Summary

I am an experienced professional specialized in modelling system processes, functional analysis, and complex projects. My expertise covers numerical modeling of complex systems where I have designed and validated models in a legacy software called COHERENS written in FORTRAN. Additionally, I have worked with an operational chain for a marine forecasting system and developed parts of it in python. I currently work as a functional analyst at SMALS where I am involved in projects concernal public healt, our clients are mainly governmental organizations.

Effective communication is at the core of my work, demonstrated through organizing stakeholder meetings, authoring detailed project reports, and communicating complex concepts to diverse audiences.

These skills collectively highlight my ability to drive impactful results and contribute significantly to interdisciplinary projects.

Work experience

Functional analyst

May 2024 - current

SMALS, Brussels, Belgium

functional analysis of the web application registration module of Vaccinnet 2.0 for the Flemish Government
write user stories
perform tests

Senior Operator Marine Forecasting Center

Januari 2019 - February 2024

RBINS, Brussels, Belgium

Het Marine Forecasting Center (marinforecasts.be) manages, operates and validates a set of numerical models that describe the physical state of the NW-European shelf sea and in particular the Belgian part of the North Sea. My tasks:

Design and implementation of the operational chain
Improve of the hydrodynamic model set-up
Operational planning and follow up
Respond to user requests
Follow up of the European (f.e. attending EuroGOOS working groups and conferences)

Marine Researcher

January 2010 - January 2019

RBINS, Brussels, Belgium

Environmental research related to pollution and biology:

Impact assessment of a Same Risk Area between the Netherlands and Belgium
Impact and fate of chemical pollution in the North Sea (o.a. plastics, medicines and pesticides)
Pollution in Peruvian bays
Shrimp distributions in lake Nokoué (Benin).

Development of modules in COHERENS, an in-house legacy software for hydrodynamic modelling.

Project and report writing

Marine expert CEBioS – "Capacities for Biodiversity and Sustainable Development" a programme financed by enabel Belgium and hosted at the Royal Belgian Institute for Natural Sciences (RBINS). My tasks:

Initiating of new cooperations
Organizing stakeholder meetings
Project development based on log-frame and theory of change principles
Scientific support of the projects
Developing of training material
Project management

Junior consultant REACH legislation

August 2009 - December 2009

ARCHE, Leuven, Belgium

Assisting companies with the correct implementation of the REACH (Regulation on the registration, evaluation, authorisation and restriction of chemicals) legislation.

Junior consultant CO2 footprints

July 2008 - March 2009

VITO, Mol, Belgium

Invantarisations of CO2 emissions of several governmental organisations.

Education and training

Functional analyst training

May 2024

Switchfully, Cegeka, Brussels (becentral.be)

Intensive one month training to get a head start in the world of functional analysis

PhD Bioengineering Sciences

2004 - 2009

KULeuven

Thesis: Development and application of drift prediction models (CFD and diffusion-advection based) in field spraying

MSc Marine and Lacustrine Sciences

2002 - 2003

UGent

Thesis: The influence of reed (Phragmytes australis) on the biogeochemistry of the sediment: a modelling approach. (in cooperation with NIOZ, Yerseke)

Licenciate Biology

1998 - 2002