The Team
Principal Investigator
Prof. Dr. Natalie Beenaerts
Professor - head of the Field Research Centre
PhD researchers
Imke Tomsin
PhD researcher
Research focus: mechanistic modelling to assess wildlife management strategies
Wim Kuypers
PhD researcher
Research focus: the influence of recreation on the spatiotemporal behaviour of wildlife
Siebe Indestege
PhD researcher
Research focus: long-term wildlife monitoring methodologies
Eliana Muccio
PhD researcher
Research focus: human-wildlife coexistence studies
Associated Members
Dr. ir. Jim Casaer
Senior researcher at INBO
Research focus: human-wildlife interactions, ungulates, wildlife management, structured decision-making, camera trapping
Prof. Dr. Nicolas Dendoncker
Professor - UNamur
Prof. Dr. Sam Ottoy
Guest professor
Research focus: urban ecosystems, wildfire, UAV
Dr. Anneleen Rutten
Senior Researcher at INBO
Research focus: human-wildlife interactions
Dr. Michiel Lathouwers
Researcher at INBO
Research focus: understanding avian ecology in human-modified landscapes
Prof. Dr. Yanet Cruz Portorreal
Professor - Universidad de Oriente
Dr. Mario Gordillo-Pérez
Researcher
Research focus: thermal biology & functional ecology
Robbe Van Wassenhove
Researcher
Research focus: long-term ecological monitoring of bats and other small mammals
Student researchers
Michaël Van Kets
MSc Biology
Project: Establishing an ecological baseline for future monitoring of the impact of large herbivore rewilding in National Park Bosland
Mattice Ballet
BSc Biology
Project: Estimating population densities of roe deer (Capreolus capreolus), wild boar (Sus scrofa) and red fox (Vulpes vulpes) in National Park Hoge Kempen (NPHK)
Maxim Rousseau
BSc Biology
Project: Habitat selection of wildlife in National Park Hoge Kempen using different methodologies
Stan Van Gils
BSc Biology
Project: Evaluating the use of passive acoustic monitoring for assessing bird communities in fruit production orchards
Collaborating organisations
INBO - Research Institute for Nature and Forest
Université de Namur
Past members
PhD graduates
- Dr. Jolien Wevers
- Dr. Martijn Bollen
Master & Bachelor thesis students (UHasselt)
2025-2026: Annelien Vantomme, Lisa Bongaers, Robbe Van Assche, Giel Maesen
2024-2025: Noah May, Stan Moors, Ward Wuestenberghs, Kim Verhemeldonck, Luna Vlayen, Robbe Van Wassenhove, Arne Beck, Freya Strackx, Roos Corbeels
2023-2024: Katrijn De Ryck, Marie Nijs, Nena Vossen
2022-2023: Birk Auwerkerken, De Greef Robine, Nynke De Vries, Willard Loots, Frank van Montfort, Fien Vandenberghe
2021-2022: Jo Vandersanden, Gianni De Coster
2020-2021: Siebe Indestege, Janne Bekaert, Jasper Roussard, Emmanuel Van Biesbrouck, Ebe Verheyen
2019-2020: Wim Kuypers, Stoffel Wirges, Tibo Simons, Michaël van Kets
2018-2019: Sam Bielen, Lorens Christiaens, Laura Evenepoel, Jessie Machiels, Laurens Le Jeune, Sven Baerten
2017-2018: Stefanie Kelchtermans, Yens Vandenboer, Sam Vastmans, Brecht Massoels, Eva Vanstraelen, Thibeau Bottu, Alexander Aerts, Eva Andries, Gust Boiten, Roel Lammerant, Ann-Kathrin Coenen, Iris D’Huys
2016-2017: Ellen Truyers, Pieter Scholberg, Lisa Partoens
2015-2016: Michiel Hamelinck
2014-2015: Tina Coenegracht, Kris Somers
2013-2014: Jolien Wevers, Gilles Busé, Lucas Robin
External (co-)supervised master theses
2023-2024: Imke Tomsin (University of Antwerp)
2022-2023: Siebe Indestege (KU Leuven)
2020-2021: Ward Hamaekers (Inland Norway University of Applied Sciences), Sam Bielen (University of Antwerp)
2019-2020: Jo DeRyck (KU Leuven)
2018-2019: Mathieu Olbrechts (KU Leuven)
Internships
2024-2025: Rowin Lamers, Joël Bal (HAS Hogeschool, Netherlands)
2022-2023: Max Langeveld (HAS Hogeschool, Netherlands)
2020-2021: Kato Switten (Hogeschool PXL)
2019-2020: Anne Habets (Hogeschool PXL), Amelia Lieva
2018-2019: Joshua Seelen (HAS Hogeschool, Netherlands), Jonathan Withofs (Hogeschool PXL)
2015-2016: Vera Pfannenstiller (Université de Montpellier, France)