About

Who I Am

I am an assistant professor at Ghent University, part of the Faculty of Bioscience Engineering. Together with Bernard De Baets, I co-lead the KERMIT research unit, where I am responsible for the computational modelling research line.

Machine intelligence and living systems fascinate me. In my research, I develop intelligent techniques to understand, predict, and control biological systems, large and small. My main toolbox involves a mix of machine learning, mathematical optimization, bioinformatics, and evolutionary computing. I use these methods to predict how plants, animals, microorganisms, and molecules interact with each other.

Much of my work involves collaborating with people from different fields, translating biological problems into mathematical or computational ones. Every year, I try to engage students in projects and theses, doing cool things such as making a beer classifier or designing new proteins.

Throughout all my activities, I value creativity and interdisciplinary collaboration to develop innovative ideas. I am also an avid reader and occasionally blog about books I find particularly interesting.

Education & Career

2024 – present

Assistant Professor — Ghent University
Applied dynamical systems, computational modelling for biological systems

2020 – 2024

Doctoral Assistant — Ghent University
Computational intelligence for synthetic biology

2020 – 2021

Bioinformatics Consultant (10%) — BioLizard
Machine learning consulting for biotech

2017 – 2020

FWO Postdoctoral Researcher — Ghent University
Machine learning methods for ecological networks

2012 – 2017

PhD in BioScience Engineering — Ghent University
Machine learning methods for pairwise learning

2010 – 2012

MSc BioScience Engineering: Cell & Gene Biotechnology — Ghent University
Major: Computational biology

2007 – 2010

BSc BioScience Engineering — Ghent University

Teaching

See the Teaching page for my current courses and materials.

Publications

See my full publication list on Google Scholar (~88 publications, ~2,800 citations).

For key publications, see the Research page.

--- title: "About" toc: true aliases: - /CV/ --- ## Who I Am I am an assistant professor at [Ghent University](https://www.ugent.be/), part of the Faculty of Bioscience Engineering. Together with Bernard De Baets, I co-lead the [KERMIT](https://kermit.ugent.be/) research unit, where I am responsible for the computational modelling research line. Machine intelligence and living systems fascinate me. In my research, I develop intelligent techniques to understand, predict, and control biological systems, large and small. My main toolbox involves a mix of machine learning, mathematical optimization, bioinformatics, and evolutionary computing. I use these methods to predict how plants, animals, microorganisms, and molecules interact with each other. Much of my work involves collaborating with people from different fields, translating biological problems into mathematical or computational ones. Every year, I try to engage students in projects and theses, doing cool things such as making a beer classifier or designing new proteins. Throughout all my activities, I value creativity and interdisciplinary collaboration to develop innovative ideas. I am also an avid reader and occasionally blog about books I find particularly interesting. ## Education & Career ::: {.timeline} ::: {.timeline-item} [2024 – present]{.timeline-date} **Assistant Professor** — Ghent University\ Applied dynamical systems, computational modelling for biological systems ::: ::: {.timeline-item} [2020 – 2024]{.timeline-date} **Doctoral Assistant** — Ghent University\ Computational intelligence for synthetic biology ::: ::: {.timeline-item} [2020 – 2021]{.timeline-date} **Bioinformatics Consultant** (10%) — BioLizard\ Machine learning consulting for biotech ::: ::: {.timeline-item} [2017 – 2020]{.timeline-date} **FWO Postdoctoral Researcher** — Ghent University\ Machine learning methods for ecological networks ::: ::: {.timeline-item} [2012 – 2017]{.timeline-date} **PhD in BioScience Engineering** — Ghent University\ Machine learning methods for pairwise learning ::: ::: {.timeline-item} [2010 – 2012]{.timeline-date} **MSc BioScience Engineering: Cell & Gene Biotechnology** — Ghent University\ Major: Computational biology ::: ::: {.timeline-item} [2007 – 2010]{.timeline-date} **BSc BioScience Engineering** — Ghent University ::: ::: ## Teaching See the [Teaching page](teaching.qmd) for my current courses and materials. ## Publications See my full publication list on [Google Scholar](https://scholar.google.be/citations?user=qR_LXM8AAAAJ&hl=en) (~88 publications, ~2,800 citations). For key publications, see the [Research](research.qmd) page.