Biosketch
Prof. dr. ir. Siegfried Denys obtained his Master’s degree in Bioscience Engineering from KU Leuven in 1994 and completed a PhD in Applied Biological Sciences at KU Leuven in 2000. As a postdoctoral researcher at Ghent University (2001–2007), he developed expertise in computational modeling across a broad range of disciplines, including agriculture, food technology, and chemical engineering. Between 2007 and 2012, he left academia to pursue entrepreneurship as director of HOTA cvba, a cooperative enterprise focused on energy-efficient and passive buildings. Under his leadership, HOTA became a successful and respected player in sustainable construction.
In 2013, he returned to academia as Assistant Professor at the University of Antwerp. He was appointed Associate Professor in 2018 and Full Professor in 2023. He currently teaches several core engineering courses in the Bioscience Engineering program, including Applied Thermodynamics, Physical and Thermal Transport Processes, Process Technology, Modeling and Simulation of Biosystems, The Urban Climate, and Urban Air Modeling. He co-founded the Master in Sustainable Urban Bioscience Engineering and currently chairs the Education Committee for the Bachelor program. He also coordinates a team of project coordinators within the Department of Bioscience Engineering.
Prof. Denys’ research is embedded in the A-PECS research group, where he focuses on the development of computational models and technologies for air purification. His work combines chemical, physical, and biological purification mechanisms with advanced engineering and modeling approaches, bridging the gap between fundamental insight and practical implementation. With a team of researchers specializing in Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD), multiphysics modeling, and dynamic computational modeling, his group contributes to both indoor and urban-scale air quality improvement.
His current research centers on photocatalytic and nature-based air purification technologies, with applications such as soot and VOC degradation. This includes the development of kinetic submodels, the integration of real-time sensor data, and the design of functional devices and prototypes. He has long-standing collaborations with the Faculty of Applied Engineering and the Faculty of Design Sciences, reinforcing the applied nature of his research and its impact on sustainable urban development.
Looking forward, his research aims to integrate advanced nanomaterials and renewable energy into hybrid purification systems and to further refine CFD-based urban air quality simulations through real-time analytics. Through his interdisciplinary and application-driven approach, Prof. Denys contributes to the development of innovative, sustainable solutions for cleaner air in both built and natural environments.