Karoline Faust is an Associate Professor at KU Leuven, affiliated with the Laboratory of Molecular Bacteriology (Rega Institute) and the Faculty of Medicine . She contributes to the iSi Health and Leuven One Health institutes, and serves on senior academic councils. Her research spans microbial systems biology, focusing on community dynamics and network analysis. Education: PhD in bioinformatics (2010, KU Leuven) Affiliations: KU Leuven, ISME Journal editorial board, Belgian Society for Microbiology Her research investigates microbial community dynamics , systems biology approaches to microbiomes, and bioinformatics tool development . She specializes in modeling human gut microbiota , synthetic microbial communities , and environmental microbiomes (e.g., microplastic impacts on Daphnia microbiomes). Her work integrates metabolic modeling , network analysis , and experimental systems to understand microbial interactions. Recent publications highlight her contributions to microbial network inference , 16S rRNA sequencing protocols , microfluidics , and ecological modeling of microbiomes. She develops tools like manta , miaSim , and CoNet to analyze community structures. Teaching: Karoline co-teaches courses in microbiology, bioinformatics, and network analysis at KU Leuven, and has contributed to international workshops on microbial network inference. Scientific Engagement: She serves as Senior Editor at ISME Journal and Secretary of the Belgian Society for Microbiology .
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.
Yves Wautelet serves as an Associate Professor at the Faculty of Economics and Business at KU Leuven, where he conducts research in conceptual modeling, business process management, and digital transformation. His work addresses critical challenges at the intersection of information systems engineering and business strategy, with particular focus on sustainability-driven modeling approaches and IT governance frameworks. His primary research interests include: Conceptual modeling methodologies and frameworks Business process management and information systems design Digital transformation strategies and implementation IT governance and business-IT alignment Sustainability-driven modeling for circular economy Agile software development practices and methods Requirements engineering with user stories Wautelet's recent publication record demonstrates significant scholarly productivity with numerous 2024-2025 publications spanning conceptual modeling frameworks for sustainability (Circulise), tools for identifying ambiguity in user stories (AmbiTRUS), and approaches to align strategic and operational agility. His work bridges theoretical foundations with practical applications across diverse domains including healthcare, circular economy, software development, and organizational transformation. His research consistently applies model-driven approaches to solve complex real-world problems, often integrating sustainability considerations into information systems engineering. As a promotor and co-promotor, Wautelet currently supervises multiple doctoral research projects including: Automatic generation of conceptual models from textual descriptions (2024-2028) Sustainability-Driven Modeling Assistant for Twin Transition in Vietnam (2024-2028) Home Care Business Process Management using Distributed Ledger Technologies (2024-2028) Teaching Modeling Skills in BPMN formalism (2021-2025) His research is conducted through the Information Systems Engineering Research Group (LIRIS) at KU Leuven's Brussels campus, where he contributes to advancing model-driven approaches for addressing contemporary business and technological challenges.
An Verberckmoes is an Associate Professor at Ghent University in the Faculty of Engineering and Architecture, specifically within the Department of Materials, Textiles and Chemical Engineering. She is affiliated with multiple research units including the Biomolecules Center for Sustainable Chemistry, ChemTech Materials, and the Industrial Catalysis and Adsorption Technology group. Her research expertise centers on heterogeneous catalysis with a strong focus on sustainable chemical processes. Dr. Verberckmoes specializes in catalyst synthesis, particularly zeolite-based catalysts for bio-alcohol conversion and lignin valorization. Her work bridges fundamental catalyst design with practical applications in biomass conversion, aiming to develop more efficient and environmentally friendly processes for producing renewable chemicals and materials. Analysis of her recent publications (2024-2025) reveals a dominant research trajectory focused on lignin depolymerization technologies, with particular emphasis on catalytic approaches using noble and non-noble metals. She has made significant contributions to understanding reaction mechanisms in zeolite catalysis, especially for dehydration reactions of bio-alcohols to valuable chemicals like butadiene. Her work often combines experimental approaches with kinetic modeling to optimize both catalyst performance and process conditions. Dr. Verberckmoes collaborates extensively within Ghent University and with external partners on projects related to sustainable chemistry and biomass conversion. Her research group appears to focus on developing integrated approaches that combine catalyst design, process engineering, and advanced analytical techniques to advance lignin valorization and sustainable chemical production.
Stefan Vandewalle is a full professor at the Department of Computer Science, Faculty of Engineering Sciences, KU Leuven. His research focuses on numerical analysis, applied mathematics, and computational methods for stochastic differential equations, wind energy modeling, and uncertainty quantification. Department Chair, KU Leuven Member, Subdivision Numerical Analysis and Applied Mathematics Member, iSi Health Institute Observer, Faculty Council of Sciences Chair, Department Council for Computer Science His recent work explores multiscale modeling, Monte Carlo methods, and data assimilation techniques. Projects include micro-macro Parareal algorithms, wind turbine aeroelasticity, and turbulent flow reconstruction for wind farms. He supervises PhD candidates and collaborates on interdisciplinary studies involving structural mechanics and renewable energy systems. Publications highlight advancements in parallel-in-time methods, stochastic optimization for tokamak reactors, and DNS-based control of turbulent flows. Key keywords: Multiscale numerical methods Uncertainty quantification Wind energy simulation Monte Carlo algorithms PDE-constrained optimization Stochastic differential equations He contributes to academic governance as a member of extended faculty boards and evaluation committees.
Nick Gys is a Research Fellow in the Department of Materials and Chemistry at Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Brussels, Belgium, specializing in surface modification of materials and sustainable engineering applications. His work bridges experimental and computational approaches to address challenges in materials science and environmental remediation. Dr. Gys's research centers on the surface chemistry of metal oxides, particularly titanium dioxide functionalized with organophosphonic acids. He investigates how molecular parameters like chain length and pH influence binding modes, photooxidation stability, and metal recovery efficiency. His methodology integrates spectroscopic techniques (XPS, IR, EPR) with density functional theory (DFT) simulations to elucidate structure-property relationships at molecular interfaces. Key application areas include selective palladium recovery from industrial waste streams and designing photo-stable functional coatings. His 2022-2023 publications reveal a cohesive research trajectory focused on organophosphonate-grafted surfaces, with increasing emphasis on computational validation of experimental findings. The work demonstrates how molecular engineering of surface modifiers directly impacts performance in environmental applications, particularly in metal adsorption and photochemical degradation processes. No scientific awards were documented in the source material. Collaborative Framework: Works within VUB's Materials and Chemistry research ecosystem alongside Prof. Meynen, Prof. Adriaensens, and Prof. Hauffman Project Scope: Leads interdisciplinary efforts in sustainable materials engineering, including TiO 2 functionalization for metal recovery and photooxidation studies Dr. Gys operates within VUB's Sustainable Materials Engineering initiative, contributing to laboratory-based experimental work and computational modeling teams focused on advancing surface modification technologies for circular economy applications.
Michael Kleemann is an Associate Professor at the Faculty of Engineering Technology within KU Leuven , affiliated with the Department of Electrical Engineering (ESAT) . His research focuses on Power System Protection , Wireless Power Transfer , and Renewable Energy Integration , with a particular emphasis on inverter-based grid dynamics and fault analysis. Key Research Areas : Power system protection algorithms, capacitive wireless power transfer, fault location methods in medium voltage cables, and grid stability with high renewable penetration. Notable Projects : Lead projects on Protection of Future Distribution Grids (2021-2025), Capacitive Wireless Power Transfer (2020-2024), and Flux 50 ICON (2024-2026) for low-voltage DC grid protection. Publication Trends : Recent work explores capacitive wireless power transfer materials and control systems (2024-2025), fault detection algorithms for inverter-dominated grids (2023-2025), and machine learning applications in voltage regulation for photovoltaic-rich networks (2024). Teaching : Courses include Power System Protection (JPI322), Power Electronics (JPI0L8/JPI318), and Capacitive Wireless Transfer topics in graduate seminars.
Frédéric Vrins is a Professor at the Louvain School of Management (LSM) , UCLouvain , affiliated with the Louvain Institute of Data Analysis and Modeling in economics and statistics (LIDAM) and Louvain Finance (LFIN). His work bridges theoretical and applied finance, with a focus on risk modeling, portfolio optimization, and machine learning applications. His research interests include: Quantitative Finance: Derivatives pricing, stochastic processes, and model calibration. Risk Management: Credit concentration risk, recovery rates, and wrong-way risk in financial markets. Portfolio Optimization: Mean-variance strategies, diversification metrics, and robustness under parameter uncertainty. Machine Learning in Finance: Applications to recovery rate prediction and option pricing frameworks. Recent publications highlight trends in: Credit risk modeling for Collateralized Loan Obligations (CLOs) and consumer credit. Machine learning integration in derivatives pricing and portfolio construction. Stochastic methods for Brownian bridges, CDS spreads, and recovery rates. Empirical studies on Loan-to-Value policies and business cycle impacts. Affiliations and locations: Louvain School of Management (LSM) - Building B, Chaussée de Binche 151, 7000 Mons Louvain Finance (LFIN) - Traverse d'Esope 1, 1348 Louvain-la-Neuve Louvain School of Management (LSM) - BATA Building, Chaussée de Binche 151, 7000 Mons
Friedl De Groote is a Senior Lecturer at KU Leuven's Faculty of Human Movement and Rehabilitation Sciences, Department of Human Movement Sciences, specializing in the biomechanics of human movement. She leads the Biomechanics of Human Movement Research Group and is a member of the iSi Health - KU Leuven Institute for Physics-based Modeling for In Silico Health. Her research focuses on understanding neuromusculoskeletal control of human movement, particularly through computational modeling approaches. She investigates gait disorders in children with cerebral palsy and Duchenne muscular dystrophy, examining how muscle impairments, contractures, and neural control mechanisms contribute to altered movement patterns. Her work combines experimental biomechanics with predictive computer simulations to uncover the underlying mechanisms of movement disorders and develop new rehabilitation approaches. She also studies fundamental aspects of human locomotion, balance control, and energy expenditure during walking. Her recent publications demonstrate a strong emphasis on predictive simulations to understand the relationship between neuromusculoskeletal impairments and movement pathology. Her research spans multiple domains including cerebral palsy, Duchenne muscular dystrophy, gait analysis, balance control, and musculoskeletal modeling. She frequently collaborates with clinical researchers to bridge the gap between computational models and clinical applications. Dr. De Groote is actively involved in various academic councils including the Faculty Council FaBeR, POC Rehabilitation Sciences and Physiotherapy, POC Physical Education and Movement Sciences, and multiple departmental councils within Human Movement Sciences. Her ORCID identifier is 0000-0002-4255-8673 . She currently leads or co-leads numerous research projects funded through KU Leuven and external grants, with a focus on understanding walking control mechanisms, energy expenditure during locomotion, and developing computational models to inform rehabilitation strategies for children with movement disorders. Her research portfolio demonstrates a commitment to translating biomechanical insights into clinically relevant applications.
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.
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.
Tegoeh Tjahjowidodo is a Senior Lecturer at the Faculty of Industrial Engineering Sciences , KU Leuven , affiliated with the Department of Mechanical Engineering and the Manufacturing Processes and Systems (MaPS) unit at Campus De Nayer. He serves as Head of Education for Electromechanics programs and leads Subdivision 17 at the campus. Research Areas: Additive Manufacturing (Wire-Arc Additive Manufacturing), Process Monitoring, Control Systems, Laser Micromanufacturing, Wear Analysis, Robotics, and Condition Monitoring. Publication Trends: Focus on in-situ monitoring of laser micromanufacturing, machine learning for abrasive belt grinding, WAAM parameter optimization , and multi-sensor fusion for process control. Scientific Contributions: Co-promotor for MultiTRIBO (tribology), Promotor for WAAM structural integrity and pedicle screw surgical simulators . Active in international collaborations (e.g., 25th International Symposium on Laser Precision Microfabrication, Spain 2024).
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.
Prof. Wim Desmet is a full professor at the Faculty of Engineering Science and head of the Department of Mechanical Engineering at KU Leuven . His research focuses on advanced modeling techniques for mechanical systems, including: noise and vibration control in automotive and industrial systems computational acoustics and interval field uncertainty modeling metamaterials for broadband vibroacoustic performance AI-driven diagnostic systems in renewable energy and manufacturing Current research projects address challenges in electric vehicle drivetrains, wind turbine monitoring, and multi-physical digital twin development. He actively contributes to academic governance as: Managing Director of KU Leuven Head of Subdivision HIST Chair of multiple executive committees Member of 15+ academic and administrative councils
Robrecht Abts is a researcher at KU Leuven’s Manufacturing Processes and Systems (MaPS) group, affiliated with the De Nayer Campus. His work bridges electromechanics, materials science, and advanced manufacturing techniques. His research focuses on structure, behavior, and sustainability of materials , with particular emphasis on thermal analysis in additive manufacturing processes like fused filament fabrication (FFF). This includes leveraging deep learning for real-time thermal data interpretation and optimizing electrical discharge machining (EDM) through adaptive pulse classification. Recent publications highlight his expertise in Threshold-free machine learning pipelines Thermal modeling in 3D printing COMSOL simulations for manufacturing processes
