Extended CV in pdf

1. Personalia
2. Job experience
3. Education

 

PERSONALIA

• Name: Nele Moelans
• Nationality: Belgian
• Date of birth: July 12, 1977
• Place of Birth: Leuven
• Contact via email: http://nele.studentenweb.org/contact/
• Homesite: http://nele.studentenweb.org
• Website research group: http://www.mtm.kuleuven.be/Onderzoek/Semper/SolMicS

JOB EXPERIENCE

• October 2012 - Now: Research Professor (BOF-ZAP-KU Leuven) at KU Leuven, Department of Materials Engineering, Belgium (tenured since 1 October 2015)
  • Research interests: phase field modelling, microstructure evolution, phase diagrams, computational thermodynamics (CALPHAD), grain growth, lead-free soldering, thermodynamics and kinetics for nano-wire systems, diffusion couple experiments and simulations
  • Courses: Computational Thermodynamics in Materials Design (B-KUL-H02V3A), Materials Modelling and Simulation Techniques (B-KUL-H0S49A), Structuurgenese van materialen (Structure formation of materials) (B-KUL-H01I8A).
• October 2010 - September 2012: 10% Professor at KU Leuven, Department of Materials Engineering, Belgium
• October 2006 - September 2012: Postdoctoral fellow of the Research Foundation of Flanders (FWO-Vlaanderen) at KU Leuven, Department of Materials Engineering, Belgium
• September 2008 - August 2009: Postdoc at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), California, USA
• October 2002 - September 2006: Doctorate in Engineering, granted by the Institute for the Promotion of Innovation by Science and Technology in Flanders (IWT-Vlaanderen) at KU Leuven, Department of Materials Engineering, Belgium
  • Ph.D. topic: Phase-field simulations of grain growth in materials containing second-phase particles
• Summer 2001: Internship at R&D Umicore, Olen, Belgium
  • Topic : Ex-situ pO2-measurements of non-ferrous slacs
• Summer 2000: Internship at IMEC (Interuniversity MicroElectronics Center), Leuven, Belgium
  • Topic : MOKE (Magneto Optical Kerr Effect) - measurements of soft magnetic materials

EDUCATION

• October 2002 - May 2006: Ph. D. in Applied Sciences (Doctor in de ingenieurswetenschappen), KU Leuven
  • Ph. D. Degree with Summa Cum Laude with Congratulations of the Board of Examiners
  • Ph.D. thesis: Phase-field simulations of grain growth in materials containing second-phase particles

    Precipitates and inclusions have the capacity to pin grain boundaries. When a critical grain size is reached, they arrest grain growth. This pinning-effect is of great practical importance in alloy development, since the macroscopic properties of an alloy are related to its microstructure.

    In this work, the pinning-effect of second-phase particles was studied by means of computer simulations based on the phase-field method. An existing model for normal grain growth in single-phase materials has been modified to account for the presence of second-phase particles. To reduce computer requirements, a spatially dependent parameter that is constant in time was used to describe the particle distribution, instead of a set of phase-field variables. This reduction in the number of phase-field variables allowed to perform, on a single computer, 2-D and 3-D simulations for thin films for a wide range of volume fractions f_V of the particles and for R_lim/r - ratios up to 20 (r is the mean particle radius and R_lim is the final mean grain radius). Such ratios are observed for Al-alloy films. The model requires no assumptions on the shape of the grain boundaries or on the number of particles that is in contact with a grain boundary. The typical dimple-shape of grain boundaries passing a particle is automatically reproduced in the simulations. Moreover, the simulations describe the complete evolution of the grain structure. Therefore, the model allowed studying the influence of the initial grain size on the parameters K and b in the Zener relation R_lim/r=K(1/f_V^b). Furthermore, the effect of film thickness and position of the particles were examined by means of 3D simulations.

• 1997-2002: Master of Science in Materials Engineering (Burgerlijk Materiaalkundig Ingenieur), KU Leuven
  • M.S. Degree with Summa Cum Laude
  • Master thesis: Calculation of phase diagrams for lead-free solder alloys based on Bi-In-Sn-Zn

    A thermodynamic database for the calculation of phase diagrams in lead-free soldering alloy systems, based on the elements Bi, In, Sn and Zn has been developed using the CALPHAD method. The thermodynamic parameters used in the description of the different constituent phases have been optimized using experimental data from the literature. The resulting database enables the calculation of solidus and liquidus temperatures, phase compositions and fractions and thermodynamic properties for potential soldering alloys, containing Bi, In, Sn and Zn. Related information such as the surface tension and viscosity of the liquid phase may also be predicted. Thus, the database can be a powerful tool for the development of lead-free Bi-In-Sn-Zn soldering alloys.

• 1996-1997: Preparatory year on mathematics (Voorbereidend Jaar Wiskunde), KU Leuven, Belgium
• 1995-1996: Higher education for dance and dance pedagogy, Hoger Instituut voor Dans en Danspedagogie, Lier, Belgium
• 1989-1995: High School : Paridaens Instituut, Leuven, Option Greek-Latin