Employment History

October 2018 - now

Earthquake Geologist - Workleader -  at Royal Observatory of Belgium, Seismology-Gravimetry.

April 2017 - September 2018:

Scientific Researcher at Geological Survey of Belgium, Royal Belgium Institute of Natural Sciences.

Collaboration with Dr. Kris Piessens

• • S-RA project: "Screening of suitability of pelitic rock in Belgium  for radio-active waste disposal". 

March 2012 - August 2016:     

Postdoctoral Researcher at Royal Observatory of Belgium, Seismology-Gravimetry

Collaborations with Prof. Dr. Thierry Camelbeeck, Dr. Thomas Lecocq, Dr. Kris Vanneste (ROB), Dr. A.K. Shah (USGS), Prof. Dr. K.G. Hinzen (Uni. Cologne), Dr. C. Sira (BCSF)

• • FNRS PDR T011614F project (2014-2016): "Influence of site effects in central Belgium on earthquake strong ground motions" Site effect study related to the 2011 ML 4.3 Goch Earthquake. Sediment thickness mapping by H/V Spectral Ratio analysis. Ground motion analysis of the Goch Earthquake by merging different macroseismic datasets. Read the short Report.

  • BELSPO MO/33/028 project (2012-2014): "Analysing the 2008-2010 seismic activity in the Brabant Walloon (Belgium), the associated risks and the relationship with the local geology" Multidisciplinary study: analysing the seismic sequence, using near-surface geophysical tools (ERT, HVSR) to detect possible fault traces, linking local geology and geomorphology to seismicity, macroseismic investigation of online 'Did You Feel It' reports. Read the Report

Sept 2011 - Dec 2011, May 2014 - June 2014:

Postdoctoral fellow at Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Geology Division

Collaboration with Prof. Dr. Rudy Swennen, Dr. H. Claes & Dr. J. Soete

• • TRARAS project: Travertine Reservoir Analogue studies: responsible for a structural analysis of the large scale Ballik area. 

  • JIP Project: Joint Industry Project: "Study of faults and fault characterisation in recent travertine deposits, Denizli Basin, Turkey" -

Jan 2005 - Sept 2011:

Research & Teaching Assistant at the Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Geology Division

PhD student in Geology

Collaborations with Prof. Dr. Manuel Sintubin, Prof. Dr. Philippe Muchez, Prof. Dr. N. Vandenberghe and Dr. H. Van Baelen

Education History

2005 - 2011: PhD in Structural Geology, defended 03.05.2011

"Stress-state evolution of the brittle upper crust during compressional tectonic inversion as exemplified by quartz veins in the High-Ardenne slate belt, Germany”. Supervision by Prof. Dr. Manuel Sintubin and Prof. Dr. Philippe Muchez. Scientific jury: PD. Dr. C. Hilgers (RWTH Aachen), Dr. H. de Bresser (Utrecht University), Prof. Dr. N. Vandenberghe, Prof. Dr. R. Swennen, Prof. Dr. J. Hertogen (KULeuven)

2002 - 2004: Licentiate in Geology (Magna cum Laude), Ghent University, Belgium

"Lithostratigraphy and biostratigraphy with chitinozoa from the Ordovician type area of the Bornival Formation, Sennette Valley (Brabant Massif)”. Supervision by Prof. Dr. Jacques Verniers

1999 - 2002: Candidate in Geology, Ghent University, Belgium

1993 - 1999: Latin - Sciences - Mathematics, Sint-Anna College, Belgium

Academic Awards

• 2014   FNRS 2 yr Postdoc Grant: Influence of site effects on earthquake strong ground motions in central Belgium: 180.000 EUR

• 2011   Postgraduate Award: 2nd place in Midland Valley's Student Structure Prize - Awarded January, 2011 by Midland Valley Company, 1000$

• 2009   The Mike Coward Award of best Post-Graduate Talk, Tectonic Studies Group AGM, Keele University, UK, January 2009, 100 EUR

Travel Grants

• 2023    FWO - Attendency International Conferences: AGU2023 - San Francisco, USA, 13-18/12/2023

• 2017    FWO - Attendency International Conferences: Workshop on Internet Macroseismology, Ljubljana, Slovenia, 11-2017

• 2016    FWO - Attendency International Conferences: AGU2016 - San Francisco, USA, 12-16/12/2016

• 2015    FWO - Attendency International Conferences: AGU2015 - San Francisco, USA, 14-18/12/2015

• 2013    FWO - Attendency International Conferences: AGU2013 - San Francisco, USA, 9-13/122013

• 2010    Badleys Industry Sponsored Travel Grant: Anderson Stress Conference, Glasgow University, U.K., 09/2010         

• 2010    FWO - Attendency International Conferences: Anderson Stress Conference, Glasgow University, U.K., 09/2010

Languages

• Dutch (mother tongue)

• English: excellent (spoken and written)

• French: good (spoken), moderate (written)

• German: good (spoken), basic (written)

Software competences

• Fully competent in GIS applications in QGIS, Surface wave analysis in Geopsy, sketching and figure making in Coreldraw, and of course MS Windows, MS Office, Orientation plotting software (Stereonett, Stereo32, Georient,...)

• Moderate knowledge of Python programming, Obspy usage, Palaeostress inversion methods (Win_Tensor, Stereo32), 2DMove (Midland Valley)

• Basic knowledge of GPS software, LIDAR image analysis.

Field/Lab competences

• Near-surface geophysics: Seismometer installation, Seismic node installation (SmartSolo), Electrical Resistivity Tomography (ERT - ABEM), H/V spectral ratio analysis (HVSR), DGPS (Septentrio), Surface wave array analysis (Geopsy), earthquake source location (Bakun and Wenthworth method)

• Lab: Classic petrographical microscope, Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM), Linkham Fluid Inclusions Heating/Cooling stage, TCS: Thermal Conductivity scanner (GSB), MicroCT-scanning (GSB), Kappabridge (AMS studies)

Teaching History

• Seismology 101 (UCLouvain, cours-LGCIV2046, Prof. Dr. João Pacheco de Almeida, 2020-2024): Guest lecturer in Master course Structural Engineering

• Applied Geophysics (ULB-GLQ3205, 2013-2024): Ma1 Geology: Organisation of geophysical field trips with focus on HVSR, ERT and DEM-modelling by DGPS (Belgium, France)

• Practical Exercises Geology (KUL-G0O06B, 2005-2011): Ba1 Geology, Chemistry, Biochemistry & Biotechnology, Geography: Determining minerals, rocks and fossils, crystallography and interpretation of geological maps and cross-sections

• Field Trips Geology (KUL-G0O06B, 2005-2011): Ba1 Geology/Geography: Organisation field trips to the south of Belgium and Luxemburg/Germany with a focus on sedimentology, stratigraphy, structural geology and Quaternary Eifel volcanism

• (Advanced) Geological Mapping (KUL-G0O086A - KUL-G0B39A, 2005-2011): Ba3 Geology: Initiation in geological mapping (Aywaille-Stavelot area), Ma1&2 Geology: assistance of students during their individual geological mapping assignment (Ardennes, Belgium)

• Exercises and Field trips Structural Geology (KUL-G0087A, 2005-2011): Ba3 Geology: Interpretation of geological maps, creation of cross-sections, microtectonics, stereographic projections, all applied to the geology of Belgium

• Diagenesis and low-grade metamorphism (KUL-G0B55A, 2008-2011): Ma1 Geology: Focus on fluid inclusion measurements and interpretations. Calculations of paleotemperatures and salinities   

Professional Affiliations

• Member of the Belgian National Committee for Geology

• Member of the Belgian National  Committee for Geophysics

• Member of the editorial board of the Geologica Belgica Journal

• 2014 - 2018: Member of the EGU Seismology Division Early Career Scientist Representative Team

• Member of European Geosciences Union (EGU), American Geophysical Union (AGU)

• Reviewer for Journal of Structural Geology, Journal of Geological Society of London, Tectonophysics, Journal of Geodynamics, Seismological Research Letters, Tectonics, Seismica,  GJI, ....