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