Wouter Botte is assistant professor in Structural Strengthening at Ghent University (UGent) since 2024 and one of the technical directors of the Magnel-Vandepitte Laboratory for Structural Engineering and Building Materials of Ghent University. Wouter Botte received his M.Sc. Degree in Civil Engineering form Ghent University in 2013. From 2013 to 2017 he was a Research Assistant of the FWO Research Foundation - Flanders, focussing on the reliability and robustness of new and existing concrete structures. From 2018 to 2024 he was a postdoctoral researcher at Ghent University. He currently is Assistant Professor (Tenure Track) leading research in the field of strengthening techniques and performance optimization, combining advanced numerical modelling, experimental validation, and probabilistic analyses.