On the interests and accomplishments of Axel Faes

Axel Faes
Machine Learning Engineer & PostDoctoral Researcher
axel.faes[at]gmail.com
axel.faes[at]uhasselt.be

Abstract

I am a Postdoctoral Researcher in Biomedical Data Sciences at KU Leuven, Belgium.
I’m the Scientific Coordinator of the Flanders AI Research program, Use Case Real World Evidence, currently focussing on applying Machine Learning to cardiovascular, pregnancy, Multiple Sclerosis, epilepsy, and other biomedical data.

Work & Research Experience

UHasselt, Postdoctoral Researcher: Scientific Coordinator and Artificial Intelligence

Scientific Coordinator of the Flanders AI Research program, Use Case Real World Evidence.
Technical Machine Learning lead of the Biomedical Data Sciences Group, UHasselt

KU Leuven, Postdoctoral Researcher: Brain-Computer Interfacing and Machine Learning

Project: “Sign Language Alphabet decoding from intracranial brain activity”
Group: Prof. Marc van Hulle, Computational Neuroscience, Laboratory for Neuro-and Psychophysiology, KU Leuven

UHasselt, Web Performance Research Internship

I worked on the iMinds PRO-FLOW project @ Expertise centre for Digital Media (EDM)
focus on the difference between the http versions (http1.1, https, http2).

UHasselt, Summer Research Internship Physical Computing

Interfacing between human entity, a drone and virtual objects @ Expertise centre for Digital Media (EDM).
(C++, Optitrack motion capture, custom built drone)

Educational background

Doctoral Programme in Biomedical Science (PhD) in Computational Neuroscience
Cognitive and Molecular Neuroscience PhD Thesis: Finger Movement Decoding: From Source-Localisation to Tensor Regression Modelling
KU Leuven
Advanced Master of Science in Engineering (M.Sc.) in Artificial Intelligence
Engineering and Computer Science Thesis: An Information Theoretical Approach to EEG Source-Reconstructed Connectivity (on Github)
76% - Cum Laude
KU Leuven
Honoursprogramme of the Faculty of Engineering Science (Research Track)
Research Assistant: design of type-&-effect system for Eff based on row polymorphism Research Assistent: efficient compilation of algebraic effect handlers (in Eff)
KU Leuven
Master of Science in Engineering (M.Sc.) in Computer Science (Burgelijk Ingenieur - ir.)
Artificial Intelligence & Theoretical Computer Science Thesis: Algebraic Subtyping for Algebraic Effects and Handlers (on Github)
76% - Cum Laude
KU Leuven
Business Summer School: United in Manchester (0739)
International Business
The University of Manchester
Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) in Computer Science
Physics and General courses Thesis: Machine learning techniques for flow-based network intrusion detection systems (on Github)
79% - Magna Cum Laude
UHasselt

Projects

Cardinal: scripting language

Written in C (and since 2023, in C++14). High performance (on par with Luajit 2.1 -joff).

Lead Developer
Reinforcement Learning Agent in Google Deepmind’s StarCraft II Framework

Implement reinforcement learning algorithms in PySC2 utilising the KU Leuven supercomputer.

Developer
IoT-platform with pluggable sensors

Showcase large-scale use of Internet of Things sensors

Developer
ICAL parser for KU Leuven schedules

An nodejs application to create an iCalender file for courses at KU Leuven. (>1000 active users)

Lead Developer
Search and Recommendation System

A search and recommendation system for VoD (Video on Demand) for Androme.
In production in the Nebula project.

Team Member
Technologies and Tools for User Interfaces: Household Survival

A tower-defense game written in Unity utilising Optitrack motion capture.
Combine the virtual world and reality using augmented reality

Researcher
Visual Programming IDE

A Visual programming IDE (Java)

Developer

Honors & Awards

Finalist, Cyber Security Challenge
Brussels, Belgium
A Capture The Flag (CTF) challenge-based game covering a wide range of security issues.
3rd place, ICFP 2017 Student Research Competition
Oxford, UK
Bachelor Award, in Computer Science
UHasselt, Belgium
Award presented by the examination committee of Computer Science at Hasselt University for meritorious achievements, and contribution to a positive image of the bachelor in Computer Science.
3rd place, ACM CHI 2016 Student Design Competition (Interaction Design and User Experience.)
San Jose, CA, USA
2nd place, BeGDC (Belgian Game Development Championship)
Brussel, Belgium
IELTS, Academic Module (8.0/9.0)
Brussel, Belgium

Extracurricular Activities

Coach of DjangoGirls

Inspire women to fall in love with programming (Python, Django workshops)

Coach of CoderDojo

Teach children programming (Scratch, Python, Minecraft and Lego mindstorm).

References

[1] Axel Faes, Google Scholar
[2] axelfaes, LinkedIn
[3] TheAxeC, Github
[4] Axel Faes, CV