Find Academic Supervisors

• Hydrology
• River Engineering
• Flood Prediction
• +7 more

Patrick Willems is a full Professor at KU Leuven's Faculty of Engineering Sciences, Department of Civil Engineering. He serves as the head of the Hydraulics Subdivision within the Hydraulics and Geotechnics unit. Professor Willems holds multiple significant roles including chairman of the ADS Bureau, member of the Faculty Council of Engineering Sciences, and participant in the Leuven One Health Institute and KU Leuven Institute for Urban Studies (LUSI). His work addresses critical global water management challenges through advanced hydrological modeling and climate change adaptation strategies. Professor Willems' research spans several critical areas in water resources engineering. His primary expertise includes urban hydrology and river engineering, statistical hydrology with focus on flood prediction and risk analysis, integrated river basin management, precipitation analysis, and climate change impacts on hydrological extremes. He employs both traditional hydrological modeling approaches and innovative machine learning techniques to develop practical solutions for flood warning systems, urban water management, and climate adaptation planning. His research integrates statistical methods, numerical modeling, and data science to address complex water management problems across multiple geographical contexts. Professor Willems leads multiple major international research projects examining hydrological extremes in transboundary river basins, natural climate adaptation measures, hydrological modeling of peatland areas, and deep learning-based prediction of hydrological extremes. His work spans various geographical contexts including Belgium, Vietnam, Bolivia, Tanzania, and the Congo Basin, demonstrating both local relevance and global applicability of his research. Within KU Leuven, Professor Willems teaches diverse courses including Environmental Problems and Techniques, Statistics and Data Science, Stochastic Hydrology, Urban and River Hydrology and Hydraulics, River Modeling, and Probability and Statistics. He also leads the Hydraulic Engineering Project course and an Artificial Intelligence Project course, reflecting his commitment to integrating traditional engineering knowledge with modern computational approaches. As head of the Hydraulics Subdivision, he oversees research activities focused on developing advanced water engineering tools and methodologies that bridge theoretical advancements with practical applications for water management authorities.

• Polymer Chemistry
• Computational Chemistry
• Materials Science
• +3 more

Lise Vermeersch is a Chemistry doctoral student and researcher at the Faculty of Sciences and Bioengineering Sciences, Vrije Universiteit Brussel. Her work focuses on polymer chemistry, computational chemistry, and materials science, particularly in self-healing and recyclable polymer networks. She collaborates on projects funded by the Research Council, exploring Diels-Alder reaction kinetics and molecular dynamics. Vermeersch has supervised multiple master's theses and participates in academic committees, conferences, and outreach activities like the New Bauhaus 2025 initiative. Her research integrates computational predictions with experimental synthesis to develop dynamic materials. Her projects include 'Accelerating the Diels-Alder kinetics of self-healing polymer networks' (2022–2026) and 'Backup mandate Research Council: Understanding and accelerating Diels-Alder kinetics' (2021–2022). She has published extensively on topics such as Lewis acid catalysis, hydrogen-bond effects, and quantum chemical analysis of Diels-Alder reactions. Her contributions bridge theoretical insights with practical applications in sustainable materials. Vermeersch has advised students on projects like 'Benchmarking Multiscale Model of Self-Healing Materials' and 'Predicting global and local reactivity descriptors.' She actively engages in academic events, including the Chemistry Day 2023 as a chair and talks at workshops like TADA. Her work emphasizes interdisciplinary approaches to material design and sustainability.

• Disability Studies
• Social Anthropology
• Development Studies
• +3 more

Okechukwu Vincent Nwokorie is affiliated with the Department of Social and Cultural Anthropology at KU Leuven. His research focuses on disability studies, empowerment discourses, and cultural practices in Southeast Nigeria. He completed his PhD in 2020 under the supervision of Prof. Patrick Devlieger, examining the intersections of disability support, local elites, and global frameworks. His work critiques how 'empowerment' programs often reinforce social hierarchies while exposing gaps in accountability among NGOs. Key research themes include the socio-cultural implications of disability, neoliberal influences on social welfare, and the transformative potential of ethnographic methodologies. His findings challenge conventional assumptions about empowerment's outcomes and highlight the agency of disabled communities amid structural inequities.

• Circular Economy
• Sustainability Assessments
• Material Flow Analysis
• +5 more

Karel Van Acker is a full professor in the Faculty of Engineering Science at KU Leuven , leading the Sustainable Materials Processing and Recycling (SeMPeR) research group. His work focuses on integrating environmental and economic sustainability assessments, particularly for metallurgical residues and circular economy systems. Head of SeMPeR group Contact person for SeMPeR at Arenberg campus Head of Subdivision 39, Brussels Campus Research areas include: Circular Economy: Monitoring systems, stock-flow models, and business models Sustainability Assessments: Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), techno-economic analysis, carbon footprinting Resource Valorization: Steel slag mineral carbonation, rare earth reduction, biorefinery processes Key article trends: 2025 works emphasize steel slag carbonation for carbon capture, hydrogen storage technologies, and clothing sufficiency as circular economy strategies 2024 research explores car mobility circularity , AI environmental impacts , and policy integration for circular economy monitors Earlier works (2023-2020) address textile recycling , biomass to biofuels , and landfill mining using system dynamics Teaching responsibilities: Sustainable Materials Management (H00R6A) Environmental Impact Analysis (I0V86A) Material Selection & Sustainability (D0X32A) Global Challenges for Sustainable Society (H0O00A)

• Computational Chemistry
• Density Functional Theory
• Quantum Chemistry
• +6 more

Dr. Freija De Vleeschouwer is a postdoctoral researcher and teaching faculty member in the Department of Chemistry at Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB) in Brussels, Belgium. With an ORCID identifier 0000-0003-0563-1509, she has established herself as a prominent researcher in computational chemistry with 927 citations and a 15 h-index. Her academic journey includes multiple FWO postdoctoral fellowships and a Research Professor appointment in Basic, Nature & Applied Sciences (2020). Dr. De Vleeschouwer's research focuses on the application of computational quantum chemical methods to solve complex problems in molecular design and materials science. Her work spans several key areas including density functional theory, molecular reactivity, self-healing polymers, and nonlinear optical materials. She employs a multidisciplinary approach combining computational predictions, molecular dynamics simulations, and experimental validation to advance understanding in these fields. Her recent research output demonstrates a strong trend toward computational-experimental integration, particularly in the development of self-healing polymer networks through Diels-Alder chemistry. She has also made significant contributions to understanding hexaphyrin compounds and their optical properties using explainable machine learning approaches. This work bridges traditional computational chemistry with modern data science techniques. Scientific Awards: FWO postdoctoral fellowship (2010) for molecular design using conceptual DFT FWO postdoctoral fellowship (2013) for inverse molecular design in radical chemistry Poster prize at the 15th International Congress of Quantum Chemistry (2015) Research Professor in Basic, Nature & Applied Sciences (0.1 ZAP) (2020) Dr. De Vleeschouwer actively supervises graduate students and has served on PhD committees. Her research is supported by multiple competitive grants including FWOTM and SRP projects. She organizes international conferences, including the 19th International Conference on Density Functional Theory and its Applications (2022), and participates in international collaborations such as research stays at Palacky University Olomouc. She leads several active research projects through 2026-2027, including FWOTM1148 on accelerating Diels-Alder kinetics in self-healing polymers and SRP73 on molecular and material property prediction using combined quantum chemical approaches.

• Human-Computer Interaction
• Tangible User Interfaces
• Playful Interactions
• +9 more

Lucca Geurts is a Senior Lecturer at the Faculty of Industrial Engineering Sciences at KU Leuven, where he is affiliated with the Department of Computer Science. He serves as chairman of the Leuven Centre for Accessible Health Technology, subdivision head of Subdivision 3, Campus Group T Leuven, and Head of Education of the OC Innovative Health Technology. Additionally, he is an active member of DigiSoc – KU Leuven Institute for Digital Society. His research focuses on Technology for Tangible and Playful Interactions, particularly in healthcare applications. Dr. Geurts leads numerous research projects including therapeutic games for children with visual disorders, flexible activity measurement systems, intimate interactive systems, and early-stage glaucoma screening platforms. His work bridges human-computer interaction with accessible health technology, emphasizing user-centered design principles and practical healthcare solutions. Dr. Geurts' publication record demonstrates a consistent trajectory from fundamental interaction techniques to applied healthcare contexts. His recent work shows increasing sophistication in squeeze interactions, emotion regulation through tangible interfaces, and medical applications of interactive technology. The research trends indicate a growing focus on accessible medical diagnostics, therapeutic applications, and user experience in healthcare technology. As an educator, Dr. Geurts teaches across multiple domains including Electronics, Computer Architectures, Health Entrepreneurship, Sensors and Circuits for Healthcare Applications, and Extended Reality. His educational leadership extends to Master's theses and internships in health engineering, reflecting his commitment to training the next generation of healthcare technologists. Committee for Culture, Art and Heritage Faculty Council of Industrial Engineering Sciences Evaluation Committee of the Faculty of Industrial Engineering Sciences POC Advanced Education Faculty of Industrial Engineering Sciences Secretary of the OC Innovative Health Technology Departmental Council for Computer Science Interfaculty Council for Global Development (as substitute member) Dr. Geurts maintains an active research profile with numerous publications in top-tier human-computer interaction conferences and journals. His work shows a clear progression toward increasingly impactful healthcare applications, with strong emphasis on accessibility and user experience in medical technology development.

Kyoko IwakiView profile

Senior Lecturer

• Theatre Studies
• Performance Studies
• Japanese Contemporary Theatre
• +4 more

Kyoko Iwaki is a Senior Lecturer at the Department of Literature of the University of Antwerp, with a focus on Japanese theatre, performance studies, and post-catastrophe narratives. She actively engages in collaborative research and holds internal governance roles, including membership in the Departmental Council for Literature and the Education Committee for the Educational Master in Languages. Her research explores Japanese contemporary theatre's intersections with ethics, digital performance, and nuclear trauma. Key themes include collaborative methodologies, liminality, and the philosophical implications of post-Fukushima art. Her work spans classical adaptations, avant-garde practices, and interdisciplinary approaches to performance. Recent publications analyze experimental Japanese theatre (Okada Toshiki, Sankai Juku), post-disaster memory, and the politics of digital pandemic spaces. She contributes to global discourse through interviews with practitioners and critiques of institutional frameworks in theatre and academia.

• Urban Studies
• Regional Development
• City Networks
• +4 more

Ben Derudder is a Professor at KU Leuven's Public Governance Institute within the Faculty of Social Sciences. He serves as Director of the LUSI - KU Leuven Urban Studies Institute and is a member of the LIM - KU Leuven Institute for Mobility. His roles include Promotor and Co-promotor in numerous high-impact research projects focusing on urban development, polycentric regions, and global city networks. Derudder actively contributes to policy advisory complexes and cross-border regional studies, with a strong emphasis on sustainability transitions and digital twins. His research explores urban systems, innovation dynamics, and the interplay between cities and their governance structures. Notable projects include analyzing the Yangtze River Delta's labor market integration, Chinese city-region innovation, and Brussels' urban sustainability challenges. Derudder's work bridges theoretical frameworks with empirical analysis, often employing big data and network methodologies. Recent publications highlight urban polycentricity, intercity cooperation, and global financial infrastructure. He supervises PhD students investigating neighborhood delineations, climate mitigation strategies, and urban periphery innovation. Derudder's interdisciplinary approach addresses both local and global urban challenges, emphasizing policy applications and transnational collaboration. Key affiliations include the LUSI and LIM institutes, reflecting his focus on urban studies and mobility. His advisory roles in Flemish municipal fusion scenarios and policy evaluations underscore his commitment to impactful research. Derudder's work is characterized by its methodological rigor and real-world policy relevance in an increasingly urbanized global landscape.

Chia LongmanView profile

Professor

• Gender Studies
• Anthropology
• Religious Studies
• +8 more

Prof. Dr. Chia Longman is a Professor at Ghent University, affiliated with the Department of Languages and Cultures under the Faculty of Arts & Philosophy. They lead the Centre for Research on Culture and Gender (CRCG) and focus on interdisciplinary research at the intersection of gender, religion, and cultural practices. Their work spans contemporary issues across Africa, Asia, Belgium, the Far East, Middle East, North America, and Western Europe. Education MA in Comparative Science of Culture (1996) PhD in Comparative Science of Culture (2002), Ghent University, Belgium Research Interests Dr. Longman specializes in the anthropology of gender & ethnicity, feminist theory, intersectionality, and the social scientific study of religions (Orthodox Judaism, Islam, Christianity). Their research critically examines concepts like harmful cultural practices, gender-based violence, veiling/hijab, and secular/spiritual well-being, using comparative fieldwork and postcolonial methodologies. Key Publications (2018-2025) Recent work includes Healers, Missionaries and Entrepreneurs of the Feminine (2020), Women’s Circles and the Rise of the New Feminine (2018), and co-edited volumes like The Bloomsbury Handbook of Religion, Gender and Sexuality (2025). Topics cover radical self-care during pandemics, women’s spirituality movements, and global responses to gender-based violence. Scientific Awards 2017: Prize from Belgian Institute for Equality for Gender and Diversity MA Program 2010: Dr. Schamelhout Prize for Anthropology 2005: Hadassah-Brandeis Institute Research Award Academic Leadership Dr. Longman has mentored 15 PhD students, including Dr. Eline Huygens and Dr. Ladan Rahbari. They served on advisory boards for Religion and Gender and the Dutch Journal for Gender Studies , and coordinated Belgium’s first interuniversity Gender and Diversity MA program.

Tatiana KopaleishviliView profile

Adjunct Assistant Professor

• Religious Freedom
• Missiology
• History of Religious Communities
• +3 more

Tatiana Kopaleishvili is a Guest Assistant Professor of Religious Studies and Missiology at the Evangelische Theologische Faculteit (ETF) Leuven, where she also coordinates the Institute for the Study of Freedom of Religion or Belief. She holds a Ph.D. in World History from Batumi Shota Rustaveli State University (2013) and has taught at institutions including Grace School of Theology in Texas and as a researcher at ETF Leuven since 2019. Her academic work focuses on religious freedom, missiology, and the history of religious communities in Georgia and Europe, particularly under Soviet and post-Soviet contexts. Her research explores topics such as the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on religious freedom in Europe, the historical dynamics of Catholic and Protestant communities in Georgia, and the interplay between legal frameworks and religious minorities. Notable publications include her co-edited book Religious Freedom in Times of COVID-19: A European Perspective (2025) and articles in journals like International Journal for Religious Freedom and Balkanistic Forum . Kopaleishvili’s work combines historical analysis with contemporary legal and societal issues, emphasizing the intersection of religion, policy, and identity. She is affiliated with multiple research projects, including the Shota Rustaveli Foundation’s Young Scholar initiative in Batumi.

• Digital Media
• Media and Communication
• Sociology of Youth
• +5 more

Tom DE LEYN is a Tenure Track Assistant Professor at Hasselt University's School of Social Sciences, where he contributes to the Capacity group Social Sciences and the Research group Research for Digitalisation, Diversity and Democracy. His work bridges media studies, sociology, and digital anthropology with a focus on youth experiences in technology-mediated environments. Based at Campus Hasselt in the Faculty of Law building, he actively engages in interdisciplinary research examining the societal implications of digital transformation. His research centers on Digital Media, Media and Communication, and the Sociology of Youth, with particular emphasis on Privacy and Surveillance dynamics across diverse cultural contexts. He investigates how children, adolescents, and ethno-religious minorities navigate digital spaces, parental mediation, and mobile technologies through qualitative and ethnographic approaches. Key themes include digital disconnection practices, intimate surveillance, and the socio-cultural construction of technology use, often comparing Global North and South contexts like Belgium and Liberia. Recent publications (2024-2025) reveal a cohesive trajectory examining digital harms assessment scales, children's perspectives on surveillance, and the paradoxes of digital disconnection policies. His work consistently employs innovative methodologies like the 360° interview technique while addressing critical gaps in understanding racial, gendered, and age-based digital inequalities. This scholarship demonstrates strong thematic continuity across media sociology, youth studies, and critical technology assessment. No scientific awards were mentioned in available sources. Tom DE LEYN actively contributes to academic training as a coordinating lecturer for courses including Media and Communication Studies I, Digital Media and Civil Society, and Qualitative Research Methods. He currently leads the 'Environmental analysis digital skills' research project (2025) focused on community service learning contexts, demonstrating practical engagement with digital inclusion initiatives. Within Hasselt University's research ecosystem, he operates through the Research group Research for Digitalisation, Diversity and Democracy, which examines technology's societal impacts through lenses of diversity, democratic processes, and digital transformation. This affiliation positions his work at the intersection of theoretical innovation and real-world policy relevance, particularly regarding youth digital rights and inclusive technology design.

• Digital Communication
• Social Media
• Public Health
• +7 more

Professor Koen Ponnet is a faculty member in the Department of Communication Sciences at Ghent University's Faculty of Social Sciences. With an extensive publication record spanning social media, digital communication, public health, and cyber relationships, he has established himself as a leading researcher in digital society and human behavior. Faculty of Social Sciences, Department of Communication Sciences Extensive collaboration with researchers across disciplines Supervisor of numerous PhD students Active researcher with publications through 2025 Professor Ponnet's research focuses on the intersection of digital technology and human behavior. His work spans social media effects on relationships (including "partner phubbing"), cyber dating abuse, adolescent digital behavior, digital inclusion, and substance use patterns. His research methodology is diverse, employing both quantitative and qualitative approaches across multiple countries. His recent publications show a clear trajectory toward examining how digital technologies impact intimate relationships, mental health, and societal inclusion. The work spans from micro-level interpersonal dynamics to macro-level societal implications of digital transformation, with particular attention to vulnerable populations and digital divides. Professor Ponnet has collaborated with numerous researchers across Belgium and internationally, with frequent co-authors including Wim Hardyns, Janneke M. Schokkenbroek, and Sarah Anrijs. His work appears in high-impact journals across communication, psychology, public health, and social sciences. His research team has secured funding for projects examining digital inclusion, relationship dynamics in the digital age, and substance use patterns among youth. The team maintains strong connections with both academic institutions and policy organizations seeking evidence-based approaches to digital society challenges. Professor Ponnet leads research groups focused on digital communication and its societal impacts, with particular attention to vulnerable populations and digital inclusion initiatives. His work often bridges academic research with practical applications for policymakers and practitioners.

• Media History
• Cultural History
• Film History
• +5 more

Roel Vande Winkel is a part-time Associate Professor in the Department of Communication Science at the Faculty of Social Sciences, KU Leuven, and a part-time Lecturer at LUCA School of Arts. He serves as the Belgian course director of the Joint Master of Arts in European Film Heritage, History, and Cultures (FilmMemory) at LUCA. His educational background includes: Master of Arts in History Doctor of Philosophy in Communication Studies His primary research focuses on media and cultural history, with special emphasis on film and media during the First and Second World Wars (1914-1945). He explores film and media at the crossroads of culture, economy, and ideology, particularly propaganda in Nazi Germany and occupied Belgium. Additional interests include Roman-Catholic approaches to audio-visual media (1928-2001), history of cinema-going, and film archives. Vande Winkel's publications reveal a consistent focus on historical film studies, particularly the international expansion of Third Reich cinema and film censorship. His work often examines the intersection of religion and media, as seen in his research on the Roman Catholic Church's engagement with audio-visual media. He has co-edited significant volumes that have shaped discourse in film history and propaganda studies. He supervises several PhD students in social sciences and the arts. His research grants include the following projects: Propaganda, Media, Culture and Public Life under the German Occupation (1940-1945) (2023-2027) - Promotor Drawing Lines: Unveiling the Scholarly Potential of Visual Storytelling (2024-2025) - Promotor Spectacle culture. An interdisciplinary platform for historical research into film, theater, dance and music performance (2016-2022) - Promotor Deradicalizing the city. Policy assemblage, security and the question of belonging in Brussels (2020-2024) - Co-promotor Critical Archives of Ordinariness: Vernacular Moving Image Practices and Migrant Identity in Polish Chicago (2023-2026) - Promotor Film, religion and politics: the 'Office Catholique International du Cinéma' (OCIC) and Italy (1948-1970) (2019-2020) - Promotor OCIC and UNDA. Foundations for longitudinal, comparative and transnational research into Roman Catholic approaches to audio-visual media (1928-2001) (2015-2017) - Promotor He is affiliated with the Media Culture & Policy Lab at KU Leuven and the Art & Recollection unit in Brussels, which support interdisciplinary research in media history and cultural policy.

Melissa SiegelView profile

Professor

• Migration Studies
• Migration and Development
• Migration Policy
• +3 more

Melissa Siegel is Professor of Migration Studies and Head of the Migration and Development Research group at Maastricht University's Graduate School of Governance and UNU-MERIT. She holds a PhD in Public Policy from Maastricht University and leads two major work packages (WP7: Consequences and WP9: Coherence) for the MIGNEX research initiative on migration and development. Her research examines the complex interrelationships between migration and socioeconomic development, with specialized focus areas including: Migration policy design and implementation frameworks Development impacts of remittances (economic and social) Diaspora engagement mechanisms Drivers of involuntary immobility Policy coherence in migration governance Field-based research methodologies across diverse global contexts Her recent publications demonstrate strong emphasis on empirical policy analysis, with 85% of works since 2022 addressing migration-development interconnections through case studies from Africa (Guinea, Tunisia), policy briefs for EU governance, and methodological frameworks for impact assessment. Research consistently engages with stakeholders at practitioner and policymaker levels. She leads the Migration and Development Research Group and coordinates international fieldwork teams conducting mixed-methods research across five continents. Current projects focus on developing assessment methodologies for migration impacts and enhancing policy coherence in migration governance frameworks.

Peter EeckhoutView profile

Professor

• Archaeology
• Pre-Columbian civilizations
• Andean archaeology
• +5 more

Peter Eeckhout is a Full Professor in the Department of Art History and Archaeology at the Université libre de Bruxelles (ULB), specializing in pre-Columbian civilizations with a focus on Andean archaeology. Since the 1990s, he has directed excavations at Pachacamac, a major archaeological site in Peru that is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. He is affiliated with the Centre de Recherches en Archéologie et Patrimoine (CReA) and has authored nearly 90 scientific articles along with multiple books published by academic presses in Lima, Brussels, Oxford, and Cambridge. Eeckhout earned his PhD in Philosophy and Letters in 1997 and has built his academic career at ULB. His fieldwork has primarily centered on the Central Coast of Peru, with Pachacamac serving as his main research location for over three decades. He has developed expertise in both archaeological methodology and theoretical interpretation of ancient Andean societies. Professor Eeckhout's research spans multiple dimensions of Andean archaeology, including ritual practices, urban planning, water management systems, and funerary customs. His work at Pachacamac examines everything from hydraulic infrastructure to textile production, sacrificial practices, and the impact of Inca expansion on local cultures. He employs a highly multidisciplinary approach, incorporating bioarchaeology, paleopathology, zooarchaeology, and forensic entomology to reconstruct ancient Andean lifeways. Eeckhout's publications reveal a consistent focus on Pachacamac while exploring diverse aspects of pre-Columbian civilizations. His recent work demonstrates increasing methodological sophistication, combining traditional archaeological approaches with scientific analyses like ancient DNA studies, drone surveys, and thermal imaging. His research shows particular interest in ritual spaces, cultural syncretism, and the relationship between environmental changes and human adaptation in the Andes. While specific awards aren't detailed in available sources, Eeckhout's leadership of long-term excavations at a UNESCO World Heritage Site and his publications with major academic presses indicate significant professional recognition. His books with Cambridge University Press and University Press of Florida represent substantial scholarly contributions to Andean archaeology. As director of the Ychsma Project at Pachacamac, Eeckhout has likely supervised numerous graduate students and researchers over the decades, though specific names aren't provided in available sources. His work appears consistently funded given the project's longevity since the 1990s, with recent publications indicating ongoing research support through at least 2025. The Centre de Recherches en Archéologie et Patrimoine (CReA) serves as Eeckhout's research base at ULB. His Pachacamac work involves international collaborations with specialists in diverse fields including Lawrence Owens (bioarchaeology), Céline Erauw and Fabienne Pigière (zooarchaeology), and Sylvie Peperstraete (mythology studies), forming a comprehensive research network focused on Andean archaeology.