70th VKI Diploma Ceremony Celebrates Research Master Graduates

The 70th VKI Diploma Ceremony for the Research Master in Fluid Dynamics was held on 26 June 2026 at the von Karman Institute, bringing together graduates, faculty, alumni, and distinguished guests to celebrate the achievements of the Class of 2026.The ceremony opened with an address from Her Royal Highness Princess Léa of Belgium, followed by remarks from Peter Grognard, VKI Managing Director, who congratulated the graduates on their dedication and accomplishments.

Bryan Wells, Chair of the VKI Board of Directors, also addressed the audience, highlighting the importance of scientific excellence and innovation. Speaking on behalf of His Excellency Willem Van de Voorde, Mr. Nicolas Gosset emphasized VKI’s strategic role within NATO.The event was further enriched by the participation of Dr. Steen Søndergaard, NATO Chief Scientist, who reflected on the strategic role of the von Karman Institute in supporting NATO’s scientific and technological objectives. Special recognition was given to Hortense Corlùy, alumna of the NATO STO Women & Girls in Science 2026 Challenge, for her insightful presentation on the role of science and technology in defence and security.

A technical keynote was delivered by Dr. Romain Poletti, who recently completed his PhD, presenting his research on the flight control of flapping-wing micro air vehicles using CFD simulations and reinforcement learning.

The graduates also received a congratulatory message from Dr. Thomas Coton (Class of 1997), R&D Senior Project Engineer at Merck Life Science, France, who shared reflections from his professional journey and encouraged the new graduates as they begin their careers.

Awards and Distinctions

The ceremony culminated with the presentation of diplomas and academic awards.

Theodore von Karman Prize and Prince Alexandre of Belgium Award for Best Presentation: Harry Gillingham
Belgian Government Prize: Karol Bukowski
Excellence in Experimental Research Award: Charlotte Borbouse
Excellence in Numerical Research Award: Rossella Tomasello
Excellence in Machine Learning for Fluid Dynamics Award: Marion Falkenauer

The ceremony also recognized all graduates of the Research Master programme, applauding their academic achievements and contributions to the VKI community.

Honored mentions were given to Luigi Bellomo, Charlotte Borbouse, Karol Bukowski, Rúben Miguel Duarte Novais, Marion Falkenauer, Nathan Gadisseux, Harry Gillingham, Michiel Helsen, Adél Olosz, Félix Weis among other graduates, Riccardo Aceti, Ioannis Angouras, Matteo Aprile, Jakub Brahmi, Piero Cozzi, Tom Crabs, Luca Di Mambro, Achraf El Harfoch, Lorenzo Giantomassi, Esteban Guarnizo, Ozan İbrahimağaoğlu , Theodoros Panagiotis Kokkos, Janek Mahlstedt, Ondine Marechal, Mihnea Ștefan Martin, Teun Nuyen, Davide Reviglio, Simão Ribeiro, Ricardo Esteves Rodrigues, Bram Samyn, Adam Střihavka, Rossella Tomasello, Alessio Venturi and Elias Vissers. Asli Beril Ejder has successfully defended her project. Antoine COLONVAL and Fatma Nur UZUN were also enrolled in this academic programme.

Alumni and PhD Awards

Representing the VKI Alumni Association, Dr. Cis De Maesschalck, President of the Association and Capability Lead, Fluid Mechanics at Rolls-Royce, presented the Best Collaborative Student Award to Matteo Aprile.Prof. Jeroen Van Beeck, Dean of the Faculty, presented the awards of the PhD Symposium 2026:

Best PhD Presentation Award: Bruno Barata for “Aeroelastic Analysis of Instrumentation in Turbomachinery: Investigation of a Possible Root Cause of Rake Flutter.”
Best Poster Award: Domenico Massari for “Advanced Methodologies for Thermal Protection System Design Using Dynamic Ground Testing and Flight Correlation.”

The ceremony concluded with a vote of thanks from student representatives Ioannis Angouras, Davide Reviglio, and Janek Mahlstedt, who expressed their gratitude to the faculty, staff, sponsors, and guests.The 70th VKI Diploma Ceremony celebrated not only academic excellence but also the commitment, collaboration, and ambition that define the VKI community. It marked an important milestone for the graduates as they embark on the next stage of their professional and scientific careers.