Skip to main content

Team

A professional team of researchers with diverse expertise is at your service!

Our team consists of experts from various disciplines. This collaborative approach allows us to examine each problem from multiple perspectives and develop practical solutions.

Researcher

Ann Wuyts

Ann now maintains the insect colonies in the Insect Pilot Plant and assists in research regarding insect optimisation and the use of by-products as insects feed.

Researcher

Audrey De Cuyper

Audrey conducts research with microalgae and is responsible for algae stock and lab-scale research.

Researcher

Erwin Swinnen

Erwin holds a PhD in Biochemistry. In academia and industry, he has gained extensive expertise in microbiology and biotechnology, and is now researching sustainable applications for microalgae cultivation.

Researcher

Floris Schoeters

Floris has a PhD in Biochemistry and Biotechnology. Microbiology is his expertise and currently he is conducting research on microalgae.

Researcher

Geert Verheyen

Geert investigates the sustainable processing of insects and microalgae into biomass and derived biomaterials. Application and evaluation of the biomass/biomaterials in food, feed and technical applications lays also within his expertise.

Administrative assistant

Iris Woestenborghs

Iris is responsible for preparing the financial reports of ongoing research projects and provides support to the research team.

Researcher

Isabelle Noyens

Isabelle focuses on projects for the application of insects and algae as biomass and raw materials. She also co-develops analyses for the characterisation of this biomass and associated substrates and by-products.

Researcher

Joost Matthijssen

Joost is a doctoral researcher in Bioscience Engineering, focusing on chemical valorization of biomass. Within the Downstream Processing team, he collaborates with CSCE-Biocon on scaling up the biorefinery and valorizing more complex biomass streams.

Administrative assistant

Kristel Rymenans

Kristel provides comprehensive support to the research team and prepares reports on ongoing research projects.

Onderzoeker

Lotte Frooninckx

Lotte studeerde Bio-ingenieur aan de KU Leuven en behaalde daar in 2010 ook haar doctoraat in de Biologie. Ze werkt rond optimalisatie van insectenkweek, met specifieke focus op valorisatie van restromen. Daarnaast is ze Business Developer.

Researcher

Maaike Verschaeren

Maaike helps maintaining the insect cultivation at the Insect Pilot Plant. Her research focuses on optimizing the rearing process.

Researcher

Meggie Van Peer

Meggie is specialized in the breeding of various insect species. Her research focuses mainly on cultivation optimization, but she is also involved in consultancy and communication.

Researcher

Pieter Van Heetvelde

Pieter is lecturer in chemical process technology and researcher in chemical process technology within the Downstream Processing team. Leveraging his expertise, he focuses on pilot-scale activities.

Research manager

Sabine Van Miert

Sabine is the research manager of the Centre of Expertise. She obtained her PhD in Pharmaceutical Sciences and is closely involved in research on insect and algae cultivation for novel biomass, as well as its processing and applications.

Researcher

Sarah Goossens

Sarah is researcher in the Downstream Processing team. She participates in projects on the processing of insects & algae and biomass analysis. 

Researcher

Siebe Berrens

Siebe has developed his expertise in insect breeding within the research group and focusses on the optimisation of the insect breeding process. He also guides companies through the first steps of insect breeding.

Researcher

Tom Bernaerts

Tom obtained his PhD in Bioscience Engineering, focusing on the use of microalgae in food applications. He contributes to research on cultivating and processing microalgae as a sustainable biomass for various applications.