About Myself

I graduated from Ghent University, Faculty of Engineering in July 2009. A month later, I joined the research group of Piet Demeester, IBCN (now known as IDLab) as a PhD student.
In August 2012, I received an AAP (Assisterend Academisch Personeel / Assisting Teaching Personnel) mandate, which made it possible to combine research with my other passion: teaching. I am involved in courses of the Bachelor in Informatics, Bachelor in Engineering: Computer Science and the Master in Engineering: Computer Science.
In June 2016, I obtained my PhD in Computer Science Engineering, focusing on the "Design and management of pervasive eCare services", where elderly people and people with chronic diseases are supported when staying at home for as long as possible.
Nowadays, we see the uptake of Virtual Reality and Augmented Reality. We are currently researching how these technologies can be adopted within the healthcare domain, by for example enabling context-awareness and personalization during exposure therapy for specific anxieties.
Of course, I am still a passionate IT educator and training our future IT talent is very fulfilling. Furthermore, I am also involved in different councils and committees at faculty (Faculty Board, Education Quality Assurance Committee, Curriculum Committee, PR committee, Educational Board of the Computer Science Education) and central level at UGent (Board of Governors, Education Board, Bureau of Quality of Education). Finally, I also take part in different initiatives towards gender and diversity.
In my spare time, I contribute to STEM initiatives within the UGent environment and outside. Examples are WeGoSTEM and STEM@FEA.
Last but not least, I am married to Karel and blessed with 3 wonderful children that make my life complete!