Faculteit Wetenschappen (Faculty of Science) at KU Leuven

Programmes

Preselection Criteria

Publications [?]	3243,0
Citations [?]	1,2
Marie Curie projects [?]	2
Outstandig researchers [?]
Student mobility [?]
Teaching staff mobility [?]
Erasmus Mundus Master's [?]	2
ERC-grants [?]	1

Students' Judgements

Overall study situation (mas.&doc.) [?]	1,7
Advisory (mas.&doc.) [?]	2,0
Career centers (mas.&doc.) [?]	2,1
Examinations (mas.&doc.) [?]	1,8
Laboratories (mas.&doc.) [?]	2,3
Library (mas.&doc.) [?]	1,8
Training (mas.&doc.) [?]	1,9
Study organisation (mas.&doc.) [?]	1,9
IT-infrastructure (mas.) [?]	1,9
Counselling (mas.) [?]	2,2
Websites (mas.) [?]	2,0
Rooms (mas.) [?]	1,8
Social relations (mas.) [?]	1,5
Conference attendance (doc.) [?]	2,5
Research community (doc.) [?]	2,0
Time for PhD project (doc.) [?]
Workroom (doc.) [?]	1,9
Workshops (doc.) [?]	3,7

Institutional Survey

staff and students

Staff (with a doctoral degree) [?]	84
International staff [?]	46,7 %
Doctoral students [?]	150
International doctorates [?]	30,0 %
Master's students [?]	234
International master's students [?]	32,5 %
Gender balance staff [?]	85/15 [%male/%female]
Gender balance doctoral students [?]	62/38 [%male/%female]
Gender balance master's students [?]	72/28 [%male/%female]

Research

Scientific Journals in library [?]	105,0
Memberships in Editorial Boards [?]	0,6 per 10 staff members

Research Teams

Analytical Chemistry Biochemistry

biomolecular Architecture
The main topics of the Biomolecular Architecture group concern the structural study of short DNA fragments and proteins using X-ray diffraction techniques. Results are published in leading journals such as Journal of Molecular Biology, Acta Crystallographica D, Biochemistry, JACS, Nucleic Acids Research, Nature and Science. The structure determination of biological macromolecules is one of the most promising developments in crystallography. In order to understand the biological function of DNA and proteins it is important to know its 3-dimensional structure at the atomic level.

biomolecular dynamics
At the Laboratory of Biomolecular Dynamics we are crazy about fluorescence. We are very interested in the Direct Observation of Molecular Interactions in the living cell via fluorescence techniques. We are equipped with instruments for Fluorescence Correlation Microscopy (Confocor I, Zeiss) and for confocal scanning and Cross Correlation Microscopy (Confocor II, Zeiss). We produce fluorescent proteins via fusion with GFP-variants or by chemical labeling, and study their diffusion and interactions with other molecules in vitro and in the living cell.

Biomolecular Modelling
Structural research of HIV-1 Integrase inhibition Structural characterisation of the LRRK2 protein Development, by rational drug design, of peptidomimetics based on the binding CDR loops of antibodies with their receptor. Structural characterisation of yeast-esterases which give the aromas during beer production

Molecular Biology and Signal Transduction
The research focuses on the molecular structures & regulation mechanisms that are active during the defence of higher organisms against chemical & biological aggressors. In the realisation of such defence against foreign material both metallothioneins and cytokines play a crucial role. For such defence the contact of extracellular signal molecules with a cell is presumed, followed by the generation and/activation of one or more second and third messengers through the activation of intracellular enzymes, transduction of the signal to the nucleus, activation or down-regulation of gene transcript

Photochemistry and Spectroscopy
ensemble Photochemistry and Spectroscopy Scanning Probe Microscopy Single Molecule Detection

protein chemistry
The structure and functional properties of the high-Mr proteins haemocyanin and a-macroglobulin, found in the haemolymph of Molluscs, are investigated. As prototypes the proteins from the gastropod Helix pomatia (roman snail) and from the cephalopod Sepia officinalis (cuttle-fish) are studied. We also started a physicochemical study on gelatin

thrombosis research
Our main lines of research are: 1.Understanding the role of platelets in the process of thrombosis and haemostasis 2.Understanding the mechanism of von Willebrand factor dependent platelet adhesion to damaged blood vessels 3.Understanding the regulation of the von Willebrand factor size by ADAMTS13 4.Development of compounds that interfere with the collagen – von Willebrand factor –platelet GPIb axis, as new antithrombotic drugs with better safety characteristics 5. Development of gene therapy approach for von Willebrand’s disease 6. Development of a platelet functional genomics approach

Inorganic Chemistry Macromolecular Chemistry Organic Chemistry Physical Chemistry

biomolecular Architecture
The main topics of the Biomolecular Architecture group concern the structural study of short DNA fragments and proteins using X-ray diffraction techniques. Results are published in leading journals such as Journal of Molecular Biology, Acta Crystallographica D, Biochemistry, JACS, Nucleic Acids Research, Nature and Science. The structure determination of biological macromolecules is one of the most promising developments in crystallography. In order to understand the biological function of DNA and proteins it is important to know its 3-dimensional structure at the atomic level.

biomolecular dynamics
At the Laboratory of Biomolecular Dynamics we are crazy about fluorescence. We are very interested in the Direct Observation of Molecular Interactions in the living cell via fluorescence techniques. We are equipped with instruments for Fluorescence Correlation Microscopy (Confocor I, Zeiss) and for confocal scanning and Cross Correlation Microscopy (Confocor II, Zeiss). We produce fluorescent proteins via fusion with GFP-variants or by chemical labeling, and study their diffusion and interactions with other molecules in vitro and in the living cell.

Biomolecular Modelling
Structural research of HIV-1 Integrase inhibition Structural characterisation of the LRRK2 protein Development, by rational drug design, of peptidomimetics based on the binding CDR loops of antibodies with their receptor. Structural characterisation of yeast-esterases which give the aromas during beer production

Computational Coordination Chemistry
Our quantum chemistry group has a longstanding tradition in theoretical transition metal coordination chemistry. One of our main interests is the study of electronically excited states. This leads to a strong interest in multiconfigurational quantum chemical approaches. We are one of the main users of MOCAS software in this domain. We were involved in one of the first applications of CASPT2 in TM chemistry and have been using this method in many applications over the years, many times in collaboration with the MOLCAS-group in Lund.

Coordination chemistry
The research of the Laboratory of Coordination Chemistry is multidisciplinary, but the rare earths or lanthanides and ionic liquids have a central place in the research topics. The main research areas are: spectroscopy of lanthanides and uranyl; Rare earths in soft matter; rare earths as reagents in organic synthesis; polynuclear complexes of rare earths; Ionic liquids

Molecular electronics and Photonics
* Second-order NLO in solution * Hyper-Rayleigh scattering (HRS) * Second-order NLO on film * Second Harmonic Generation (SHG) * Theoretical Dispersion Models * Faraday Rotation * Second Harmonic Generation * Second Harmonic Imaging * Colloid Synthesis * Polymer Synthesis - Conjugated Polymers * Switching of second NLO * Photonic Band Gap

Photochemistry and Spectroscopy
ensemble Photochemistry and Spectroscopy Scanning Probe Microscopy Single Molecule Detection

physical and analytical chemistry
The research can be divided in 3 main topics: *The use of ozone in the liquid phase. Ozone (O3) is used in a wide range of applications, from waste water treatment to medical applications. *Chemical processes in the semiconductor industry: The production of semiconductor devices consists of a large number of process steps; *Gasphase reactions (kinetics and productdistribution): The reaction of metal atoms in the gas phase has its importance in the atmospheric chemistry. Recently the reaction of Sr an Ca with methylhalogenides was studied.

Polymer Chemistry
Quantum chemistry
The Quantum Chemistry Group is active in theoretical developments of models & methods, and in intensive and rigorous applications of computational chemistry. In the recently approved concerted action scheme on 'Multi-centre Quantum Chemistry' (2008-2012) five theoretical projects are elaborated: 1) Methodological developments for multi-centre systems and their application for the investigation of novel magnetic materials 2) Computational transition-metal chemistry 3) Computational bio-inorganic chemistry 4) Thermochemical and Catalytic Aspects of organic and organometallic reactions

Reaction Kinetics
Our research group studies many aspects of chemical kinetics, spanning a wide array of topics and reactions, and using both experimental and theoretical methodologies. We are also involved in experimental studies of reaction kinetics of relevance in atmospheric chemistry, combustion chemistry and interstellar chemistry. And we are involved in the theoretical characterization of reaction kinetics of relevance in atmospheric chemistry, combustion chemistry, interstellar chemistry, and catalysis. This characterization includes the rate coefficient and product distributions of elementary reactions

Theoretical Chemistry

Biomolecular Modelling
Structural research of HIV-1 Integrase inhibition Structural characterisation of the LRRK2 protein Development, by rational drug design, of peptidomimetics based on the binding CDR loops of antibodies with their receptor. Structural characterisation of yeast-esterases which give the aromas during beer production

Computational Coordination Chemistry
Our quantum chemistry group has a longstanding tradition in theoretical transition metal coordination chemistry. One of our main interests is the study of electronically excited states. This leads to a strong interest in multiconfigurational quantum chemical approaches. We are one of the main users of MOCAS software in this domain. We were involved in one of the first applications of CASPT2 in TM chemistry and have been using this method in many applications over the years, many times in collaboration with the MOLCAS-group in Lund.

Molecular electronics and Photonics
* Second-order NLO in solution * Hyper-Rayleigh scattering (HRS) * Second-order NLO on film * Second Harmonic Generation (SHG) * Theoretical Dispersion Models * Faraday Rotation * Second Harmonic Generation * Second Harmonic Imaging * Colloid Synthesis * Polymer Synthesis - Conjugated Polymers * Switching of second NLO * Photonic Band Gap

Quantum chemistry
The Quantum Chemistry Group is active in theoretical developments of models & methods, and in intensive and rigorous applications of computational chemistry. In the recently approved concerted action scheme on 'Multi-centre Quantum Chemistry' (2008-2012) five theoretical projects are elaborated: 1) Methodological developments for multi-centre systems and their application for the investigation of novel magnetic materials 2) Computational transition-metal chemistry 3) Computational bio-inorganic chemistry 4) Thermochemical and Catalytic Aspects of organic and organometallic reactions

funding and counselling

Funding for international master's students [?]	International Students, wishing to take a Master programma of the Faculty of Science of the K.U.Leuven can apply for a Scienca@Leuven scholarship. More details of the scholarship can be found on this website.
Counselling by students [?]	different activities and services (e.g. student union/student council)
Counselling by academic staff [?]	student counselling, tutoring/mentoring, specific offers for international students

Rankings

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Faculteit Wetenschappen (Faculty of Science)