University, Belgium
Free University of Brussels
Statistics
- People here now
- 4
- People ever
- 10
- Citations of current people
- 149,865
- Median h-index of current people
- 79
- Full moves in and out
- 5 in, 5 out
Our research follows 7,547 researchers, builders, lab leaders and public voices through cited biographies. Missing career records can lower counts. Outdated roles can overstate current counts and change ranks. Citation figures count 3 of the 4 people here now. People whose OpenAlex record may be incomplete or mixed are left out. Publication numbers from OpenAlex, as of 22 October 2026. Career and profile data as of 22 October 2026.
We estimate that 10 people shaping AI have worked or studied at Free University of Brussels, including 4 (40%) here now and 6 with former affiliations. That total covers 6 people with work roles and 4 recorded only as students (3 both studied and worked here). Among 3,127 universities, the group is tied for 217th on current people and tied for 373rd on all-time people. Theory, statistics and optimization leads 5 areas of expertise (4 of 10 people with profile topics), and researchers make up 4 of the 4 people here now (100%). In dated work stints through 2025, active headcount peaked at 3 people in 2016 and stood at 2 in 2025. Across dated career transitions, we record 5 full moves in and 5 out.
A summary of current people at Free University of Brussels. It shows roles, affiliations, profile topics and birth countries known for 2 people. The median birth year uses 4 people.
Role categories
- Research4
Current affiliations
- Free University of Brussels4
Top profile topics
- algorithm configuration2
- ant colony optimization2
- swarm robotics2
- neuromorphic computing1
- optimization1
Birth countries
Known for 2 of 4 people now.
- Italy1
- Zambia1
Median birth year
about 1969 (4 people)
Source: People of Superintelligence profiles, current career records and recorded birthplaces, as of 22 October 2026.
Data table
| Measure | Value | People |
|---|---|---|
| Role | Research | 4 |
| Current affiliation | Free University of Brussels | 4 |
| Profile topic | algorithm configuration | 2 |
| Profile topic | ant colony optimization | 2 |
| Profile topic | swarm robotics | 2 |
| Profile topic | neuromorphic computing | 1 |
| Profile topic | optimization | 1 |
| Birth country | Italy | 1 |
| Birth country | Zambia | 1 |
| Birth country coverage | 2 of 4 people now | 2 |
| Median birth year | about 1969 | 4 |
The annual headcount series runs through 2025 (2 active work stints); the 4 people here now also include 2 who started in 2026. Full arrivals and departures balanced at 5 each: arrivals came 4 from universities (80%) and 1 from labs, nonprofits or government, while departures went 4 to universities (80%) and 1 to labs, nonprofits or government. We also record 3 arrivals and 2 departures where a person added a role alongside an existing position. Today, 5 of the 6 people formerly at Free University of Brussels have a recorded current affiliation elsewhere (1 at a company, 3 at universities and 1 at a lab, nonprofit or government body).
A stacked column chart of our yearly estimates at Free University of Brussels from 2016 to 2025. Each person counts once in each year with an active work stint.
Source: People of Superintelligence dated career stints, as of 22 October 2026.
Data table
| Year | Other | People |
|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 3 | 3 |
| 2017 | 2 | 2 |
| 2018 | 2 | 2 |
| 2019 | 2 | 2 |
| 2020 | 2 | 2 |
| 2021 | 2 | 2 |
| 2022 | 2 | 2 |
| 2023 | 2 | 2 |
| 2024 | 2 | 2 |
| 2025 | 2 | 2 |
A three-column flow diagram. People came from organizations on the left, Free University of Brussels is in the middle, and destinations are on the right. It shows 5 incoming and 5 outgoing full moves.
Source: People of Superintelligence career records with full moves only, as of 22 October 2026.
Data table
| Direction | Organization | Full moves |
|---|---|---|
| From | International Computer Science Institute | 1 |
| From | Polytechnic University of Milan | 1 |
| From | Princeton University | 1 |
| From | Tel Aviv University | 1 |
| From | Université Libre de Bruxelles | 1 |
| Center | Free University of Brussels | 5 in, 5 out |
| To | National Fund for Scientific Research | 1 |
| To | Tel Aviv University | 1 |
| To | Université Libre de Bruxelles | 1 |
| To | University of Cambridge | 1 |
| To | University of Michigan | 1 |
Compared with peer universities, Free University of Brussels ranks higher on current headcount (tied for 217th of 3,127) than on all-time headcount (tied for 373rd); 4 of its 10 all-time people (40%) hold a current role here. Across work histories (excluding degrees), 6 of the 6 people who have worked at Free University of Brussels (100%) also held a work role at another organization, connecting Free University of Brussels to 29 peer institutions. Among the 3 current people with confident OpenAlex author records, combined citations reach 149,865 and the median h-index is 79 (combined h-index 232, tied for 153rd among 860 counted universities); Marco Dorigo leads by citations (91,228).
A table compares Free University of Brussels with 8827 organizations and 3127 organizations of the same type for current people, people ever and combined h-index where available.
People now
4 people
People ever
10 people
Combined h-index of people now
232 across 3 people
Source: People of Superintelligence organization membership and confident OpenAlex statistics, as of 22 October 2026.
Data table
| Measure | Value | All organizations | Same type |
|---|---|---|---|
| People now | 4 | tied for 318th of 8,827 | tied for 217th of 3,127 |
| People ever | 10 | tied for 544th of 8,827 | tied for 373rd of 3,127 |
| Combined h-index of people now | 232 (3 people) | tied for 203rd of 1,834 | tied for 153rd of 860 |
People here now
All 4 people with a current role at Free University of Brussels are researchers. Earlier in their careers, 3 of the 4 held a work role at another organization, most often at Université Libre de Bruxelles (3). Outside degrees among current people come most often from Polytechnic University of Milan (2), while 2 earned a degree at Free University of Brussels. 3 current people also hold a concurrent affiliation outside Free University of Brussels.
People with former affiliations
We record 6 people with former affiliations at Free University of Brussels: 2 who held work roles and 4 recorded as students only. 5 of the 6 have a recorded current role at another organization. Across the 2 former people with confident OpenAlex records, combined career citations total 8,824 (median h-index 20).
- Anatole von LilienfeldNow at Vector Institute and Acceleration Consortium
- Benjamin Haibe-KainsNow at University Health Network
- Christophe LeyNow at University of Luxembourg and GrewIA
- Leonard Uhr
- Norman SadehNow at Carnegie Mellon University
- Paul JorionNow at Catholic University of Lille
Posts that include Free University of Brussels
Free University of Brussels appears in 3 research posts comparing organizations across AI.
- The Massachusetts Institute of Technology trained or employed 44 of the 187 AI major-prize winners, more than any other universityThe Massachusetts Institute of Technology trained or employed 44 of the 187 AI major-prize winners, more than any other university. We compare doctorate and 5+ year employment links, career timing and current workplaces for 187 major-prize and 1,111 best-paper winners.
- More people shaping AI studied at Massachusetts Institute of Technology than at any other institutionWe estimate where the people shaping AI studied and where their careers led. Massachusetts Institute of Technology leads with 467 former students, including 291 recorded doctorates.
- The company share of AI researchers’ top papers was 31% in 2020–2024 and 8% in 1970–1974We estimate where the people shaping AI worked when their most-cited papers appeared: the company share was 31% in 2020–2024 and 8% in 1970–1974, and Google led all organizations in 2020–2024.