Contact details

Address: Northwestern University
Department of Physics and Astronomy
2131 Tech Drive
Evanston, IL 60208
USA
Home Tel: +1 (847) 674-6947
Office Tel: +1 (847) 467-3017
E-Mail: b-willems_at_northwestern.edu

Personal data

Birth date: 28 February 1973
Citizenship: Belgian
Immigration status: US Legal Permanent Resident

Educational background

1995 - 2000 Ph.D. in Theoretical Astrophysics
Catholic University of Leuven, Belgium
Concentrations: stellar oscillations, dynamic tides in close binaries
Thesis: "Contribution to the linear theory of dynamic tides in close binaries"
Advisor: Prof. Dr. P. Smeyers
1993 - 1995 M.Sc. in Mathematical Sciences
Catholic University of Leuven, Belgium
Concentrations: Physics and Astronomy
Thesis: "Asymptotic representation of g-modes in stars"
Advisor: Prof. Dr. P. Smeyers
Graduated with highest distinction (summa cum laude)
1991 - 1993 B.Sc. in Mathematical Sciences
Catholic University of Leuven, Belgium
Graduated with great distinction (magna cum laude)

Employment history

2007 - present Computer Cluster Administrator, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, USA
2003 - present Postdoctoral Research Associate, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, USA
2007 - 2008 Lecturer in Physics and Astronomy, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, USA
2000 - 2003 Postdoctoral Research Fellow, The Open University, Milton Keynes, UK
1995 - 2000 Research Assistant, Catholic University of Leuven, Belgium

Fellowships

1998 - 2000 Research Assistant of the Research Foundation - Flanders (FWO) at the Catholic University of Leuven, Belgium
1996 - 1998 Research Assistant of the Research Foundation - Flanders (FWO) at the Catholic University of Leuven, Belgium

Research experience and interests

Astrophysics
  • Formation of neutron stars and black holes
  • Formation and evolution of compact object binaries
  • Single and binary star evolution
  • Population synthesis of interacting binaries
  • Gravitational waves from compact object binaries
  • White dwarf and neutron star binaries in globular clusters
  • LISA sources of gravitational wave radiation
  • Eclipsing binaries in extra-solar planet searches
  • Tidal interactions in binary and planetary systems
  • Oscillations in single and binary stars
Mathematics
  • Asymptotic approximations of Sturm-Liouville type differential equations
  • Analytical and numerical solution of ordinary and singular differential equations
  • Multiple-scale expansion techniques
  • Singular perturbation problems

Research supervision

Ph.D. thesis supervision

2005 - present Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, USA
  • Assisting in the supervision of the Ph.D. thesis "Mass transfer in eccentric binaries" by J. Sepinsky, Advisor: Prof. Dr. Kalogera
  • Assisting in the supervision of the Ph.D. thesis "Compact object formation in Galactic X-ray binaries" by T. Fragos, Advisor: Prof. Dr. Kalogera
2001 - 2004 The Open University, Milton Keynes, UK
  • Co-advised the Ph.D. thesis "Thermal timescale mass transfer in binary population synthesis" by S. Justham, Advisor: Dr. U. Kolb

Undergraduate senior thesis supervision

2006 - 2007 Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, USA
  • Supervised the senior thesis "Asymptotic approximations of nonradial g-modes in stars" by J. Kaplan (received outstanding senior thesis award)
  • Supervised the senior thesis "Numerical calculation of low-frequency tides in double white dwarfs" by A. Muratov
1996 - 1997 Catholic University of Leuven, Belgium
  • Assisted in the supervision of the senior thesis "Apsidal motion in close binaries due to the tidal distortion of the component stars" by W. Brebels, Advisor: Prof. Dr. P. Smeyers
1995 - 1996 Catholic University of Leuven, Belgium
  • Assisted in the supervision of the senior thesis "Asymptotic representation of linear, isentropic p-modes in stars" by H. De Smet, Advisor: Prof. Dr. Smeyers

Student research supervision

Summer 2007 Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, USA
  • J. Kaplan, "Asymptotic approximations of low-frequency g-modes in stars with a convective core"
  • J. Andrews, "Polar kicks and the Pspin-e relation in double neutron stars"
Summer 2006 Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, USA
  • J. Kaplan, "Improved asymptotic approximations of g-modes in stars"
  • A. Muratov, "A critical comparison of numerical techniques to calculate tidal interactions in close binaries"
Summer 2005 Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, USA
  • T. Fragos, "The evolutionary history of the double pulsar PSR J0737-3039"
  • J. Kaplan, "The kinematic history of the double pulsar PSR J0737-3039"
  • A. Muratov, "Data smoothing and numerical integration of singular differential equations with the NAG Fortran/C library"
2003 - 2004 Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, USA
  • M. Henninger and T. Levin, "The formation and evolution of the Galactic microquasar GRO J1655-40"

Teaching interests

Introductory physics and astronomy Stellar structure and evolution
The Solar system Advanced stellar astrophysics
Classical mechanics Fluid mechanics
Mathematics for science and non-science majors Computational physics

Teaching experience

Courses taught

Fall 2007 Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, USA
  • Calculus-based "Electricity & Magnetism" for science and engineering majors (~100 students)
Summer 2007 Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, USA
  • Calculus-based "Mechanics" for science and engineering majors
    (~20 students)
Summer 2002 The Open University, Milton Keynes, UK
  • "Stellar Oscillations" for Physics and Astronomy graduates
    (~5 students)

Courses developed

1999 - 2000 Catholic University of Leuven, Belgium
  • Planned and implemented problem sets for "The Solar System" for 3rd year students in mathematical and physical sciences
1997 - 1999 Catholic University of Leuven, Belgium
  • Planned and implemented problem sets for "Mechanics of Continuous Media" for 3rd year students in mathematical and physical sciences

Teaching consultancy

September 2003 The Open University, Milton Keynes, UK
  • Implemented lab and telescope projects for "Observing the Universe", a 2nd level residential school course in astronomy and planetary science

NASA college and high school summer research program

Summer 2006 Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, USA
  • Developed and presented a topical lecture on "Black Hole Forensics" for under-graduate and high school students

Teaching assistance

1999 - 2000 Catholic University of Leuven, Belgium
  • Conducted problem solving sessions for "Introduction to Higher Mathematics" for 1st year students in computer sciences
  • Conducted problem solving sessions for "The Solar System" offered to 3rd year students in mathematical and physical sciences
1997 - 1999 Catholic University of Leuven, Belgium
  • Conducted problem solving sessions for "Introduction to Astronomy and Geodesy" for 2nd year students in mathematical sciences
  • Conducted problem solving sessions for "Mechanics of Continuous Media" for 3rd year students in mathematical and physical sciences
1995 - 1997 Catholic University of Leuven, Belgium
  • Conducted problem solving sessions for "Mathematics I and II" offered to 1st year students in bio-engineering, biology, geography, geology, and chemistry
  • Conducted problem solving sessions for "Higher Mathematics I and II" for 2nd year students in applied economical sciences

Publications
 
Author of 35 refereed papers (34 published, 1 submitted)
<Publication list>

Recent talks

  • Polar Kicks and the Pspin-e Relation in Double Neutron Stars (40 Years of Pulsars, Montr\'eal, Canada, August 12-17, 2007)
  • The Past, Present, and Future of Recycled Pulsar Binaries (Neutron Star Populations Workshop, Green Bank Observatory, May 21-23, 2007)
  • The Formation and Progenitor of the Double Pulsar PSR\,J0737-3039 (ITC Colloquium, Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics, Feb 22, 2007)
  • Black Hole X-Ray Binary Forensics (Topical lecture at Lehigh University, Feb 16, 2007)
  • Cataclysmic Binaries with Circumbinary Disks (Physics and Astronomy Colloquium at Lehigh University, Feb 15, 2007)
  • Cataclysmic Binaries with Circumbinary Disks (Physics and Astronomy Colloquium at San Francisco State University, Feb 12, 2007)
  • Black Hole Formation in Galactic X-Ray Binaries (AAS Meeting, Seattle, Jan 5-10, 2007)

Observational experience

1995 - 1997 Conducted 3 photometric observing campaigns of variable stars (1 as a senior student, 2 as a supervisor for senior students) at the Hochalpine Forschungsstation Jungfraujoch in Switzerland

Professional service

  • Peer reviewer for The Astrophysical Journal, Astronomy & Astrophysics, Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
  • Panel reviewer for the Chandra X-ray Observatory cycle 8 call for proposals
  • Member of the Local Organizing Committee of the international conference on Radial and Nonradial Pulsations as Probes of Stellar Physics (IAU Colloquium 185), July 2001
  • Member of the Local Organizing Committee of the 53rd Dutch Astronomers Conference, May 1998
  • Author of the web pages of IAU Colloquium 185, Radial and Nonradial Pulsations as Probes of Stellar Physics, July 2001
  • Author of the web pages of the Institute of Astronomy at the Catholic University of Leuven, Belgium, 1997-2000

Computer proficiency

  • Operating systems: Windows, Unix/Linux, Mac
  • System administration: Gentoo Linux, Apache web server, Subversion revision control system
  • Programming: Basic, Pascal, Fortran, IDL, learning C
  • Cluster computing: PBS, Moab
  • Word processing: LaTeX, MS Word, OpenOffice Writer
  • Presentations: MS Powerpoint, OpenOffice Impress
  • Spreadsheet: MS Excell, OpenOffice Calc
  • Web: html, basic web site design
  • Graphics: IDL, supermongo, basic photoshop

Languages

  • Dutch (native)
  • English (fluent)
  • French (good)
  • German (basic)