Dissertations
This page contains my own theses and doctoral dissertation, followed by doctoral dissertations completed under my supervision or co-supervision, and dissertations for which I served as a jury member or committee chair.
My theses and dissertation
Doctoral dissertation — 2015
Statistical models for estimating heterogeneity in acquisition of infectious diseases and outbreak risk in highly vaccinated populations
Hasselt University
Supervisor: Prof. Niel Hens; Co-supervisor: Prof. Geert Molenberghs.
Statistical models for estimating heterogeneity in acquisition of infectious diseases and outbreak risk in highly vaccinated populations
Hasselt University
Supervisor: Prof. Niel Hens; Co-supervisor: Prof. Geert Molenberghs.
Master thesis — 2011
The trivariate correlated gamma frailty model for current status data
Hasselt University
Supervisor: Prof. Niel Hens.
The trivariate correlated gamma frailty model for current status data
Hasselt University
Supervisor: Prof. Niel Hens.
Bachelor thesis — 2009
Estimation of the effective reproduction number for Hepatitis A outbreaks in Flanders
Hasselt University
Supervisor: Prof. Niel Hens.
Estimation of the effective reproduction number for Hepatitis A outbreaks in Flanders
Hasselt University
Supervisor: Prof. Niel Hens.
PhD dissertations supervised or co-supervised
Irene García-Fogeda — 2026
From antibody kinetics to correlates of protection: insights from within-host mathematical models
University of Antwerp
Supervisors: Prof. Niel Hens and Prof. Steven Abrams.
From antibody kinetics to correlates of protection: insights from within-host mathematical models
University of Antwerp
Supervisors: Prof. Niel Hens and Prof. Steven Abrams.
Hamid Yimam Hassen — 2023
Disparities in cardiovascular diseases and risk factors across contexts and effectiveness of multicomponent intervention to enhance primary prevention in vulnerable communities
University of Antwerp
Supervisors: Prof. Hilde Bastiaens and Prof. Steven Abrams.
Disparities in cardiovascular diseases and risk factors across contexts and effectiveness of multicomponent intervention to enhance primary prevention in vulnerable communities
University of Antwerp
Supervisors: Prof. Hilde Bastiaens and Prof. Steven Abrams.
Adelino Martins — 2022
Statistical methods to estimate infectious disease parameters and individual heterogeneity
Hasselt University
Supervisor: Prof. Steven Abrams; Co-supervisors: Prof. Niel Hens and Prof. Marc Aerts.
Statistical methods to estimate infectious disease parameters and individual heterogeneity
Hasselt University
Supervisor: Prof. Steven Abrams; Co-supervisors: Prof. Niel Hens and Prof. Marc Aerts.
Julie Schenk — 2022
On the sero-epidemiology of measles in Belgium: on immunogenicity and persistence of vaccination and immunity gaps
Hasselt University
Supervisor: Prof. Niel Hens; Co-supervisor: Prof. Steven Abrams.
On the sero-epidemiology of measles in Belgium: on immunogenicity and persistence of vaccination and immunity gaps
Hasselt University
Supervisor: Prof. Niel Hens; Co-supervisor: Prof. Steven Abrams.
Alfred Dusabimana — 2022
Ways to mitigate the public health problem caused by onchocerciasis-associated epilepsy
University of Antwerp
Supervisors: Prof. Robert Colebunders, Prof. Steven Abrams and Prof. Samuel Coenen.
Ways to mitigate the public health problem caused by onchocerciasis-associated epilepsy
University of Antwerp
Supervisors: Prof. Robert Colebunders, Prof. Steven Abrams and Prof. Samuel Coenen.
Levicatus Mugenyi — 2018
Estimating Infectious Disease Parameters for the Transmission of Malaria in Ugandan Children
Hasselt University
Supervisors: Prof. Niel Hens and Prof. Sarah Staedke; Co-supervisor: Prof. Steven Abrams.
Estimating Infectious Disease Parameters for the Transmission of Malaria in Ugandan Children
Hasselt University
Supervisors: Prof. Niel Hens and Prof. Sarah Staedke; Co-supervisor: Prof. Steven Abrams.
PhD examination committees
Kenneth Otabil — 2025
Epidemiological studies of onchocerciasis in Ghana: Insights from Ghana’s Middle Belt and Challenges in Attaining Elimination
University of Antwerp
Role: Jury member.
Epidemiological studies of onchocerciasis in Ghana: Insights from Ghana’s Middle Belt and Challenges in Attaining Elimination
University of Antwerp
Role: Jury member.
Behailu Gello — 2025
Cutaneous Leishmaniasis: The Epidemiology, Diagnostics and the Psychosocial Impacts in the South Ethiopian Rift valley
University of Antwerp
Role: Jury member.
Cutaneous Leishmaniasis: The Epidemiology, Diagnostics and the Psychosocial Impacts in the South Ethiopian Rift valley
University of Antwerp
Role: Jury member.
Bryan Sumalinab — 2025
Bayesian inference with Laplace approximations and P-splines in infectious disease and spatial epidemiology
Hasselt University
Role: Jury member.
Bayesian inference with Laplace approximations and P-splines in infectious disease and spatial epidemiology
Hasselt University
Role: Jury member.
Myrthe D’Haen — 2025
Copula models for complex data: applications to dependent censoring and longitudinal data
Hasselt University
Role: Jury member.
Copula models for complex data: applications to dependent censoring and longitudinal data
Hasselt University
Role: Jury member.
Neilshan Loedy — 2025
Statistical methods for analyzing infectious diseases using social contact data
Hasselt University
Role: Jury member.
Statistical methods for analyzing infectious diseases using social contact data
Hasselt University
Role: Jury member.
Elise Kuylen — 2024
More entities, more problems? Individual-based models for infectious disease transmission
University of Antwerp
Role: Chair of the PhD committee.
More entities, more problems? Individual-based models for infectious disease transmission
University of Antwerp
Role: Chair of the PhD committee.
Anita Mesic — 2024
Alternative methodological approaches to assess long-term HIV virological and clinical outcomes in resource-limited settings
University of Antwerp
Role: Chair of the PhD committee.
Alternative methodological approaches to assess long-term HIV virological and clinical outcomes in resource-limited settings
University of Antwerp
Role: Chair of the PhD committee.
James Wambua — 2024
Behavior and infectious disease dynamics: applications using pandemic social contacts, Varicella-zoster virus transmission modeling with cost-effectiveness analysis, and Respiratory Syncytial Virus seasonality
Hasselt University
Role: Jury member.
Behavior and infectious disease dynamics: applications using pandemic social contacts, Varicella-zoster virus transmission modeling with cost-effectiveness analysis, and Respiratory Syncytial Virus seasonality
Hasselt University
Role: Jury member.
Zerihun Zeleke — 2023
Perceptions and impact of malaria health education in school children; Challenges in malaria control & elimination in Gamo and Gofa Zones, SNNPR, Ethiopia
University of Antwerp
Role: Jury member.
Perceptions and impact of malaria health education in school children; Challenges in malaria control & elimination in Gamo and Gofa Zones, SNNPR, Ethiopia
University of Antwerp
Role: Jury member.
Kim Hendrickx — 2018
Nonparametric statistics with shape constraints and censored data
Hasselt University
Role: Jury member.
Nonparametric statistics with shape constraints and censored data
Hasselt University
Role: Jury member.