Dr. Kersten Van Langenhove

Research & Grant Officer, R&D Department, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels,

Kersten completed his PhD in 2014, followed by 2 PostDoc projects in the AMGC group and; since 2018, works at the VUB’s central R&D department where he is part of the Research and Grant Office.

As a Post-Doctoral Researcher within the Analytical, Environmental & Geo-Chemistry lab at the Vrije Universiteit Brussel, I was primarily active on the topic of endocrine disrupting and active compounds in aquatic environments using both in vitro reporter gene assays and chemical UHPLC-MS/MS tools for quantification and identification.

Previous to that, I obtained my Bachelor and Master degree from the Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB) and enrolled there also for a PhD under the supervision of Prof. Dr. ir. Marc Elskens.

Aside from my professional career I was a member of the Royal Flemish Chemical Society (KVCV) and also of SETAC (Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry). Within KVCV I was also an active volunteer in the youth section where we organized evening lectures, science days for the general public and scientific conferences for young researchers.

PhD PROJECT TITLE:

The CALUX bioassay: PCDD/F and PCB analysis in sludge and sediment samples and methodological optimization

PROJECT SUMMARY:

Phd: My research then was focused on the method optimization of the CALUX bioassay and also on the implementation during a large scale study on PCDD/Fs and dioxin-like PCBs in sludges and general bio-waste applicable to agricultural land. In this project I cooperated with both CODA-CERVA and ULg for sample collection and GC-IDHRMS analysis of dioxins.

PostDoc: My research aimed at unraveling emerging persistent and organic pollutants and their detection. Most noticeably I focus on the Zenne River in Brussels and target a variety of pharmaceuticals and personal care products using state of the art LC-MS/MS and in vitro CALUX bioassays to analyze water samples. This research fits within the EU Water Framework Directive and provides valuable info at the national level concerning the chemical status of our freshwater river system.

FIELD SITES:  

Zenne River (Brussels, Belgium), Sludge and fertilizers, Sediment & soil

KEYWORDS:

CALUX, endocrine-disrupting chemicals, pollution, AhR

SUPERVISORS:

Prof. Dr. ir. Marc Elskens