|
Extended CV in pdf
- Personalia
- Job experience
- Education

- 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

- 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

|