Axel Faes
Machine Learning Engineer
- Postdoctoral Researcher
- Scientific Coordinator
- Computational Neuroscientist
Work & Research Experience
Postdoctoral Researcher: Scientific Coordinator and Artificial Intelligence
UHasselt
January 2024 - Current
- 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
May 2023 - January 2024
- Project: "Sign Language Alphabet decoding from intracranial brain activity"
-
Group: Prof. Marc van Hulle, Computational Neuroscience, Laboratory for Neuro-and Psychophysiology, KU Leuven
Research Stay Idrogenet Srl, Gloreha: Robotic Rehabilitation
Lumezzane, Italy
Dec. 2022 - Jan. 2023
- 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
Sep. 2018 - May 2023
- Cognitive and Molecular Neuroscience
-
PhD Thesis: Finger Movement Decoding: From Source-Localisation to Tensor Regression Modelling
Web Performance Research Internship
UHasselt
Jul. 2016 - Sep. 2016
- 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
Aug. 2015 - Sep. 2015
- Interfacing between human entity, a drone and virtual objects @ Expertise centre for Digital Media (EDM).
-
(C++, Optitrack motion capture, custom built drone)
Educational background
Flemish Sign Language course
Flemish Sign Language Centre (Vlaams Gebarentaal Centrum)
Sep. 2022 - May 2024
- 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
Sep. 2018 - May 2023
- 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
Sep. 2017 - Jul. 2019
- Engineering and Computer Science (76% - Cum Laude)
-
Thesis: An Information Theoretical Approach to EEG Source-Reconstructed Connectivity (on Github)
Honoursprogramme of the Faculty of Engineering Science (Research Track)
KU Leuven
Sep. 2016 - Oct. 2018
- 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 (Burgelijk Ingenieur - ir.)
KU Leuven
Sep. 2016 - Sep. 2018
- 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
Jul. 2015 - Aug. 2015
Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) in Computer Science
UHasselt
Sep. 2013 - Jul. 2016
- Physics and General courses (79% - Magna Cum Laude)
-
Thesis: Machine learning techniques for flow-based network intrusion detection systems (on Github)
Projects
Cardinal: scripting language
Lead Developer
Jan. 2015 - Current
- Written in C (and since 2023, in C++14). High performance (on par with Luajit 2.1 -joff).
Reinforcement Learning Agent in Google Deepmind’s StarCraft II Framework
Developer
Feb. 2018 - Jul. 2018
- Implement reinforcement learning algorithms in PySC2 utilising the KU Leuven supercomputer.
IoT-platform with pluggable sensors
Developer
Feb. 2017 - Jul. 2017
- Showcase large-scale use of Internet of Things sensors
ICAL parser for KU Leuven schedules
Lead Developer
Aug. 2016 - Current
- An nodejs application to create an iCalender file for courses at KU Leuven. (>1000 active users)
Search and Recommendation System
Team Member
Feb. 2016 - Jul. 2016
- A search and recommendation system for VoD (Video on Demand) for Androme.
-
In production in the Nebula project.
Household Survival
Researcher
Sep. 2015 - Dec. 2015
- A tower-defense game written in Unity utilising Optitrack motion capture.
-
Combine the virtual world and reality using augmented reality
Visual Programming IDE
Developer
Feb. 2015 - Jul. 2015
- A Visual programming IDE (Java)
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)
|
Brussel, Belgium |
| Jan 2016 |
IELTS,
Academic Module (8.0/9.0)
|
Brussel, Belgium |
Publications
Papers in Preparation
| [1] |
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)
|
| [2] |
Axel Faes
Eva Calvo Merino
Anais Van Hoylandt
Elina Keirse
Tom Theys
Marc M. Van Hulle
"Finger abduction trajectory prediction from high-density ECoG"
Submitted to Journal of Neural Engineering (5.4 IF) (Under review)
|
| [3] |
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"
Submitted to Journal of Neural Engineering (5.4 IF) (Under review)
|
International Journal Papers
Conference Papers
Other publication
Thesis
Posters
Publications
Extended Abstracts
Invited positions, supervised students, talks and other media
Other
| [24] |
Editor
"Use of Big Data and Artificial Intelligence in Multiple Sclerosis"
Frontiers in Immunology
|
| [25] |
Judge
"Student Research Competition"
ICFP (International Conference on Functional Programming)
|
| [26] |
Consultant
"Flanders BCI (2022-2024)"
Laboratory of Neuro- and Psychophysiology, KU Leuven
|
| [27] |
FWO
"Fundamental Research Grant 2018-2022"
Belgium
|
Students
| [28] |
Dongho Chun
"(Federated) Machine Learning for Health Data"
Master of Science in Computer Science (2024-2025)
|
| [29] |
Dries Cornelissen
"Federated Learning for Regression modelling with Cardiovascular Health Data"
Master of Science in Computer Science (2024-2025)
|
| [30] |
Ward Ceyssens
"Brain-Computer Interfacing - population-based finger movement decoding"
Master of Science in Computer Science (2024-2025)
|
| [31] |
Qiang Sun
"Hand exoskeleton dexterity achieved by shared control with a semi-invasive brain-computer interface"
Doctoral Program in Biomedical Sciences (daily supervision 2022-2023)
|
| [32] |
Eva Calvo Merino
"Restoring finger dexterity with an exoskeleton controlled by human intracranial recordings"
Doctoral Program in Biomedical Sciences (daily supervision 2022-2023)
|
| [33] |
Aurélie de Borman
"Investigating the effect of Source Mixing on Directed Connectivity estimated between Simulated Reconstructed EEG Sources"
Internship Student 2021
|
| [34] |
Diogo Sousa Morais
"Estimating the effectiveness of source localized EEG for BCIs"
Internship Student 2021
|
| [35] |
Guilherme de Borras Silva
"Cluster Permutation Analysis of N-Back related EEG-ERP Data"
Internship Student 2021
|
| [36] |
Iris Vantieghem
"Using Neural Networks to derive Directed Connectivity between Reconstructed EEG Sources"
Master of Science in Artificial Intelligence (2020-2021)
|
| [37] |
Didier Quintius
"Neural Network Approach to the Inverse Problem"
Master of Science in Artificial Intelligence (2020-2021)
|
Talks, presentations and other media
| Apr 25, 2023 |
"Decoding finger movements from invasive recordings in human motor cortex"
Mindseed event Leuven, NeuroTech Leuven
|
| Apr 25, 2023 |
"Guest Lecture "Finger movement decoding - brain-computer interfacing""
KULeuven
|
| Oct 10, 2022 |
"Coordinated Finger Movements Predicted from Intracranial Brain Activity"
International Congress Humanities vs Sciences & the Knowledge Accelerating in Modern World: Parallels an Interaction,
|
| May 11, 2022 |
"BCI demo - Advanced Engineering, Antwerp Expo"
AI Vlaanderen, Vlaanderen Industrie 4.0
|
| Apr 25, 2023 |
"Guest Lecture "Decoding single and coordinated finger actions from intracranial brain activity""
KULeuven
|
| Mar 15, 2022 |
"Finger abduction trajectory prediction from high-density ECoG"
Leuven AI Scientific Workshop
|
| Nov 17, 2021 |
"Decoding single and coordinated finger actions from intracranial brain activity."
XIV World Scientific Congress - SCIENCE FOR PEACE Modern Science, Global and Regional Theory and Practice
|
| Apr 25, 2023 |
"Guest Lecture "Finger Movement Decoding - From Source-Localisation to Tensor Regression Modelling""
KULeuven
|
| Aug 24, 2021 |
"Reconstructing single finger trajectories from intracranial brain activity"
III International Conference "Volga Neuroscience Meeting 2021"
|
| Nov 28, 2021 |
"BCI demo - Dag van de Wetenschap"
Technopolis (geannuleerd wegens de covid-19 situatie)
|
| Nov 7, 2019 |
"Presentation "'MINDSPELLER' Medical Research Project on Brain Computer Interfaces" and concert (with Tigran Maytesian and his Mind Speller Chamber Orchestra)"
Kathedraal van Sint-Michiel en Sint-Goedele, Brussel
|
| Sep 19, 2017 |
"Honours student Axel Faes wins bronze medal in ACM SIGPLAN"
KU Leuven, Department of Computer Science
|
| Sep 19, 2017 |
"Student Axel Faes wins bronze medal in the ACM SIGPLAN Student Research Competition in ICFP conference"
KU Leuven, Department of Computer Science, DTAI
|
| Sep 19, 2016 |
"Purpose-Centric Appropriation of Everyday Objects as Game Controllers"
ACM SIGCHI
|