Ben Willebrords
Theoretical Physicist · KU Leuven
Hey! My name is Ben Willebrords. I am a researcher in theoretical physics at KU Leuven in Belgium. My research interests include non-equilibrium statistical mechanics, the origins of life, the evolution and thermodynamics of black holes, and the foundations of quantum mechanics.
In a previous life, I used to study philosophy, a period in my life that still has a substantial influence on my thinking. My philosophical interests include (in no particular order) the works of Immanuel Kant, Wilfrid Sellars, and Paul Feyerabend, the history and philosophy of science, the philosophy of mind, the philosophy of physics and mathematics, epistemology, and logic.
When I'm not thinking about exploding black holes, you can find me on the dance floor dancing salsa, jogging, going to trivia nights with friends, reading, or brushing up my coding skills.
I'm always interested in getting to know and collaborate with new people. If you feel the same, drop me a line!
Curriculum vitae
BA of Philosophy
Sep 2015 – Jun 2019 · KU LeuvenThesis on the psychology and epistemology of the hard problem of consciousness. Graduated cum laude.
MA of Philosophy
Sep 2019 – Jun 2020 · KU LeuvenAwarded the Mercier prize for my thesis on Kant's philosophy of mathematics, later published in Tijdschrift voor Filosofie. Graduated summa cum laude with congratulations of the Board of Examiners.
Research & Teaching Assistant
Sep 2020 – Mar 2021 · KU LeuvenInterdisciplinary researcher in philosophy and computer science. Teaching assistant for a course on logic and argumentation theory.
Science Teacher
Apr 2021 – Aug 2023 · Sint-Martinuscollege OverijseTeacher of physics, mathematics, and philosophy of science in secondary school.
BSc of Physics
Sep 2021 – Jun 2023 · KU LeuvenThesis on CO radio line shapes from AGB stars (later published in Astronomy & Astrophysics) and on measuring the intensity and angular dependence of atmospheric muons. Graduated cum laude.
MSc of Physics
Sep 2023 – Jun 2025 · KU Leuven & LMU MunichThesis on the Schwinger effect in Reissner-Nordström-de Sitter spacetime. Graduated magna cum laude.
PhD Researcher
Jan 2026 – present · KU LeuvenResearcher of non-equilibrium statistical mechanics. Projects include: poking quantum non-equilibrium systems and seeing what happens, finding a geometrical description of non-equilibrium systems, comparing E. coli bacteria and electrons, and relating all this to the art of M.C. Escher.
Erasmus+ Exchange
Sep 2024 – Feb 2026 · LMU MunichExchange at the Arnold Sommerfeld Center for Theoretical Physics and the Munich Center for Mathematical Philosophy.
My work
Publications
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2025
The Nearby Evolved Stars Survey III. First data release of JCMT CO-line observations (opens in new tab) Astronomy & Astrophysics, 704, A276 (2025)
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2022
On the foundational role of intuition in Kant's philosophy of mathematics (opens in new tab) Tijdschrift voor Filosofie, 84, 181–212 (2022)
Contact details
For contact, kindly send an email to .