Find Academic Supervisors

• Agricultural Economics
• Food Supply Chain Management
• Consumer Behavior
• +7 more

Xavier Gellynck is a Professor at Ghent University specializing in agricultural economics, food business, and consumer behavior. His research spans multiple domains including short food supply chains, sustainable agriculture, technology adoption in farming, and consumer acceptance of novel food products. He is particularly known for his work on food systems resilience, precision agriculture, and alternative protein sources. His research interests focus on understanding the economic, social, and behavioral aspects of food systems. He investigates how farmers adopt new technologies, how consumers respond to innovations in food production, and how supply chains can become more sustainable and resilient. His work often employs interdisciplinary approaches combining economics, marketing, and social sciences to address complex food system challenges. Professor Gellynck's publication record demonstrates strong trends toward digital transformation in agriculture (Agriculture 4.0), sustainable food systems, and consumer acceptance of novel foods. His recent work increasingly focuses on blockchain applications for food traceability, precision farming technologies, and the transition toward plant-based and alternative protein sources. The geographical scope of his research is broad, covering Europe, Africa, and South America. Among his notable contributions are systematic reviews on technology adoption in agriculture and empirical studies on consumer behavior regarding sustainable food choices. His work often involves collaboration with interdisciplinary teams across multiple institutions. Norah Benmeridja (2025) Duc Tran (2025) Joel Juvinal (2024) Diana Kirungi (2024) Margo Degieter (2024) Esther Van Parys (2024) Heidi Vandenhaute (2022) Kaoutar Jamai Professor Gellynck has maintained an exceptionally productive research career with publications appearing in high-impact journals across multiple disciplines including Food Quality and Preference, British Food Journal, International Food and Agribusiness Management Review, and Computers and Electronics in Agriculture. His work has global relevance with studies conducted in Belgium, Bulgaria, Ecuador, Uganda, Ghana, and Italy.

• Multimedia Forensics
• Image and Video Watermarking
• Deepfake Detection
• +6 more

Hannes Mareen is a Postdoctoral researcher at Ghent University's Faculty of Engineering and Architecture, specifically within the Department of Electronics and information systems (EA06), and is also affiliated with IMEC. His research spans multimedia security, image and video processing, and digital forensics, with a focus on watermarking techniques, deepfake detection, and media authentication. Dr. Mareen's research interests primarily focus on multimedia forensics and digital content security . His work addresses critical challenges in media authentication, including developing robust watermarking techniques that withstand geometric transformations, creating methods for deepfake video detection using advanced vision transformer architectures, and building tools for identifying AI-generated image manipulations. He has made significant contributions to perceptual hashing techniques and the analysis of compression fingerprints for forgery detection. His research has practical applications in copyright protection, content authentication, and combating misinformation through advanced media analysis tools. The recent publication trends reveal a strong focus on leveraging deep learning and vision transformers for multimedia security applications. Dr. Mareen's work demonstrates increasing sophistication in addressing complex challenges like geometrically robust watermarking, deepfake detection in video content, and the development of comprehensive datasets for training forgery detection systems. His research bridges theoretical advances with practical implementations, particularly evident in his work on real-time video delivery systems and applications in sports rehabilitation through virtual reality. Dr. Mareen has established a productive research trajectory with consistent high-impact publications in top conferences and journals. His collaborative network is extensive, with frequent co-authorship with Glenn Van Wallendael and Peter Lambert, indicating strong research group dynamics within Ghent University's multimedia security research team. His work spans both theoretical contributions and practical implementations, with several publications demonstrating real-time systems and applications.

Leticia Arco GarciaView profile

Researcher

• Natural Language Processing
• Complex Networks
• Deep Learning
• +5 more

Leticia Arco Garcia is a postdoctoral researcher at Vrije Universiteit Brussel working in the Department of Informatics and Applied Informatics with affiliations at Federated Labs AI and Robotics. Her research spans computational linguistics, complex network analysis, and more recently, interdisciplinary applications in archaeobotany. Her research interests focus on Natural Language Processing , Complex Networks , and Deep Learning methodologies. Early work centered on community detection in complex networks and customer behavior analysis, while recent publications demonstrate expansion into archaeobotanical applications using morphometric analysis of phytoliths. She employs advanced computational techniques including LSTM networks, case-based reasoning, and multi-objective optimization across diverse domains from smart power grids to electronic money systems. Analysis of her 15 most recent publications reveals an interdisciplinary trajectory moving from pure computer science applications toward biological/archaeological domains. The earliest works focus on network construction and community detection, while more recent papers apply similar analytical frameworks to botanical specimens, indicating methodological transfer between fields. Her work consistently applies computational rigor to complex data structures across diverse application areas. Her scientific contributions include: Development of novel network construction methodologies for large purchasing collections Advancements in overlapping community detection using rough clustering Application of deep learning to sentiment analysis and customer behavior prediction Recent innovative work applying morphometric analysis to archaeobotanical specimens Dr. Garcia actively presents her research at international conferences including INTERSPEECH and specialized meetings on phytolith research. Her collaborative network spans multiple institutions, with co-authorship on interdisciplinary projects connecting computer science with archaeology and plant science. While specific grant information isn't detailed in the available text, her consistent publication output across multiple domains suggests successful research funding.

• Fluid Dynamics
• Aerodynamics
• Wind Energy
• +3 more

Philippe Chatelain is a Full Professor at the Louvain Polytechnic School (EPL) , Institute of Mechanics, Materials and Civil Engineering (iMMC) , and leads the Thermodynamics and Fluid Mechanics (TFL) team at the Catholic University of Louvain . His research focuses on fluid dynamics, wind energy, and computational methods. Education: Doctor of Philosophy in Aeronautics (2005), California Institute of Technology Master in Aeronautics (2000), California Institute of Technology Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering (1999), Université catholique de Louvain Research Interests: Chatelain specializes in vortex particle-mesh (VPM) methods, wake dynamics in wind farms and aircraft, aeroelasticity, and bio-inspired flow control. His work bridges large-eddy simulations (LES) with practical applications in renewable energy and aerospace engineering. Recent Publications (2024-2025) Trends: His recent articles emphasize wind energy optimization via dynamic wake modeling, vortex tracking algorithms, and bio-inspired strategies for drones and turbines. Key methods include VPM, LES, and actuator line/disk frameworks. Laboratory Affiliation: He works at the Stevin laboratory (L5.04.03, Place du Levant 2, Louvain-la-Neuve) and leads the Thermodynamics and Fluid Mechanics (TFL) team, focusing on aerodynamic and thermodynamic challenges.

Zhengrui TaoView profile

Researcher

• Industrial Computed Tomography
• Additive Manufacturing
• Machine Learning
• +5 more

Zhengrui Tao is a Ph.D. researcher at the Department of Mechanical Engineering at KU Leuven , Belgium. He is part of the Manufacturing Metrology Group under the xCTing initiative, focusing on Industrial Computed Tomography (CT) and Additive Manufacturing. Previously, he worked as a research assistant at Shanghai Jiao Tong University and earned his B.Eng. in Mechanical Engineering from Harbin Institute of Technology, WEIHAI (2017), where he ranked 2nd among 160 students. Education : Ph.D., Mechanical Engineering, KU Leuven (2021–present) M.Sc., Mechanical Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University (2017–2020) B.Eng., Mechanical Design & Automation, Harbin Institute of Technology, WEIHAI (2013–2017) His research spans Industrial CT , Additive Manufacturing , Machine Learning , and Smart Manufacturing . His recent work addresses geometric deviation prediction, porosity detection, and sensor fusion in laser powder bed fusion processes. Publications highlight integration of physics-informed knowledge with data-driven models, and calibration techniques for complex surface measurements. Notable awards include the Best Paper Award at the 12th International Conference on Industrial Computed Tomography (2023), the Three Year Ph.D. Scholarship from the Marie Sklodowska-Curie ITN (2021), and multiple Sandvik Coromant Scholarships (2018) and National Graduate Scholarships (2019). He also received the Outstanding Graduate title from Shanghai (2020) and Shandong Province (2017).

• Occupational Health
• Ergonomics
• Wearable Technology
• +3 more

Federica Masci serves as a Research Fellow at KU Leuven within the Animal and Human (A2H) research unit at the Arenberg campus, actively contributing to the Leuven One Health Institute's mission of integrating human, animal, and environmental health through interdisciplinary collaboration. Her work focuses on occupational health and safety challenges across transportation, forestry, agriculture, and home care sectors, leveraging technological innovations for real-world impact. Her research expertise spans occupational ergonomics, biomechanical risk assessment, and wearable technology validation, with significant contributions to understanding stressors in road freight drivers, ergonomic hazards in dairy farming, and spinal overload in forestry workers. She pioneers humanity-centered design approaches for mobile health applications within One Health frameworks, emphasizing stakeholder engagement and practical interventions for musculoskeletal disorder prevention. Analysis of her 2023-2025 publications reveals three dominant trends: systematic reviews for WHO/ILO occupational disease burden estimation (particularly dust/fiber exposures), rigorous validation of commercial wearables against clinical standards (e.g., polysomnography for sleep tracking), and strategic foresight methodologies predicting home care technology evolution. Her work consistently bridges engineering, public health, and veterinary medicine through human-centered technological solutions. No information regarding academic advising or research grants was provided in the source text. Dr. Masci collaborates extensively with the Leuven One Health Institute and Animal and Human (A2H) research unit, which facilitate cross-disciplinary projects like the MILESTONE initiative for occupational driver monitoring. These groups provide critical infrastructure for her work on wearable validation studies, stakeholder perspective analyses, and future scenario development in occupational health technology.

Jan FostierView profile

Researcher

• Bioinformatics
• High Performance Computing (HPC)
• Big Data Analytics
• +3 more

Jan Fostier is a researcher at Ghent University, affiliated with the Internet Technology and Data Science Lab (IDLab). His work focuses on High Performance Computing (HPC) and Big Data Analytics in life sciences and bioinformatics, leveraging supercomputers and GPUs to accelerate genomic data processing. He collaborates across disciplines with bioscience engineers, biologists, medical doctors, and industry partners like Janssen Pharmaceutica and Agilent. His research interests include: Bioinformatics Sequencing Data Analysis High-Performance Computing Stochastic Modelling Genomic Data Compression Recent publications highlight advancements in approximate pattern matching, de Bruijn graph construction, and nanopore signal analysis. Awards include an Outstanding Presentation Award (2015) and an Outstanding Oral Poster Presentation Award (2015). He has developed tools like Halvade , Jabba , and BLSSpeller for genomic applications.

• Statistical mechanics
• Quantum physics
• Tensor networks
• +7 more

Jutho Haegeman is a Full Professor in the Department of Physics and Astronomy at Ghent University's Faculty of Sciences. His research spans multiple areas within theoretical and computational physics, with a particular focus on quantum many-body systems and advanced numerical methods. His primary research interests include tensor networks, topological order, quantum many-body physics, quantum spin systems, statistical mechanics, field theory, string theory, and computational physics. Haegeman has developed sophisticated methods for studying quantum systems, particularly focusing on tensor network approaches for quantum simulation and analysis of complex quantum phenomena. His recent publications demonstrate significant contributions to understanding critical fermionic systems, conformal field theories, topological phases, and quantum simulations on lattices. His work bridges mathematical physics with practical computational approaches, enabling new insights into quantum phenomena that were previously difficult to access through conventional methods. Haegeman has made substantial contributions to the development of tensor network methods for quantum many-body systems, particularly in the areas of matrix product states, projected entangled-pair states, and their applications to challenging problems in condensed matter physics and quantum field theory. His research often involves innovative approaches to handle entanglement, criticality, and topological properties in quantum systems. As an academic advisor, he has supervised numerous PhD students including Lukas Devos (2024), Quinten Mortier (2023), Laurens Lootens (2023), Gertian Roose (2022), Tom Vieijra (2022), Maarten Van Damme (2022), Alexis Schotte (2021), and Matthias Bal (2018). His extensive collaboration network includes Frank Verstraete (75 co-authored papers), Laurens Vanderstraeten (29 papers), and several other prominent researchers in the field.

• Analytical Chemistry
• Chemometrics
• Separation Methods
• +5 more

Yvan Vander Heyden is a distinguished academic affiliated with the Department of Analytical Chemistry, Applied Chemometrics and Molecular Modelling at Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB) in Belgium. With an impressive research trajectory spanning over three decades, he has established himself as a leading expert in analytical chemistry, particularly in separation methods and chemometrics. His work bridges pharmaceutical analysis, metabolomics, and chiral separations, contributing significantly to both theoretical and applied aspects of analytical science. Dr. Vander Heyden's research interests focus on several interconnected domains of analytical science. His primary expertise lies in the development, optimization and validation of separation methods including High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC), Capillary Electrophoresis (CE), and Capillary Electrochromatography (CEC). He has made substantial contributions to data analysis through metrology and chemometrics, applying these methods to pharmaceutical and biomedical challenges. His fingerprint research areas include Supercritical Fluid Chromatography, Capillary Electrophoresis, Capillary Electrochromatography, and Pharmaceutical Chemistry, reflecting his broad yet specialized expertise. Recent work has expanded into chiral chromatography using polysaccharide-based selectors, metabolomics (particularly brain metabolomics), and the application of computational methods to understand enantiorecognition mechanisms. His research output demonstrates remarkable consistency and growth over time, with publication records dating back to 1993 and continuing actively through 2025. This sustained productivity is reflected in his substantial h-index of 65 and over 1,161 research outputs, including 484 articles, 503 meeting abstracts, and 102 posters. His work shows particular strength in pharmaceutical analysis, with applications ranging from natural product characterization to neurodegenerative disease research. Dr. Vander Heyden has received numerous prestigious scientific awards recognizing his contributions to analytical chemistry and pharmaceutical sciences: Doctor Honoris Causa (2013) International Scientific Committee Member of Drug Analysis 2014 (2014) Laureaat 1990-1991 Upjohn-prijs voor farmaciestudenten (1991) Laureaat van de Prijsvraag gesteld door de Vijfde Afdeling van de Koninklijke Academie voor Geneeskunde van België (2002) Memorial Medal of the University of Gdansk, Poland (2007) As an academic advisor, Dr. Vander Heyden has supervised an extensive number of students, with 247 supervised works documented and 52 student theses listed. His research is supported by substantial grant funding, with 80 projects documented spanning from 1995 to projected completion in 2028. Current major projects include HERC67 on plasma etching for micro/nanotexturing of metal surfaces, VLIR423 on Andean medicinal herbs, FWOAL1076 on brain metabolomics, and FWOAL1041 combining molecular dynamics with quantitative structure-enantioselective relationships. His research activities extend to international collaborations, with network connections spanning multiple countries as indicated by the collaboration map. He maintains active laboratory operations focused on analytical method development, with particular emphasis on chiral separations, metabolomics, and pharmaceutical analysis. Current laboratory work involves advanced techniques including supercritical fluid chromatography, miniaturized liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry, and computational modeling of chiral recognition mechanisms.

Rebeca MariniView profile

Researcher

• Acoustics
• Vibration Engineering
• Renewable Energy Systems
• +3 more

Rebeca Marini is an academic affiliated with the Faculty of Engineering at Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Belgium. She is part of the Engineering Technology Acoustics & Vibration Research Group and holds the position of Researcher. Her work focuses on acoustics, vibration engineering, and renewable energy systems, with a strong emphasis on wind energy and condition monitoring technologies. Her research activity spans 2022–2024, yielding 3 publications in high-impact venues like the Journal of Physics: Conference Series and ISMA-USD proceedings. She actively participates in peer-review activities and conferences such as WindEurope Annual Events, delivering talks on topics like wind turbine performance analysis and LiDAR-based wind field reconstruction. Though no formal student advisement or grants are explicitly listed, her contributions lie in advancing offshore wind energy systems through innovative hybrid monitoring approaches and signal processing techniques for fault detection.

Bruno StuytsView profile

Visiting Professor

• Offshore Wind Energy
• Geotechnical Engineering
• Soil-Structure Interaction
• +3 more

Bruno Stuyts is a Visiting Professor at Ghent University and a postdoctoral researcher in the Applied Mechanics Acoustics & Vibration Research Group. His research focuses on offshore wind energy, geotechnical engineering, and soil-structure interaction, with emphasis on data-driven modeling and in-situ monitoring. He leads projects like WINDSOIL (2020–2024) and SOIL-TWIN (2020–2023), addressing soil-structure interaction and smart monitoring of offshore foundations. His work integrates geophysics, computational mechanics, and artificial intelligence to improve offshore wind foundation design and geohazard assessment. Key research interests include seabed response under wave loading, eigenfrequency analysis of wind turbines, and seismic inversion for subsurface characterization. He collaborates globally on projects involving pore pressure monitoring, data fusion, and real-time modeling of monopile foundations. His contributions span experimental studies (e.g., 3D seabed response experiments) and numerical simulations (e.g., finite element modeling of monitored monopiles). Stuyts has contributed to over 30 peer-reviewed articles, covering topics like CPT-based correlations for shear modulus, scour protection effects on turbine stiffness, and Bayesian estimation techniques. His work bridges academic research and industry applications, aiming to optimize offshore infrastructure reliability through advanced data science and geotechnical innovations. He actively participates in conferences, presenting on data science applications, seismic inversion, and offshore wind challenges. Collaborations include institutions like Zenodo (dataset sharing) and ASME. Current efforts focus on integrating geohazard mapping, AI-driven geotechnical analysis, and open-source modeling frameworks for sustainable offshore energy systems.

Francesco ContinoView profile

Professor

• Internal Combustion Engines
• Combustion
• CFD (Computational Fluid Dynamics)
• +5 more

Francesco Contino is a Professor at the Department of Applied Mechanics, Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB). His research focuses on combustion systems, internal combustion engines, computational fluid dynamics (CFD), and energy systems. He has led over 25 projects since 2012, including collaborations with institutions like ULB and UMons. Notable achievements include the 2012 Adolphe Van Tiggelen Award for his contributions to combustion science. His work spans ammonia synthesis, gas turbine optimization, and renewable energy integration. Contino has supervised 16 research projects and authored 146 publications, with a research output growing steadily since 2009. Key projects include the Belgian Energy System (BEST) initiative exploring electrofuels and carbon capture, as well as modular linear actuation systems for reciprocating compressors. His research emphasizes practical applications, such as resilient ammonia production processes and dynamic engine control strategies. Contino frequently presents at international conferences, including discussions on ammonia-fueled SI engines and laminar flame behavior. Research Highlights: Combustion dynamics and emissions reduction in SI engines Numerical modeling of high-pressure laminar flames Optimization of gas turbine operational flexibility His work bridges fundamental combustion science with industrial applications, addressing challenges in sustainable energy and propulsion systems.

Mark RunacresView profile

Professor

• Fluid Mechanics
• Wind Energy
• Computational Fluid Dynamics
• +3 more

Mark Runacres is a Professor at the Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), affiliated with the Faculty of Engineering Technology and the Department of Thermodynamics and Fluid Mechanics. He leads research groups focused on fluid dynamics, wind energy, and decarbonization technologies. His work bridges computational modeling, experimental validation, and real-world applications in renewable energy systems. His research interests include fluid mechanics, wind turbine aerodynamics, and data-driven modeling of complex systems. He has pioneered studies on vertical-axis wind turbines (VAWTs), wake dynamics, and turbulence effects on energy extraction efficiency. Recent projects involve optimizing high-altitude propellers and developing synthetic wind speed models for sustainable energy planning. Runacres has led over 20 funded projects, including the Flanders Institute for Decarbonisation Technologies (FIDT) initiative and the BRussels Institute for Thermal-fluid systems. His collaborations span academia and industry, addressing challenges in wind farm design, microclimate impact assessments, and sustainable urban energy solutions. He has authored/co-authored 120+ peer-reviewed publications and supervised multiple graduate theses. Current research emphasizes nonlinear system identification, multi-fidelity optimization, and bridging experimental data with predictive models for engineering systems.

Loup MeuriceView profile

Researcher

• Database Systems
• Software Engineering
• Schema Evolution
• +5 more

Loup Meurice is a Computer Science researcher at the University of Namur specializing in database systems and human-computer interaction technologies. His work bridges theoretical computer science with practical applications in data management and accessibility. His academic foundation includes: Bachelor in Computer Science (2011, University of Namur) Master in Computer Science (2013, University of Namur) PhD in Computer Science (2017, University of Namur) Meurice's research focuses on evolutionary database systems and accessibility solutions. His HyDRa framework revolutionizes hybrid polystore management through dynamic schema evolution techniques, while his recent work applies transformer models to sign language recognition. These dual research streams demonstrate exceptional versatility across low-level database engineering and high-impact assistive technologies. His publication trends reveal a strategic shift from core database engineering (2022 schema evolution frameworks) toward socially impactful applications (2023 sign language translation systems), maintaining technical rigor while expanding societal relevance. Award recognition: Best Paper Award at QRS 2016 for reliability/security innovations As academic supervisor, Meurice co-promotes doctoral research on French language acquisition tools for deaf students, demonstrating commitment to educational technology. His collaborative network spans 10+ international researchers across database theory and AI accessibility domains. Current projects involve the HyDRa framework development and context-aware sign language translation systems, operating within the University of Namur's computer science research ecosystem through multidisciplinary teams combining database specialists and human-computer interaction experts.

• Additive Manufacturing
• 3D Printing
• Bioelectronics
• +6 more

Eleonora Ferraris serves as a Senior Lecturer and Department Head of Manufacturing Processes and Systems (MaPS) at KU Leuven's Faculty of Industrial Engineering Sciences. She is affiliated with the Department of Mechanical Engineering at Campus De Nayer in Sint-Katelijne-Waver and holds leadership positions as subdivision head of Subdivision 4. Ferraris is an active member of Leuven.AM – KU Leuven Institute for Additive Manufacturing and participates in institutional governance through the Faculty Council of Industrial Engineering Sciences and Departmental Council of Mechanical Engineering. Her research focuses on cutting-edge applications of additive manufacturing, particularly in bioelectronics and tissue engineering. Ferraris specializes in Aerosol Jet Printing technology, exploring its potential for creating bioelectrical interfaces, neural devices, and in vitro platforms. Her work spans multi-material printing, 3D bioprinting of soft tissues, and development of advanced manufacturing techniques for medical applications including nerve regeneration and personalized treatments. She investigates thermal properties of printed materials, optimization of printing processes, and development of novel biomaterials and conductive inks. Analysis of her recent publications reveals a strong emphasis on the intersection of additive manufacturing with biomedical applications. Her work demonstrates increasing sophistication in multi-material printing techniques, particularly for creating functional biological interfaces. A significant portion of her research focuses on Aerosol Jet Printing applications in bioelectronics, neural engineering, and tissue scaffolds. She also investigates fundamental aspects of material behavior during printing processes, including thermal history, multi-scale analyses, and post-processing techniques to enhance printed part performance. FWO Sabbatical Grant (Reference K801525N) Ferraris leads numerous research projects including 'Experimental validation of bond quality in extrusion 3D printing and multi-scale modeling' (2025-2029), '3DNeuroBips: New 3D neural biomimetic interfaces using printing technology' (2024-2029), and 'Development and study of 3D-printed bio-electrical conductors for nerve regeneration' (2023-2028). Her current sabbatical focuses on '3D Printing for Bioelectronics Interfaces and In Vitro Devices' (March-August 2025) at Nanyang Technological University's 3D printing hub in Singapore. She also serves as co-promoter on projects related to electrospinning, multi-phase flow mechanisms in Aerosol Jet printing, and data-driven adaptive 3D printing techniques. As head of Manufacturing Processes and Systems (MaPS) at Campus De Nayer, Ferraris leads a research group focused on advanced manufacturing technologies. Her team works extensively with Aerosol Jet Printing technology, exploring applications from printed electronics to bioelectrical scaffolds for neural tissue engineering. The group collaborates with Leuven.AM – KU Leuven Institute for Additive Manufacturing, providing expertise in multi-material printing, bioprinting, and development of novel manufacturing processes for medical applications. Their facilities include equipment for material extrusion, Aerosol Jet printing, and characterization of printed structures at multiple scales.