Dimitri Boeckaerts

Dimitri Boeckaerts

Position: PhD researcher at Ghent University

Research focus: phage-host interactions in a computational context with the goal to develop machine learning models to predict these interactions

What do you love about viruses?
I love the fact that viruses can be so simple, and yet are capable of very complex interactions.

Who is your favourite scientist and why?
Leonardo Da Vinci for his eternal curiosity and perspective on bringing together science and art.

On what topic could you give a 30-minute presentation without any preparation?
Trampolining

What is your favourite way to spend a day off?
Simply enjoying a relaxing Sunday afternoon with good weather and friends or family!

What is the most interesting question or challenge in science that is still unanswered?
Do aliens exist?!

What is the coolest thing about your research?
The coolest thing about my research is that it is situated at the intersection of Bioinformatics, Artificial intelligence and Synthetic biology. Three fields I’m widely interested in.

If you had the option to advise a younger version of yourself, what would that be?
Don’t ever be afraid to communicate openly & honestly.