Femke De Backere is an Associate Professor in Software Engineering at the IDLab research group of Ghent University within the Faculty of Engineering and Architecture, and also affiliated with imec. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Informatics and a Master’s degree in Computer Science Engineering from Ghent University and obtained her PhD in 2016 on the design and management of pervasive eCare services.

Her research lies at the intersection of software engineering and digital health, with a strong focus on knowledge-based and explainable software systems that enable personalization and context-awareness. She designs software frameworks that translate domain expertise into reusable, interpretable models used in areas such as digital healthcare interventions, personalized health technologies, chatbots for behavioral change, and context-aware systems.

A key aspect of her work is the use of engagement techniques—such as serious games and gamification—to increase the effectiveness and adoption of personalized digital health solutions. Her research is inherently interdisciplinary, combining methods from computer science with insights from health psychology and movement sciences, and is often conducted in close collaboration with healthcare professionals, industry partners, and end users.

In addition to her research role, she teaches future computer scientists and engineers at Ghent University, where she coordinates the Design Project course, emphasizing impactful, real-world software design. Through both her academic and imec roles, she aims to advance explainable, human-centered, and societally relevant software engineering research.