Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB) welcomes seven outstanding postdoctoral researchers selected in the 2024 call of the prestigious Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) Postdoctoral Fellowships. Notably, six of the seven selected fellows are women, a strong testament to the growing presence of female scientists in top-tier international research.
Only a small fraction of applicants were selected, placing these fellows in an exceptional group within the international academic community. Their research projects span a broad spectrum of topics, from healthcare and environmental conservation to justice and diversity.
The fellows will begin their projects between April 2025 and March 2026 under the supervision of leading VUB professors in their respective fields.
Dr Anna Bauer
Digital technology in palliative care
Dr Anna Bauer, from LMU Munich, Germany, will investigate the impact of digitalisation on palliative home care in her project Negotiating Digital Technologies in Palliative Home Care (NEDIPAL). Many people in Europe wish to die at home, yet hospital deaths remain prevalent. Digital technologies such as teleconsultations, apps, and AI could improve home care—but how do they function in practice? NEDIPAL will examine the collaboration between caregivers, patients, and families while analysing the economic and environmental sustainability of digital healthcare.
Supervisor: Prof. Dr Werner Schirmer
Dr Luiza De Paula Dias Moreira
The hidden dangers of titanium dioxide
Titanium dioxide (E171) has been banned in the EU due to potential health risks but is still widely used worldwide. Dr Luiza De Paula Dias Moreira's project LiTiTox will investigate the mechanisms behind liver toxicity caused by E171. How does this substance affect the liver and immune system? Using a combination of in vitro, in vivo, and in silico techniques, she aims to provide new insights that will contribute to food safety and public health.
Supervisor: Prof. Dr Mathieu Vinken
Dr Katrien Dierickx
How medieval fishing shaped our rivers
Over the centuries, Flanders' rivers have undergone dramatic changes. In her project FRESH, Dr Katrien Dierickx will explore how medieval and post-medieval fishing practices contributed to pollution and biodiversity loss. By combining archaeological and bio-ecological data, FRESH will provide a historical reference point to better understand human impact on waterways and support modern conservation efforts.
Supervisor: Dr Christophe Snoeck
Dr Dániel Papp
The future of plasma proteomics
Dr Dániel Papp's project NEXT-UP is a groundbreaking study in proteomics, the research of proteins in cells, tissues, and organisms. He is developing a new liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) technology to detect ultra-rare proteins in blood plasma. This advancement could revolutionise early disease detection and personalised medicine by improving LC-MS resolution and sensitivity, helping to unravel disease processes and develop new diagnostic methods.
Supervisor: Prof. Dr Sebastiaan Eeltink
Dr Marie-France Dorion
The role of immune cells in the brain
How do immune cells regulate the brain? Dr Marie-France Dorion’s project inviXTus-BAM will explore the role of border-associated macrophages (BAMs), a rare type of immune cell found at the interface between the brain and circulatory system. By growing human BAMs in a mouse model and conducting genetic screenings, she hopes to gain new insights into their regulation and role in brain diseases, opening new avenues for neuro-immunological research.
Supervisor: Prof. Dr Kiavash Movahedi
Dr Monika Zalnieriute
AI and the rule of law
What does the rise of artificial intelligence mean for the judiciary? In her project AI in Courts, Dr Monika Zalnieriute will examine how AI affects values and processes in the courtroom. By combining comparative legal research, empirical studies, and interviews with judges, lawyers, and policymakers, she will develop a normative framework for regulating AI in courtrooms. This project will contribute to EU policymaking and the debate on ethical AI applications in the justice system.
Supervisor: Prof. Dr Paul De Hert
Dr Isabella Villanova
Emotions and resistance in Afropean literature
In AFROPEMOTIONS, Dr Isabella Villanova explores how 21st-century Afropean women’s fiction highlights themes of emotions, inequality, and resistance. By combining literary and social analysis, she aims to understand the role of emotions in literature while raising awareness of discrimination and inequality in European societies. This project places literature in a broader societal debate, offering fresh perspectives on identity and inclusion.
Supervisor: Prof. Dr Elisabeth Bekers
MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships
The Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) Postdoctoral Fellowships offer postdoctoral researchers the opportunity to deepen their expertise and engage in international collaborations. With this grant, researchers can work at a European institution for up to 24 months and develop interdisciplinary skills. The programme focuses on cross-border mobility, knowledge exchange, and collaboration with leading institutions worldwide.
*This is a machine translation. We apologise for any inaccuracies.