Ms. Magdalena Harkin is a textile engineer and a PhD candidate in material science at Ghent University. Her doctoral research focuses on protective clothing and the evaluation of thermophysiological comfort, with an emphasis on real-use performance and human–clothing interaction. During her doctorate, she has authored six scientific publications in this field and closely collaborated with industry partners and public institutions, including Belgian Defence.
She holds a Master of Science in Advanced Textile Engineering, an international program coordinated by Ghent University and delivered across Belgium, France, Sweden, and Poland.
Her current interests are expanding toward sustainable product design, with a focus on environmental and human health impacts, as well as emerging regulatory frameworks affecting the textile industry, including EU sustainability and due diligence policies. She is dedicated to the development of safer, more responsible products, particularly for on-body applications.