معرفی
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.