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Axel Faes

Postdoctoral Researcher - Data Scientist - Computational Neuroscientist - Computer Engineer

References

Liesbet M. Peeters

liesbet.peeters[at]uhasselt.be

Associate Professor (Postdoc advisor) Biomedical Data Sciences

Marc Van Hulle

marc.vanhulle[at]kuleuven.be

Full Professor (PhD advisor) Laboratory for Neuro- and Psychophysiology

Work & Research Experience

Postdoctoral Researcher: Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare

UHasselt

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

Postdoctoral Researcher: Brain-Computer Interfacing and Machine Learning

KU Leuven

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

Data Science Consultant

Flanders BCI

  • Provided consulancy for physical experiments using Synamps RT and Neuvo EEG Systems.
  • Supported the data analysis for hybrid BCI with new analytical EEG modeling techniques & signal detection- and classification algorithms.
  • Infer emotion from EEG signals using machine learning techniques.
  • Usage of ECoG signals from semi-invasive recording for imagined movement detection and language processing.

Research Stay Idrogenet Srl, Gloreha: Robotic Rehabilitation

Lumezzane, Italy

  • Develop custom software for the control of the Gloreha robotic rehabilitation device,
  • Specifically the R-TOUCH PRO Sinfonia, a custom-built robotic exoskeleton for hand rehabilitation.

PhD Researcher in Computational Neuroscience

KU Leuven

  • Cognitive and Molecular Neuroscience
  • PhD Thesis: Finger Movement Decoding: From Source-Localisation to Tensor Regression Modelling

Web Performance Research Internship

UHasselt

  • 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).

Summer Research Internship Physical Computing

UHasselt

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

Teaching & Academic Activities

Bioinformatics (3740) Coordinating lecturer

UHasselt

Sept. 2025 - Sept. 2026

BKO (Basic Teaching Qualification) track - Teacher Professionalization

UHasselt

2025

Data Science in Healthcare (4747) Lecturer (teaching team member)

UHasselt

Sept. 2025 - Dec. 2025

Advanced Topics in Data Science (4569 & 4585) Lecturer Federted Learning (teaching team member)

UHasselt

June 2024 - Sept. 2025

Bioinformatics (3740) Coordinating lecturer

UHasselt

Sept. 2024 - Sept. 2025

Guest Associate Editor Use of Big Data and Artificial Intelligence in Multiple Sclerosis

Frontiers in Immunology

2024 - 2025

VLAIO Evaluator for BAEKELAND SPIN OFF MANDATES

VLAIO

2025

Student Research Competition Judge (International Conference on Functional Programming)

ICFP

2024

Brain-Computer Interfacing (B-KUL-H08M0A) Guest Lecturer

KU Leuven

2022-2025

Educational background

Flemish Sign Language course

Flemish Sign Language Centre

  • Graduates are able to engage in day-to-day conversations with deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals.

Doctoral Programme in Biomedical Science (PhD) in Computational Neuroscience

KU Leuven

  • Cognitive and Molecular Neuroscience
  • PhD Thesis: Finger Movement Decoding: From Source-Localisation to Tensor Regression Modelling

Advanced Master of Science in Engineering (M.Sc.) in Artificial Intelligence

KU Leuven

  • Engineering and Computer Science (76% - Cum Laude)
  • Thesis: An Information Theoretical Approach to EEG Source-Reconstructed Connectivity (on Github)

Honours programme of the Faculty of Engineering Science (Research Track)

KU Leuven

  • Research Assistant: design of type-&-effect system for Eff based on row polymorphism
  • Research Assistent: efficient compilation of algebraic effect handlers (in Eff)

Master of Science in Engineering (M.Sc.) in Computer Science (Burgerlijk Ingenieur - ir.)

KU Leuven

  • Artificial Intelligence & Theoretical Computer Science (76% - Cum Laude)
  • Thesis: Algebraic Subtyping for Algebraic Effects and Handlers (on Github)

Business Summer School: United in Manchester (0739)

The University of Manchester

  • International Business

Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) in Computer Science

UHasselt

  • Physics and General courses (79% - Magna Cum Laude)
  • Thesis: Machine learning techniques for flow-based network intrusion detection systems (on Github)
#LeadingAIinHealth dr. ir. Axel Faes · Curriculum Vitae

Honors & Awards

Jan 2018 FWO Fundamental Research Grant, FWO Belgium
Mar 2018 Finalist, Cyber Security Challenge 2018 Brussels, Belgium
Sep 2017 3rd place, ICFP 2017 Student Research Competition Oxford, UK
Jul 2016 Bachelor Award, in Computer Science UHasselt, Belgium
May 2016 3rd place, ACM CHI 2016 Student Design Competition San Jose, CA, USA
Feb 2016 2nd place, BeGDC (Belgian Game Development Championship) Brussels, Belgium
Jan 2016 IELTS, Academic Module (8.0/9.0) Brussels, Belgium

Professional Development Activities

Mathematics & Natural Sciences Tutor

Freelance

Sept. 2015 - 2024

  • Supporting high school and university students in mastering mathematics (and other natural sciences) through personalized tutoring

Coach

DjangoGirls

Mar. 2018 - 2024

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

Coach

CoderDojo (UHasselt, PXL)

Sep. 2014 - 2025

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

Student Representative

KU Leuven

Sep. 2017 - Sep. 2018

  • POC (Education Committee) of Master Computer Science Engineering,
  • POC (Education Committee) of Advanced Master Artificial Intelligence,
  • Member of Departmental council of Computer Science, Department board of Computer Science and Faculty council of Engineering Science

Student Council Member

StuRa UHasselt

Mar. 2015 - Aug. 2016

  • Member of Board of Education, Faculty Council. Board of Student Facilities, Diversity Commission,
  • Temporary representative in VVS (Flemish Union of Students)

Student Representative

UHasselt

Sep. 2013 - Jul. 2016

  • Representing students interests in a Computer Science education context.
  • Representing Computer Science education for high school students

Grants & (open-source) Projects

Federated Learning for Population Health Management

Co-supervisor

  • FWO Senior Research Project (2025)
  • Project: "Federated Learning for Population Health Management"
  • Funding: Research Foundation Flanders (FWO), Belgium (applied, result expected in September 2025)
  • Amount: approx. €1,150,000 (including salaries and operational costs for 4 years)

Use Case Real World Evidence - Flanders AI Research Program

Scientific Coordinator

  • Funding: Flemish government (FAIR program)
  • Duration: 2024-2028
  • Role: Scientific coordinator (UHasselt) and AI content lead
  • Team: approx. 10 researchers across 4 institutions

ELIXIR Belgium - Roadmap 2023-2025

Consortium Partner

  • Funding: FWO (approx. €11M in total, with contributions from BELSPO and FNRS)
  • Duration: 2023-2025
  • Role: Consortium partner (UHasselt), focusing on health data re-use and federated analyses
  • Collaborations: KU Leuven (Yves Moreau), University of Antwerp (Geert Vandeweyer), VIB (Frederik Coppens)
  • Context: ELIXIR Belgium is part of ELIXIR Europe, an ESFRI initiative funded by the European Commission and national agencies

Federated Learning Kit (FLkit)

Community Project Lead

  • FLkit is designed to help life scientists apply federated learning in their research. It offers guidance, techniques, and tools for working with decentralized and sensitive data, enabling privacy-preserving collaboration and deeper insights without sharing raw data.
  • The project is in its early stages and open to contributors. The long-term goal is to make FLkit community-driven, sustained, and governed by researchers and practitioners who want to advance federated learning for life sciences.

Cardinal: Educational and Research platform for MSc theses in PL/compilers

Lead Developer

  • Cardinal is a C++20 reimplementation of the Wren VM, designed for clarity, research, and education. It provides a small, well-documented virtual machine and runtime for exploring compilers, concurrency (fibers), and language embedding.
  • The project serves as a platform for student theses and for prototyping new programming language ideas.

Open Source Python Package - Block-Term Tensor Regression (BTTR)

Lead Researcher & Developer

  • The open-source BTTR implementation provides researchers and practitioners with accessible, reproducible tools for tensor-based regression in neuroscience and related domains. It is actively developed and documented to support experimentation, education, and further research.

Wisconsin Breast Cancer Dataset Research Tutorial for Federated Learning

Research Tutorial Author

  • This repository serves as a step-by-step tutorial for running federated learning studies with the FL4E framework. Using the Wisconsin Breast Cancer dataset as an example, it guides researchers and students through the full workflow.
  • Clear documentation and markdown guides explain each step, making it easier for newcomers to understand and apply federated learning in practice.

ICAL parser for KU Leuven schedules

Lead Developer

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

Household Survival: Immersive Room-Sized Gaming Using Everyday Objects as Weapons (Unity, Optitrack Motion Capture)

Researcher

  • Developed a room-scale AR game using everyday objects as controllers (broom, fan, vacuum, mousetrap).
  • Demonstrated immersive physical-virtual interactions.
  • Still used in university courses as a teaching example.
#LeadingAIinHealth dr. ir. Axel Faes · Curriculum Vitae

Publications

Papers in Review
[1] Axel Faes "Algebraic Subtyping for algebraic effects and handlers" Submitted to International Conference on Functional Programming (ICFP) 2025
[2] Axel Faes Ashkan Pirmani Yves Moreau Liesbet Peeters "Federated Block-Term Tensor Regression in Realistic Healthcare Settings" Submitted to IEEE FLICS 2025 - Symposium on Federated Learning and Intelligent Computing Systems (Under review) Spotlight
[3] Axel Faes Liesbet Peeters "Block-Term Tensor Decomposition for Signal Reconstruction" Submitted to IEEE FLICS 2025 - Symposium on Federated Learning and Intelligent Computing Systems (Under review)
[4] Axel Faes Liesbet Peeters Marc Van Hulle "Federated Transfer Learning for intracranial motor brain-computer interfaces" Submitted to IEEE FLICS 2025 - Symposium on Federated Learning and Intelligent Computing Systems (Under review)
[5] Axel Faes Liesbet Peeters "Vertical Federated Learning with Block-Term Tensor Regression" Submitted to Machine Learning: Science and Technology (6.8 IF) (In preparation)
[6] Valentina Pergher* Axel Faes* Yide Li Marc M. Van Hulle (* equal contribution) "How stimulus type and task structure can affect ERP signatures" Submitted to Frontiers in Psychology, section Cognition (2.6 IF) (Under review)
[7] Anh Phuong Do Axel Faes et al. "Individual Reference Intervals for Clinical Event Prediction" Submitted to IEEE Journal of Biomedical and Health Informatics (6.7 IF) (Under review)
[8] Dongho Chun Axel Faes "Effects on clustering algorithms based on classification of Atrial Fibrillation based on ECG data" Submitted to IEEE Journal of Biomedical and Health Informatics (6.7 IF) (senior author)
[9] Ward Ceyssens Axel Faes "Cross Subject training for finger movement decoding with high-density ECoG" Submitted to IEEE Transactions on Biomedical Engineering (4.6 IF) (Under review) (senior author)
[10] Dries Cornelissen Axel Faes "Block-Term Decomposition for arrhythmia detection and prediction on sinus rhythms" Submitted to IEEE Transactions on Biomedical Engineering (4.6 IF) (Under review) (senior author)
[11] Meseret Assefa Kerga Axel Faes "Predicting Cirrhosis Patient Survival Using Machine Learning: A Data-Driven Approach" Submitted to IEEE Journal of Biomedical and Health Informatics (6.7 IF) (Under review) (senior author)
International Journal Papers
[12] Liesbet Peeters Axel Faes et al. "Editorial introduction 'The use of big data and AI in MS'" Frontiers in Immunology (5.7 IF)
[13] Ashkan Pirmani Edward De Brouwer Adam Arany Martijn Oldenhof Antoine Passemiers Axel Faes Tomas Kalincik et al. "Personalized Federated Learning for Predicting Disability Progression in Multiple Sclerosis Using Real-World Routine Clinical Data" npj Digital Medicine (15.357 IF)
[14] Axel Faes Eva Calvo Merino Anais Van Hoylandt Elina Keirse Tom Theys Marc M. Van Hulle "Finger abduction trajectory prediction from high-density ECoG" Journal of Neural Engineering (5.4 IF)
[15] Axel Faes Mariana P. Branco Anais Van Hoylandt Elina Keirse Tom Theys Nick F. Ramsey Marc M. Van Hulle "Decoding Sign Language Finger Movements from high-density ECoG using Graph-Optimized Block Term Tensor Regression" Journal of Neural Engineering (5.4 IF)
[16] Eva Calvo Merino Axel Faes Marc M. Van Hulle "The role of distinct ECoG frequency features in decoding finger movement" Journal of Neural Engineering (5.4 IF)
[17] Axel Faes Marc M. Van Hulle "Finger movement and coactivation predicted from intracranial brain activity using extended Block-Term Tensor Regression" Journal of Neural Engineering (5.4 IF) Spotlight
[18] Axel Faes Flavio Camarrone Marc M. Van Hulle "Single finger trajectory prediction from intracranial brain activity using Block-Term Tensor Regression with fast and automatic component extraction" IEEE Transactions on Neural Networks and Learning Systems (14.25 IF)
[19] Axel Faes Aurelie de Borman Marc M. Van Hulle "Source space reduction for eLORETA" Journal of Neural Engineering (5.4 IF)
[20] Axel Faes Iris Vantieghem Marc M. Van Hulle "Neural Networks for Directed Connectivity Estimation in Source-Reconstructed EEG Data" Applied Sciences (2.9 IF)
Conference Papers
[21] Axel Faes Ashkan Pirmani Yves Moreau Liesbet Peeters "Applying Federated Learning to Block-Term Tensor Regression for Decentralised Data Analysis of Biomedical Data" IEEE Conference on Federated Learning Technologies and Applications (IEEE FLTA 2025) Spotlight
[22] Qiang Sun Eva Calvo Merino Liuyin Yang Axel Faes Marc Van Hulle "Proprioceptive Feedback Challenges Motor Intention Detection from EEG during Human-Exoskeleton Interaction" Proceedings of 2025 International Conference on Rehabilitation Robotics (ICORR) 2025
[23] Robin Marx Maarten Wijnants Peter Quax Axel Faes Wim Lamotte "Web Performance Characteristics of HTTP/2 and comparison to HTTP/1.1" International Conference on Web Information Systems and Technologies, pg 87-114
[24] Robin Marx Peter Quax Axel Faes Wim Lamotte "Concatenation, embedding and sharding: Do HTTP/1 performance best practices make sense in HTTP/2?" WEBIST 2017 - Proceedings of the 13th International Conference on Web Information Systems and Technologies
Other publication
[25] Matija Pretnar Amr Hany Shehata Saleh Axel Faes Tom Schrijvers "Efficient compilation of algebraic effects and handlers" 2017 - CW Reports, CW708, 32 pp. Leuven, Belgium: Department of Computer Science, KU Leuven.
#LeadingAIinHealth dr. ir. Axel Faes · Curriculum Vitae

Publications

Thesis
[26] Axel Faes "Finger Movement Decoding: From Source-Localisation to Tensor Regression Modelling" PhD Thesis
[27] Axel Faes "An Information Theoretical Approach to EEG Source-Reconstructed Connectivity" Advanced Master's Thesis
[28] Axel Faes "Algebraic Subtyping for Algebraic Effects and Handlers" Master's Thesis
[29] Axel Faes "Machine learning techniques for flow-based network intrusion detection systems" Bachelor's thesis
Posters
[30] Axel Faes Tom Schrijvers "Towards a Core Language with Row-Based Effects for Optimised Compilation" International Conference on Functional Programming 2017 Student Research Competition
Extended Abstracts
[31] Eva Calvo Merino Axel Faes Marc M. Van Hulle "High-gamma band event detection improves stability of finger trajectories decoded from ECoG-LMP activity" International BCI Meeting 2024
[32] Qiang Sun Axel Faes Marc M. Van Hulle "Individual and Coordinated Finger Movements Decoding from High-Density EEG and Its Implication in Hand Exoskeleton Control" European Congress of NeuroRehabilitation 2023
[33] Eva Calvo Merino Axel Faes Marc M. Van Hulle "Modulation of LMPs using the gamma band increases the stability of finger trajectories decoded from ECoG" BCI (Brain-computer interfaces) - Society 2023
[34] Axel Faes Benjamin Wittevrongel Marc M. Van Hulle "Reconstructing single finger trajectories from intracranial brain activity" III International Conference "Volga Neuroscience Meeting 2021"
[35] Axel Faes Mansoureh Fahimi Hnazaee Marc M. Van Hulle "Causal Graphical Modelling of Functional Connectivity from Reconstructed EEG Sources" 8th International BCI Meeting (2021)
[36] Axel Faes Tom Schrijvers "Towards a Core Language with Row-Based Effects for Optimised Compilation" International Conference on Functional Programming 2017 Student Research Competition
[37] Kashyap Todi Donald Degraen Brent Berghmans Axel Faes Matthijs Kaminski Kris Luyten "Purpose-centric appropriation of everyday objects as game controllers." CHI EA '16: Extended Abstracts of the SIGCHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems. Student Game Competition, pp. 2744-2750
[38] Brent Berghmans* Axel Faes* Matthijs Kaminski* Kashyap Todi (* equal contribution) "Household Survival: Immersive Room-Sized Gaming Using Everyday Objects as Weapons" CHI EA '16: Extended Abstracts of the SIGCHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems. Student Game Competition, pp. 168-171

Supervised students, talks and other media

Students
[1] "Brecht Heeren" Master of Science in Computer Science (2025-2026) Federated Machine Learning for Health Data
[2] "Denzell Mgbokwere" Master of Science in Computer Science (2025-2026) Optimization and Type Checking in Single-Pass Compilers - a Case Study with the Wren Programming Language
[3] "Robert Rysskin" Master of Science in Computer Science (2025-2026) Redesign of Wren Bytecode - Towards More Efficient Execution and Memory Usage
[4] "Anh Phuong DO" Doctoral Program in Sciences, Statistics (co-supervisor, 2024 - 2025) Individual Reference Intervals for Clinical Event Prediction
[5] "Matteo Ramina" Master Statistics & Data Science (2024-2025) Estimating Household Wealth in Guyana - Remote Sensing and Convolutional Neural Network Approach
[6] "Mohsen Soleimanisemsani" Master Statistics & Data Science (2024-2025) AI for time series imputation
[7] "Meseret Assefa Kerga" Master Statistics & Data Science (2024-2025) Predicting Cirrhosis Patient Survival Using Machine Learning - A Data-Driven Approach
[8] "Dongho Chun" Master of Science in Computer Science (2024-2025) Clustering with Cardiovascular Health Data
[9] "Dries Cornelissen" Master of Science in Computer Science (2024-2025) BTTR for arrhythmia detection/prediction on sinus rhythms
[10] "Ward Ceyssens" Master of Science in Computer Science (2024-2025) Cross Subject training for finger movement decoding with high-density ECoG
[11] "Qiang Sun" Doctoral Program in Biomedical Sciences (daily supervision 2022-2023) Hand exoskeleton dexterity achieved by shared control with a semi-invasive brain-computer interface
[12] "Eva Calvo Merino" Doctoral Program in Biomedical Sciences (daily supervision 2022-2023) Restoring finger dexterity with an exoskeleton controlled by human intracranial recordings
[13] "Aurélie de Borman" Internship Student 2021 Investigating the effect of Source Mixing on Directed Connectivity estimated between Simulated Reconstructed EEG Sources
[14] "Diogo Sousa Morais" Internship Student 2021 Estimating the effectiveness of source localized EEG for BCIs
[15] "Guilherme de Borras Silva" Internship Student 2021 Cluster Permutation Analysis of N-Back related EEG-ERP Data
[16] "Iris Vantieghem" Master of Science in Artificial Intelligence (2020-2021) Using Neural Networks to derive Directed Connectivity between Reconstructed EEG Sources
[17] "Didier Quintius" Master of Science in Artificial Intelligence (2020-2021) Neural Network Approach to the Inverse Problem
#LeadingAIinHealth dr. ir. Axel Faes · Curriculum Vitae

Supervised students, talks and other media

Talks, presentations and other media
2025 "OHDSI Europe Symposium 2025" 2025 OHDSI Europe Symposium
2025 "Guest Lecture "Federated Finger movement decoding - brain-computer interfacing"" 2025 KULeuven
2024 "Use Case - Real-World Evidence" 2024 Flanders Artificial Intelligence Research Program (FAIR) Research Day
2024 "FAIR Use Case Real World Evidence Kick-off Event" 2024 Flanders Artificial Intelligence Research Program (FAIR)
2023 "Decoding finger movements from invasive recordings in human motor cortex" 2023 Mindseed event Leuven, NeuroTech Leuven
2023 "Guest Lecture "Finger movement decoding - brain-computer interfacing"" 2023 KULeuven
2022 "Coordinated Finger Movements Predicted from Intracranial Brain Activity" 2022 International Congress Humanities vs Sciences & the Knowledge Accelerating in Modern World: Parallels an Interaction,
2022 "BCI demo - Advanced Engineering, Antwerp Expo" 2022 AI Flanders, Flanders Industry 4.0
2022 "Guest Lecture "Decoding single and coordinated finger actions from intracranial brain activity"" 2022 KULeuven
2022 "Finger abduction trajectory prediction from high-density ECoG" 2022 Leuven AI Scientific Workshop
2021 "Decoding single and coordinated finger actions from intracranial brain activity." 2021 XIV World Scientific Congress - SCIENCE FOR PEACE Modern Science, Global and Regional Theory and Practice
2021 "Guest Lecture "Finger Movement Decoding - From Source-Localisation to Tensor Regression Modelling"" 2021 KULeuven
2021 "Reconstructing single finger trajectories from intracranial brain activity" 2021 III International Conference "Volga Neuroscience Meeting 2021"
2021 "BCI demo - Day of Science" 2021 Technopolis (canceled due to the COVID-19 situation)
2019 "Presentation "'MINDSPELLER' Medical Research Project on Brain Computer Interfaces" and concert (with Tigran Maytesian and his Mind Speller Chamber Orchestra)" 2019 Cathedral of St. Michael and St. Gudula, Brussels
2017 "Honours student Axel Faes wins bronze medal in ACM SIGPLAN" 2017 KU Leuven, Department of Computer Science
2017 "Student Axel Faes wins bronze medal in the ACM SIGPLAN Student Research Competition in ICFP conference" 2017 KU Leuven, Department of Computer Science, DTAI
2016 "Purpose-Centric Appropriation of Everyday Objects as Game Controllers" 2016 ACM SIGCHI
#LeadingAIinHealth dr. ir. Axel Faes · Curriculum Vitae