Research mission

The group has two main research lines, with specific missions.

Biomechanics and optical metrology:

  • Development of stroboscopic digital holography for vibration measurements of objects with time varying responses
  • Development of real-time moiré interferometry for shape measurement of dynamic objects, in combination with endoscopy for the study of shape and deformation of small objects such as the eardrum
  • Finite element modelling of middle ear and cochlear mechanics
  • Development of laser-vibrometry based techniques for diagnosis of arterosclerosis
  • Research on functional biomechanics in animals (in collaboration with the UAntwerp laboratory of Functional Morphology

Molecular biophysics and spectroscopy:

  • Development of new multi-frequency electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) methodologies for the study of paramagnetic biomolecules
  • Combined resonance Raman (RR) spectroscopy , multi-frequency EPR and density functional theory (DFT) study of heme-containing proteins to determine structure- function relations, including globins, chlorite dismutase and cytochromes.
  • EPR and DFT study of metal – biomolecule interactions, with a special focus on high-valent chromium
  • EPR and DFT analysis of materials for environmental-friendly chemistry, with a focus on transition-metal-containing catalysts
  • EPR and DFT analysis of organic solar cell materials for renewable energy
  • Towards biosensors and biocatalysis: research on how proteins behave in synthetic matrices