BSc and MSc of Biology (KU Leuven)
Joined the group in November 2025
Research project: Food-borne detection of high risk consumption pathways of cholera outbreaks: present and future
I aim to better understand how Vibrio cholerae, the bacteria that causes cholera disease, can survive in aquatic environments in between outbreaks and form an environmental reservoir. We are currently in a 7th cholera pandemic, and the African continent carries the global cholera burden, particularly the African Great Lakes Region. By searching through different layers of the food web (phytoplankton, zooplankton, primary and secondary carnivorous fish) of Lake Tanganyika, we will gain a better understanding of how this region stays a cholera hotspot. Further, horizontal gene transfer may lead to the acquisition of virulence genes by closely related strains or species. By monitoring the diversity of strains, we aim to follow up the emergence of new pathogenic variants.
My favorite quote: “Sharing tea with a fascinating stranger is one of life’s true delights” – Uncle Iroh
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