CV

Here you can find a shortened CV, listing e.g. my first-author publications. A more extensive version, including co-author papers and extended project descriptions, can be downloaded using the PDF button.

Basics

Name Toon De Prins
Label PhD student in Astronomy and Astrophysics
Email toon.deprins@protonmail.com
Phone +32 499 37 98 59
Url https://deprinst.github.io/
Summary PhD student in Astrophysics at KU Leuven's Institute of Astronomy; PhD fellow fundamental research at Research Foundation-Flanders (FWO); Data analyst

Work

  • Sep 2023 - NOW
    PhD student
    KU Leuven & Macquarie University
    Doctoral research position focusing on observational interferometric characterization of dusty discs surrounding post-AGB binary systems. Joint PhD at Macquarie University since February 2025. Includes a 20% commitment to teaching duties at KU Leuven.
    • Binary stars
    • Optical interferometry
    • Circumstellar discs

Education

Awards

  • NOV 2025
    Best Student Oral Presentation
    'Why Galaxies care about AGB stars V' SOC & LOC
    Award for the best student oral presentation at the international 'Why Galaxies care about AGB stars V' conference.
  • SEP 2025
    FWO Grant for participation in a conference abroad
    Research Foundation - Flanders (FWO)
    This travel grant supports researchers who wish to actively participate in an international scientific conference abroad. Granted for my participation in the 'Why Galaxies care about AGB stars V' conference.
  • JAN 2025
    International Cotutelle Macquarie University Research Excellence Scholarship 'iMQRES'
    Macquarie University
    The iMQRES scheme aims to support exceptional international graduate research students enrolled in research priority areas.
  • SEP 2024
    FWO Short research stay travel grant
    Research Foundation - Flanders (FWO)
    The FWO short stay Travel Grant supports researchers who wish to spend a short period abroad to perform research in a non-Belgian organisation. Granted for a three week research stay at Macquarie University.
  • OCT 2023
    FWO PhD Fellowship fundamental research
    Research Foundation - Flanders (FWO)
    The FWO's competitive PhD fellowship fundamental research allows young researchers to prepare a PhD, providing funding for up to four years.
  • JUL 2023
    Paul Smeyers Prize
    Institute of Astronomy, KU Leuven
    The Paul Smeyers prize crowns the best master's thesis of the Master of Science in Astronomy & Astrophysics, on grounds of the results of the second examination period.

Publications

Languages

Dutch
Native
English
Fluent
French
Advanced

References

Prof. Dr. Hans Van Winckel
Professor at KU Leuven (Belgium); he is the world-leading expert on post-AGB binaries. His group has a tradition of studying their binary evolution, chemistry and nucleosynthesis. This has been complemented by an additional focus on optical interferometry to study their circumbinary discs. He is/was my main supervisor during my PhD and MSc studies at KU Leuven's Institute of Astronomy.
Dr. Devika Kamath
Senior lecturer at Macquarie University (Australia); she is recognised for her work studying the final evolution of stars, both in the Magellanic Clouds and in the Galaxy. She combines observations with theoretical work on the fine-tuning of evolutionary tracks to study the nucleosynthesis and yields of post-AGB stars. She is/was my co-supervisor during my PhD and MSc studies.