Ghent University is one of the leading institutions of higher education and research in the Low Countries with 41,000 students and more than 9,000 staff members. The Magnel Laboratory for Concrete Research (Faculty of Engineering and Architecture) is the largest Belgian research center in the field of concrete technology and concrete structures and has a widely-spread international recognition. The Center of Microbial Ecology and Technology (CMET, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering) focusses on the functioning of microbial communities. The Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation (Faculty of Economics and Business Administration) studies founder and team characteristics in new ventures.
The Magnel Laboratory disposes of extensive experimental testing facilities and infrastructures. In the context of this ITN-proposal, relevant state-of-the-art equipment is available, including setups to test freeze-thaw resistance, carbonation, chloride migration and diffusion, potentiostats,… Microstructural characterization of the material can rely upon equipment for MIP, SEM, thin section analysis,…. CMET focuses on the optimal management of microbial resources enabling to develop novel products and processes to improve our environment or human health. CMET applies this in the fields of applied microbial ecology, biomaterials and nanotechnology, water treatment, bio-energy, soils and sediments. CMET designs new concepts and makes simulators to understand microbial ecosystems. CMET also developed molecular and microbial methods for the qualitative and quantitative description of microorganisms and investigation of microbial processes. The Department of Marketing, Innovation and Organisation has access to all facilities needed for carrying out qualitative and quantitative research, including access to the statistical programs STATA and SPSS and survey instruments such as QUALTRICS.
https://www.ugent.be/ea/structural-engineering/en/research/magnel
https://www.ugent.be/eb/mio/cer/en/team