After completing my training as a laboratory technician in Pharmaceutical and Biotechnological Laboratory Technology, I decided to pursue an academic career. I enrolled in the Master of Science in Biochemistry and Biotechnology at KU Leuven, where I developed a keen interest in neuroscience and regenerative biology. I joined the Neural Circuit Development and Regeneration research group (KU Leuven, Prof. Lieve Moons) as a PhD researcher in 2019, following my master’s thesis on axonal regeneration in the fast-aging African turquoise killifish.

During my PhD, I focused on brain aging and neuroregeneration, with particular attention to retinal aging, injury responses, and axonal repair in the killifish. To better understand species-specific differences in retinal physiology and repair capacity, I expanded my work to include comparative studies in zebrafish and mice.

After completing my PhD, I transitioned to the field of neurodegeneration. My current postdoctoral research explores Alzheimer’s disease using both naturally aging and genetically modified killifish models, as well as a Tau-seeding paradigm. Additionally, I am investigating Wolfram syndrome using a mouse model that carries a mutation mirroring that of a Belgian patient. Through these efforts, I aim to contribute to a deeper understanding of age-related neurodegenerative processes and identify novel therapeutic strategies.