Meet our new colleague

We're very excited to introduce to you: Thomas De Bock, the newest member of our team.

Thomas is a bioscience engineer specialized in food science and nutrition, graduated in 2019, after which he started as a teaching assistant at Ghent University and worked on his PhD in microbial ecology and food safety of fresh produce – a great combination of scientific research and education 🔬.
His passion? Food and drinks, both professionally and personally. Tapas, a good glass of wine, and great company – nothing can beat that 🍷. The professional bias runs deep: he even started a professional sommelier training (currently on hold to finish his PhD...). In between, he loved going for a run – to clear his mind and keep the calories in check. Life is all about balance, after all.

We asked him some questions so you can get to know him...

What motivated you to join Pack4Food?
I was looking for a new challenge where I could broaden my expertise in food. Food packaging plays a key role in that – it’s central to the sustainability debate and deeply rooted in both science and society. Pack4Food offers the ideal mix of scientific depth and hands-on collaboration with the industry – that immediately appealed to me.

What’s your favourite type of packaging and why?
A ziplock bag filled with chocolate – perfect for a bit of comfort on a rough day, and super practical. Although “resealable” is mostly theoretical in my case...

Which packaging innovation would you love to help develop?
Smart packaging with sensors that provide a dynamic shelf-life indication – less food waste, more consumer trust.

What can we always wake you up for… except an 8 a.m. meeting?
Freshly baked croissants and a great cup of coffee. Or even better: a full-on brunch in the city. But 8 a.m.? That’s basically the middle of the night.

We wish him the best of luck 🍀