on team teaching dynamics across multiple dimensions: implementation challenges in Flemish schools, teacher self-efficacy measurements, behavioral observation studies, and the development of practical frameworks for educational practitioners. His work demonstrates increasing methodological sophistication from descriptive studies to complex multilevel analyses and mixed-methods approaches. Decuyper is actively involved in the ESTAFETT research project and the LOPO (LerarenOpleiding en Professionalisering) research group, contributing to teacher training innovations and educational policy recommendations in Flanders. His collaborative network includes key figures like Ruben Vanderlinde (28 co-publications) and Hanne Tack (20 co-publications), indicating strong institutional research partnerships. His current research trajectory shows expansion into related areas including teacher burnout recovery, global citizenship education, and digital feedback tools for teacher training, suggesting growing influence across multiple educational subdomains while maintaining core focus on collaborative teaching practices.
Zhengwen Qi serves as an unpaid employee at the EU-China Higher Education Research Center (ECHE) within the Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences at Vrije Universiteit Brussel. Holding a PhD in Educational Science, Qi focuses on evidence-based decision-making frameworks for enhancing internationalization strategies in higher education institutions across diverse institutional contexts. Qi's educational foundation includes a doctoral degree in Educational Science, supporting research examining how higher education leaders align internationalization initiatives with core institutional missions of education, research, and societal impact. This academic background enables rigorous investigation into contextual factors influencing global cooperation. Research interests are systematically organized around: Strategic leadership development for internationalization Evidence-based policy formulation in transnational education EU-China higher education cooperation frameworks Virtual internationalization through digital governance Institutional logics in post-pandemic academic collaboration Analysis of recent publications (2023-2025) reveals a cohesive research trajectory examining internationalization through leadership and institutional lenses, with increasing emphasis on virtual collaboration models and EU-China partnerships. Methodologically, the work integrates Actor-Network Theory and Institutional Logics frameworks within qualitative research designs, demonstrating consistent scholarly productivity across multiple peer-reviewed outlets. No scientific awards were documented in the available source materials. Information regarding student supervision, grant funding, or teaching responsibilities was not provided in the source documentation. Qi maintains active affiliation with the EU-China Higher Education Research Center (ECHE), a specialized transnational unit facilitating comparative research between European and Chinese higher education systems. This center serves as the primary operational hub for Qi's collaborative investigations into internationalization dynamics.
