People

Current Members


Rob Ameloot

Group Leader

Rob obtained his PhD at KU Leuven in 2011. Afterwards he moved to the US, to work at UC Berkeley. Since Oct 2014, he is active as a research professor (BOF-ZAP) at KU Leuven.

His main research interests are: porous materials, crystal engineering, thin films, new materials for microelectronics, 3D printing.

Hanne Vanduffel

Postdoc

Hanne is developing a novel method to improve the efficacy of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) through 3D printing. This project is in collaboration with Prof. Dimitrios Sakellariou.

B. Sc., M. Sc. Bioscience Engineering, KU Leuven (2018)

Jesus Gandara Loe

Postdoc

Jesus's research effort will be focused on the in-situ characterisation of responsive MOFs. In particular, he will study the structural flexibility of MOFs upon vapour adsorption using in-situ FTIR.

B. Sc. Chemical Engineering, university of Guanajuato, Mexico (2014)

M. Sc. Chemistry, University of Guanajuato, Mexico (2016)

Ph. D. Materials Science, University of Alicante, Spain (2020), research stay at the University of Saint Andrews (UK)

Postdoc, University of Seville, Spain (2021)

Nicolas Chanut

Postdoc

Nicolas's main focus will be on studying the diffusion of vapors in MOFs, and simultaneously, he'll be working on the coupling of adsorption and NMR measurements to unravel insights regarding their adsorption mechanisms.

B. Sc. Chemistry, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1 (2010)

M. Sc. Catalysis and Physical Chemistry, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1 (2012)

Ph. D. Physics and Materials Science, Aix-Marseille Université (2016)

Postdoctoral Associate, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (2017-2021)

Kateryna Borysova

Postdoc

Kateryna's research focuses on synthesizing and studying the physicochemical properties of inorganic materials (silicates of rare earth elements with apatite structure, zeolites).

Ph. D. Inorganic Chemistry, Donetsk National University (2015)

M.Sc. Inorganic Chemistry, Donetsk National University (2009)

B.Sc. Inorganic Chemistry, Donetsk National University (2008)

Nick Gys

Postdoc

Nick’s research focuses on the synthesis and in-depth characterization of phosphonate MOFs and PMPs within the EOS project “PHOSPHORE”. In addition, he is focusing on the development of novel photoresist materials for EUV lithography. 

B. Sc. Chemistry, Hasselt University (2014)

M. Sc. Chemistry, University of Antwerp (2017)

Ph. D. Chemistry, VITO & University of Antwerp (2022)

Ma Paul Nattapol

Postdoc

Paul’s research focuses on developing metal-organic glasses for intermediate-temperature proton conductors.

B.Eng. Chemical Engineering, KMITL, Thailand (2016)

M.Eng. Chemical Engineering, VISTEC, Thailand (2019)

Ph.D. Engineering, Kyoto University, Japan (2023)

 

Miriam de Jesús Velásquez Hernández

Postdoc

Miriam's main focus will be on the synthesis and in-situ characterization of MOFs for multicomponent separations. Simultaneously, she will explore the ceramic to MOF vapor-phase transformation.

B. Sc. Chemistry, Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico (UNAM), (2011)

M. Sc. Materials Science and Engineering, UNAM, (2013)

Ph. D. Materials Science and Engineering, UNAM, (2018)

Postdoctoral researcher, Graz University of Technology (TU Graz), (2018–2020)

University Assistant, Graz University of Technology (TU Graz), (2021–2023)

Nathalie Wauteraerts

Doctoral Student

For her PhD, Nathalie continues her Master's thesis project on the fabrication of metal-organic frameworks membranes for gas separations. This project is in collaboration with Prof. Ivo Vankelecom at the KU Leuven Membrane Research Group.

B. Sc., M. Sc. Bioscience Engineering, KU Leuven (2018)

Pieter De Smedt

Doctoral Student

Pieter focuses on demonstrating shape selectivity in electrocatalysis by employing an ALD-based bottom-up design strategy for electrodes. The project is in collaboration with Prof. Dirk De Vos.

B. Sc., M. Sc. Bioscience Engineering, KU Leuven (2018)

Giel Arnauts

Doctoral Student

Giel's focus is on the development of one-dimensional photonic gas sensors for electronic device applications. Using the MOF-CVD technique, nanometer-thin layers of MOF and oxide is alternatingly stacked to build distributed Bragg reflectors (DBRs).

B. Sc., M. Sc. Bioscience Engineering, KU Leuven (2018)

Elif Persembe

Doctoral Student

Elif's work is on the use of inkjet-based methods to optimize supported catalysts, with a special focus on materials based on ceramic supports. Apart from new experimental techniques, she is developing a method for the interpretation of the results through simulation studies.

B. Sc., M. Sc. Chemistry, Bilkent University, Turkey (2017) research stay at Eindhoven University of Technology

Lore Van Looy

Doctoral Student

After doing her M.Sc. thesis at the Ameloot Group, Lore is continuing on her work on 3D-printed platforms for biomedical applications.

B. Sc. Bioscience Engineering, KU Leuven (2017)
M. Sc. Bioscience Engineering (Bionanotechnolgy), KU Leuven (2019)

Margot Verstreken

Doctoral Student

After doing her Master's thesis at the Ameloot group, Margot will continue her research covering the integration of MOFs in sensors for the selective detection of VOCs in complex mixtures.

B. Sc., M. Sc. Bioscience Engineering, KU Leuven (2020)
Exchange student, University of Delaware (2019)

Jorid Smets

Doctoral Student

Building upon his Master's thesis project on molecular layer deposition (MLD) of MOFs, Jorid's Ph.D. work is on the development of plasmonic sensors enhanced by MOF-MLD. His work is carried out in collaboration with Prof. Sammy Verbruggen's lab at the University of Antwerp.

B. Sc. Bioscience Engineering, University of Antwerp (2018)
M. Sc. Bioscience Engineering, KU Leuven (2020)

Jonas Adriaenssens

Doctoral Student

Jonas is working on 3D-printed point-of-care diagnostic devices, as a continuation of his Master's thesis project with the Ameloot Group.

B. Sc., M. Sc. Bioscience Engineering, KU Leuven (2020)

An Vanduffel

Doctoral Student

After doing her Master's thesis at the Ameloot group, An's Ph.D. work focuses on 3D-printing for the improvement of biomedical imaging.

B. Sc., M. Sc. Bioscience Engineering, KU Leuven (2021)

Leen Boullart

Doctoral Student

After doing her Master's thesis at the Ameloot group, Leen will implement a novel methodology to efficiently study multicomponent isotherms and diffusivities of fast-diffusing molecules in MOFs.

B.Sc., M.Sc. Bioscience Engineering, KU Leuven (2023)

 

Jennifer Theissen

Doctoral Student

Jennifer started a joint PhD project between KULeuven and UHasselt. Her research project covers the synthesis and in-depth characterization of phosphonate MOFs and PMPs.

B.Sc. Chemistry, UNamur (2020)

Traineeship, University Ca’Foscari Venice (Italy)

M. Sc. Industrial Chemistry, UNamur (2022)

Quentin Goudard

Doctoral Student

For his Ph.D., Quentin focuses on new methods to improve the sensitivity of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) through 3D printing. This project is in collaboration with Prof. Wim Vanduffel at the KU Leuven Laboratory for Neuro- and Psychophysiology.

M. Sc. Electrical Engineering, INSA Lyon  (2022)

M. Sc. Bioscience Engineering, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1 (2022)

João Fernandes

Doctoral Student

João's research focus will be on the integration of MOFs in capacitive sensing structures, with the aim of developing a MOF-based sensor platform for the selective detection of VOCs in complex mixtures.

Integrated Masters, Physics Engineering, University of Minho (2021)

Masaya Sugihara

Doctoral Student

Masaya started a joint PhD project between KU Leuven and TU Dublin. His research project focuses on developing a MOF-based sensor array for VOC detection.

Katrien Michiels

MSc Student

Under the supervision of Leen and Margot, Katrien will focus on the synthesis and characterization of hybrid MOF thin films as receptor materials for the detection of VOCs. 

Nando Amodio

MSc Student

Nando will study 3D printed shims and receive coils for NMR and MRI applications, he is supervised by An. 

B. Sc., Bioscience Engineering, KU Leuven (2023)

Raf Mary

MSc Student

Under the supervision of Jonas, Raf focuses on powder-based 3D printing for controlled drug release.

B.Sc. Bioscience Engineering, KU Leuven (2022)

Jorunn Vanderhoeven

MSc Student

Jorunn's research covers the development of an optical sensor for acid vapour sensing using MOF integrated plasmonic structures. She can count on Jorid's supervision. 

B. Sc. Bioscience Engineering, KU Leuven (2022)

Cesar Parra

Staff Scientist

Cesar's research focus is on designing, simulating, fabricating, and characterizing 3D-printed microfluidic devices.

B. Sc. Electronics Engineering, Benemérita Universidad Autónoma de Puebla (2004)
M. Sc. Biomedical Engineering, Universitat de Barcelona and the Universitat Politecnica de Catalunya (2010)
Ph. D. Biomedicine, Universitat de Barcelona (2014), research stay at KTH Royal Institute of Technology
Postdoc, University of Washington (2019)

Christian Steuwe

Staff Scientist

Christian is building the bridge between lab research and industrial applications for recycling and more general, resource management. His main focus is efficient material detection using optical techniques & computing.  

 

M. Sc. in Physics, Bielefeld University, D (2010)

Ph.D. in Physics, University of Cambridge, UK (2014)

Postdoctoral research position, KU Leuven (2014-2017)

Teamleader, TOMRA (2017-2022)

 

Paul Van der Aerschot

Support Staff

Paul is our lead technical staff who can fix almost anything electrical, mechanical, and digital!

Annelies Vanvlasselaer

Support Staff

Annelies is the group's very punctual and incredibly efficient administrative manager.

Bart Leclercq

Support Staff

Bart is our group's lab manager, dealing with both engineering and health, safety, security, and environment (HSSE) sides of our day-to-day scientific activities.

Bart van Duffel

Valorization manager

Bart van Duffel – Innovation Manager

As an innovation manager, Bart’s mission is to create value for industrial partners based on the group's research output. He will also lead the intellectual property management domain of the team. Prior to this role, he has gained R&D and general management experience in the areas of surface treatments and printed materials.

M. Sc., Ph.D. Bioscience Engineering, KU Leuven (2001)

Navigation

Social Media