Ronald Thoelen

Prof. Ronald Thoelen is an Ordinary Professor and Dean of the Faculty of Industrial Engineering Sciences at Hasselt University. He holds a Master's in Applied Physics from TU Eindhoven (2004) and a PhD in Physics from Hasselt University (2008). His research focuses on biosensors, smart sensors, microfabrication, and nanofabrication, with applications in biomedical engineering and materials science. He leads the Research Group Engineering Materials and Applications and the Institute for Materials Research.

Prof. Thoelen supervises numerous PhD students, including ongoing projects on smart textiles, thermal-probing microdevices, and multiparameter sensing platforms. He coordinates courses like Digital Electronics, E-Health, and IoT. With over 40 research projects, his work spans lab-on-chip systems, wearable sensors, and thermal-based biosensing technologies. He chairs the IIW Department Council and has developed innovative sensor platforms for healthcare and environmental monitoring.

His contributions include advances in microfluidic devices, printed electronics for wearables, and real-time cell monitoring techniques. Current projects explore neurodegenerative disease mechanisms and smart wound monitoring systems. Prof. Thoelen’s interdisciplinary approach bridges engineering, biology, and materials science to address challenges in health, agriculture, and environmental sustainability.