Applying for a PhD?

We always welcome applications by students who want to obtain their own funding for a PhD study in line with the existing topics, alone or in cooperation with other universities or companies. If you are interested in joining us, please contact Roeland Samson with a statement of interest about your research, and the scholarship programme to which you aim to apply.
Note that the University of Antwerp only offers PhD scholarships for specific research projects; these will be advertised in our job opportunities section.

The main funding agencies for PhD scholarships in Flanders are:

  • FWO with an annual deadline of February 1st, which is open to all EU and EEA students.
  • FWO-SB for PhD projects with an applied component.

A number of other possibilities for scholarships are listed on the Scholarships pages of the University of Antwerp.

For general information on the PhD programme, see the website of the Antwerp Doctoral School.

Completed PhDs

2020 - 2021 

Analysis of the food safety and microbial ecology of fermented carrot juice
Defended by: Wannes Van Beeck
Supervisors: prof. dr. ir. Sarah Lebeer

Evolutionary Genomics of Lactic Acid Bacteria
Defended by: Stijn Wittouck
Supervisors: prof. dr. ir. Sarah Lebeer and prof. dr. Vera van Noort

Identification of health- and disease-associated bacteria for chronic otitis media with effusion through microbiome comparison and in vitro experimentation
Defended by: Jennifer Jörissen
Supervisor: prof. dr. ir. Sarah Lebeer
Co-supervisor: prof. dr. Olivier Vanderveken

2019 - 2020

Magnetic and analytical fingerprinting of particulate matter for urban (bio)monitoring
Defended by: Ana Castanheiro
Supervisor: Prof. Dr. ir. Roeland Samson
Co-supervisor: Prof. Dr. Karolien De Wael

The characterisation of lactobacillus glycoconjugates and their interplay with candida
Defended by: Camille Allonsius
Supervisor: Prof. Dr. ir. Sarah Lebeer
Co-supervisor: Prof. Dr. Peter Delputte

Study of the upper respiratory tract microbiota and the potential of probiotics for the management of chronic rhinosinusitis
Defended by: Ilke De Boeck
Supervisor: Prof. Dr. ir. Sarah Lebeer
Co-supervisor: Prof. Dr. Olivier Vanderveken

A genome-based view on lactobacilli and their role in the carrot juice fermentation process
Defended by: Sander Wuyts
Supervisor: Prof. Dr. ir. Sarah Lebeer
Co-supervisor: Prof. Dr. ir. Luc De Vuyst, Prof. dr. Bart Lievens, prof. dr. Stefan Weckx

Topical Lactobacillus applications for modulation of the vaginal and skin microbiota
Defended by: Eline Oerlemans
Supervisor: Prof. Dr. ir. Sarah Lebeer
Co-supervisor: Prof. Dr. Gilbert Donders

2017 - 2018

Interactions between phyllosphere bacteria and urban air pollution
Defended by: Wenke Smets
Supervisor: Prof. Dr. ir. Sarah Lebeer
Co-supervisor: Prof. Dr. ir. Siegfried Denys

Recombinant Lactobacillus rhamnosus for allergen-specific immunotherapy in murine models of birch pollen allergic asthma
Defended by: Irina Spacova
Supervisors: Prof. Dr. ir. Sarah Lebeer (UAntwerpen) and Prof. Dr. ir. Jos Vanderleyden (KU Leuven)
Co-supervisors: Prof. Dr. Jan Ceuppens and Dr. Mariya Petrova

In vitro and in vivo probiotic potential of Lactobacillus spp. for otitis media.
Defended by: Marianne van den Broek
Supervisor: Prof. Dr. ir. Sarah Lebeer

Interplay of bacterial endotoxins and transition metals in the inflammatory capacity of airborne particulate matter
Defended by: Serena Moretti
Supervisor: Prof. Dr. ir. Sarah Lebeer

2014-2015

Hyperspectral solar-induced chlorophyll fluorescence of urban tree leaves: analyses and applications
Defended by: Shari Van Wittenberghe
Supervisor: Prof. dr. ir. Roeland Samson
Co-supervisor: Prof. dr. Roland Valcke

Growth and ecophysiological characterisation of the bamboo Phyllostachys humilis Muroi in a plantation in Ireland
Defended by: Davina Van Goethem
Supervisor: Prof. dr. ir. Roeland Samson
Co-supervisor: Prof. dr. Geert Potters

2013-2014

Leaf-deposition of particulate matter as a monitoring tool for the urban distribution of atmospheric particles: an experimental and modelling approach
Defended by: Jelle Hofman
Supervisor: Prof. dr. ir. Roeland Samson

Baobab and tamarind: biology and derived food products: towards domestication in West Africa
Defended by: Nina Van den Bilcke
Supervisor: Prof. dr. ir. Roeland Samson

Ecophysiology and nutritional value of the African baobab (Adansonia digitata L.)
Defended by: David Johngwoh Simbo
Supervisor: Prof. dr. ir. Roeland Samson

Molecular analysis of the interaction between the probiotic Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG and intestinal epithelial cells.
Defended by: Marijke Segers
Supervisor: Prof. dr. ir. Sarah Lebeer
Co-supervisor: Prof. dr. ir. Jozef Vanderleyden

Molecular study of mannose binding lectin(s) of lactobacilli and their potential as HIV trap.
Defended by: Malik Shweta
Supervisor: Prof. dr. ir. Sarah Lebeer
Co-supervisor: Prof. dr. ir. Jozef Vanderleyden
Co-supervisor: Prof. dr. Jan Balzarin

Molecular and Functional Analyses of Lectins in Lactobacillus Rhamnosus.
Defended by: Mariya Petrova
Supervisor: Prof. dr. ir. Sarah Lebeer
Co-supervisor: Prof. dr. ir. Jozef Vanderleyden
Co-supervisor: Prof. dr. Jan Balzarin

2012-2013

Biomonitoring urban habitat quality based on tree leaf reflectance
Defended by: Ali Reza Khavanin Zadeh
Supervisor: Prof. dr. ir. Roeland Samson
Co-supervisor: Dr. Frank Veroustraete

Biomonitoring ambient air quality using leaf characteristics of trees
Defended by: Tatiana Wuytack
Supervisor: Prof. dr. ir. Roeland Samson
Co-supervisor: Prof. dr. ir. Kris Verheyen

2011-2012

Urban habitat quality assessment based on plant leaf characteristics
Defended by: Fatemeh Kardel
Supervisor: Prof. dr. ir. Roeland Samson
Co-supervisor: Dr. ir. Karen Wuyts

Morphological and ecophysiological adaptations of African baobab (Adansonia digita L.) to drought
Defended by: Sebastiaan De Smedt
Supervisor: Prof. dr. ir. Roeland Samson
Co-supervisor: Prof. dr. Geert Potters