Current
Luca Ricci
Email: luca.ricci@student.kuleuven.be
Undergrad/Master: Electrical Engineering, University of Pisa (Italy) / Robotics Engineering, University of Pisa (Italy)
Luca carried out experimental validation and modeling of soft continuum and morphing robots during his master’s studies. From that field, he integrated software, computing, and artificial intelligence knowledge. He now researches the application of novel materials for in-memory computing and neuromorphic computation. During his leisure time, he enjoys traveling around the world and explore new cultures, playing the guitar, and playing sports.
Catarina Quitério
Email: KU Leuven Who's who; Linkedin
Undergrad/Master: Materials Engineering, NOVA University/Materials Engineering, NOVA University (Portugal)
Catarina completed both her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Materials Engineering at NOVA University in Portugal. Her master’s thesis, carried out in SINTEF, Norway, was part of a European project, focused on mineral materials for thermoelectric applications. After retiring from competitive archery, Catarina now enjoys practicing yoga, going to the gym, and spending time with cats.
Chenhui SHEN
Email: KU Leuven Who’s who
Undergrad/Master: Energy and Power Engineering, Nanjing Tech University (China) / Power Engineering and Engineering Thermophysics, Nanjing Tech University (China)
Project: : Enabling high efficiency natural refrigerant cycles using printed and flexible thermoelectrics (in collaboration with Prof. Alessia Arteconi)
Chenhui is interested in the field of thermodynamics and thermoelectrics. During his master’s project, he worked on the simulation and experimental analysis of thermodynamics cycles for built environments. For his PhD at KU Leuven, he focuses on the design and experimental validation of thermoelectrics to enhance the performance of natural refrigerant cycles. He is enthusiastic about his research project and excited about his wonderful journey at KU Leuven.
Heyi XIA
Email: KU Leuven Who's who;
Undergrad/Master: Material Chemistry, Sichuan University (China) / Materials Science and Engineering, Tsinghua University (China)
Project: Material characterization and transfer printing of electrodes on thin-film semimetal crystals (in collaboration with Prof. Maria Seo)
Heyi’s previous research work was mainly about structure evolution and ion transport behavior of energy storage materials through TEM characterization. Beyond that, he also does some work in hydrovoltaic, a new energy harvesting method. He enjoys attending concerts and playing table tennis in his spare time.
Viktor NAENEN
Email: KU Leuven Who's who; Linkedin
Undergrad/Master: Engineering Sciences (Materials and electrical engineering), KU Leuven / Materials Engineering, KU Leuven
Project: MXenes for energy storage and conversion technology (in collaboration with Prof. M. Wevers & Prof. J. Vleugels)
His bachelor thesis on lithium titanate nanowires for lithium-ion batteries introduced him to nanomaterials for energy storage, which he explored further in his master thesis on core-shell dielectric nanocomposites for structural capacitors. In October 2022, he got awarded the FWO PhD Fellowship fundamental research. He is a coffee enthusiast with a passion for being outdoors with friends, running and cooking (ratatouille).
Tanmay SINHA
Email: KU Leuven Who's who
Undergrad/Master: Chemical Engineering, Birla Institute of Technology (Mesra, India) / Materials Engineering, KU Leuven
Project: Printed photosupercapacitors for energy harvesting and storage on smart contact lenses
Tanmay has carried out experimental and modelling-based studies on nanomaterials during his bachelor and master theses respectively. He now seeks to explore their applicability in energy conversion and storage. In a yearlong hiatus from his academic career, he has also worked as an engineer at the chemical industry. He got awarded the FWO PhD Fellowship fundamental research in October 2022. During his leisure time, he likes to travel, walk, read and write.
Isidro FLORENCIANO CANO
Email: KU Leuven Who's who; Linkedin
Undergrad/Master: Applied Physics, Paris-Saclay University (France) / Physics and Engineering of Energy, National University of Singapore & Paris-Saclay University
Isidro is interested in the field of alternative energies. After his undergrad, he was granted an exchange scholarship to study in Singapore. During his master’s thesis, he worked at CEA-Saclay synthesizing and characterizing thin film semiconductors for solar water splitting. He is passionate about rock climbing and board games.
Tzu-Yi (Thomas) YU
Email: KU Leuven Who's who; Linkedin
Undergrad/Master: Materials Science and Engineering, National Taiwan University (Taiwan) / Materials Science and Engineering, National Taiwan University (Taiwan)
Project: Printed organic thermoelectric generators
Tzu-Yi worked as a research assistant in Academia Sinica, developing micropatterned substrate for studying neuron migration. During his undergraduate and master's projects at National Taiwan University, he synthesized biomaterials aiming at tissue engineering and studied their structure-property relationships. He is a guitar player and coffee enthusiast. Also, he enjoys traveling, playing sports, and doing weight training in his spare time.