Projects
Multi scale modeling of biochemical dynamics in structured media KU Leuven
Microbial food safety is an important societal issue. Predictive microbiology generates mathematical models to describe microbial behavior in food by combining microbial knowledge and mathematical techniques. Current macroscopic models enable an accurate description for liquid (homogeneous) systems, but often fail when applied to real food due to their solid(like) character. In these cases, colony formation typically arises, inducing spatial ...
Strategic Research Programme: Structure and dynamics of macromolecular complexes in health and disease Vrije Universiteit Brussel
Quantifying the dynamics of the 3D atomic structure using hidden Markov models in scanning transmission electron microscopy. University of Antwerp
A combined molecular dynamics – experimental investigation of oxidic slag structure and its properties Ghent University
Recycling and decarburizing current metallurgical processes is key for our planet’s future. For both recycling and decarburizing, electric furnaces will play an important role. To make this switch to electric furnaces, more fundamental understanding is an absolute prerequisite but still lacking. Specifically, more information on physical properties (e.g. electrical conductivity, viscosity, surface tension) of the slag phase, a mixture of ...
Impact of (hemi)-parasitic plants on plant community dynamics by direct changes in vegetation structure and indirect biogeochemical N feedback Ghent University
Parasitic plants affect the population dynamics, community structure and plant species diversity through direct impacts on host growth and indirectly through the redistribution of nitrogen in the ecosystem (through their nitrogen rich litter). The relative importance of this indirect effect would increase in more nitrogen limited ecosystems. This will be studied in ecosystems which vary in the level of intrinsic nitrogen availability.
Making (remote) sense of tropical forest structure dynamics across a rainfall and altitudinal gradient Ghent University
Forests absorb 30% of current annual CO2 emissions through photosynthesis and growth, with tropical forests storing the majority of global live biomass in forests. However, due to climate warming, their ability to act as carbon sinks is uncertain, and they could even become carbon sources as trees stressed by climate extremes die and release their carbon back into the ecosystem. Here we will work within a permanent tropical forest plot ...
Global species structure, colonization-extinction dynamics and adaptive radiation of the cosmopolitan diatom clade Pinnularia borealis. University of Antwerp
Global species structure, colonization-extinction dynamics and adaptive radiation of the cosmopolitan diatom clade Pinnularia borealis. Ghent University
Phylogenetic data revealed morphologically similar forms in the diatom complex Pinnularia borealis to correspond with different species. A profound study will allow testing to which extend ecophysiological specialization is correlated with speciation and distribution. Analysis of local and regional diversity patterns in the polar regions will allow assessing the roles of dispersal constraints and local adaption for understanding species ...