Prof. Dr. Haris Gačanin is a faculty member at RWTH Aachen University, affiliated with the Institute for Distributed Signal Processing under the College of Electrical Engineering. His research focuses on integrating machine learning with wireless communication systems, particularly in industrial IoT, edge computing, and network optimization. Current academic rank: Professor Contact: harisg@dsp.rwth-aachen.de Research Interests: Wireless systems, machine learning, signal processing, and network optimization. Key contributions include: Adaptive resource allocation in IIoT and vehicular networks AI-driven channel estimation and feedback mechanisms Security-oriented emitter identification via metric learning Federated/transfer learning for edge environments Hardware-efficient deep learning models for mmWave and THz communications Methodological Focus: Combines reinforcement learning, attention mechanisms, and robust neural architectures with practical implementations on FPGA and vehicular systems.
Dr.-Ing. Nico Palleit is affiliated with the University of Rostock's Institute of Communications Engineering, part of the Faculty of Computer Science and Electrical Engineering. His research focuses on MIMO (Multiple-Input Multiple-Output) systems, channel estimation, and prediction techniques to enhance spectral efficiency. He holds a PhD titled Channel Prediction in Multi-Antenna Systems (2011) and has contributed to advancements in MIMO channel analysis, including frequency/time prediction and interference management. Research Interests: Nico's work addresses challenges in modern radio transmission systems, emphasizing the development of robust channel estimation strategies. Key areas include MIMO channel modeling, non-line-of-sight (NLOS) positioning, and optimizing transmitter-side channel state information. His research bridges theoretical frameworks with practical implementations in wireless communication systems. Publications Overview: His 15+ publications (2006–2012) span topics like MIMO channel prediction, antenna array design, and interference channel optimization. Recent work emphasizes frequency/time-domain channel prediction and power allocation strategies for maximizing system capacity. These contributions highlight interdisciplinary approaches combining signal processing with electrical engineering principles. Affiliations & Labs: As part of the Radio Communication Research Group, he collaborates on projects within the Institute's advanced wireless communication initiatives. His work supports next-generation radio systems through innovative solutions for MIMO-FDD and OFDM-based architectures.
Johannes Maly is an Assistant Professor at the Bavarian AI Chair for Mathematical Foundations of Artificial Intelligence at LMU Munich. He previously held postdoctoral positions at Catholic University of Eichstaett-Ingolstadt and RWTH Aachen University, and completed his PhD at TUM Munich under Prof. Massimo Fornasier. PhD in Mathematics (2019, TUM Munich) M.Sc. in Mathematics (2015, TUM Munich) B.Sc. in Mathematics (2013, TUM Munich) His research focuses on mathematical data science and machine learning, specifically addressing: Robust covariance estimation under quantization Neural network approximation properties Implicit bias in gradient descent training Multi-structured signal recovery Quantization effects in deep learning and compressed sensing His recent publications analyze dithered quantization in covariance estimation, implicit regularization in overparameterized models, and multi-structured data recovery. He applies mathematical rigor to practical challenges in wireless communications (e.g., MIMO systems) and neural network training. Scientific recognition includes: relAI Fellow MCML Associate He supervises code/toolbox development for reproducibility and teaches graduate courses in convex optimization, high-dimensional probability, and mathematical data science. His work bridges theoretical mathematics and applied signal processing.
Prof. Dr.-Ing. Bastian Welsch serves as a Professor in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Bochum University of Applied Sciences, where he holds key leadership roles including Head of the Renewable Energy Systems program, Chairman of the Renewable Energy Systems Committee, and member of both the Departmental Council and founding board of the Energy Transition Institute (EnWI). His academic focus centers on geothermal energy systems and renewable energy integration within sustainable infrastructure frameworks. Welsch's research expertise spans medium-deep borehole thermal energy storage, geothermal probe modeling, and renewable energy system optimization. His work addresses critical challenges in seasonal heat storage, district heating integration, and groundwater interaction with geothermal systems. He has pioneered simulation tools like BASIMO for optimizing borehole heat exchanger arrays and investigated permeability changes affecting regulatory approvals. His research bridges technical engineering with environmental and economic sustainability assessments. Analysis of his 15 most recent publications (2015-2020) reveals a strong trajectory toward practical implementation of geothermal storage solutions, with increasing emphasis on economic viability, environmental impact metrics, and integration with 4th generation district heating grids. His work consistently combines numerical modeling with real-world system design, demonstrating growing sophistication in optimization algorithms and multi-system coupling approaches. As an educator, Welsch teaches across both bachelor's and master's programs, covering foundational courses like Geology and Georesources alongside specialized subjects including Geothermal Energy Systems, Renewable Energies and Energy Supply, and advanced Geothermal Systems courses focusing on heating/cooling storage and electricity generation. He maintains regular consultation hours for students during academic terms.
Matthias Meier is a Full Professor at the Institute of Biochemistry, University of Leipzig, and Principal Investigator at Helmholtz Pioneer Campus, Helmholtz Zentrum München. His research focuses on advancing microfluidic organ-on-chip technology for single-cell and whole-organ disease modeling. Education: PhD in Biophysics (University of Basel, 2006) Research Interests: Dr. Meier's work bridges bioengineering and metabolic disorders, using organ-on-chip platforms to study stem cell differentiation, pancreatic/adipose tissue interactions, and dynamic microenvironmental signals. His lab integrates microfluidics with hiPSC-derived organoids for obesity and diabetes research. Publication Trends: Recent studies emphasize organ-on-chip systems, single-cell analysis , and stem cell engineering , with applications in cardiovascular disease modeling, spatial transcriptomics, and bioelectronic monitoring. Scientific Awards: Feodor-Lynen Postdoctoral Fellowship (2008) Emmy-Noether Fellowship (2012-2018) ERC Consolidator Grant (2017) Advising & Grants: He has led independent research groups with major grants, focusing on energy imbalance mechanisms and patient-specific organoid models for metabolic disease therapies. Labs & Teams: The Matthias Meier Lab develops microfluidic platforms to control chemical, architectural, and mechanical cues for hiPSC differentiation, emphasizing spatial protein profiling and organoid assembly.
Ashwin Ram is a postdoctoral researcher at Saarland University's Human-Computer Interaction & Interactive Technologies Lab, under Prof. Jürgen Steimle. He holds a PhD in Computer Science from the National University of Singapore (NUS), advised by Prof. Shengdong Zhao, and a Bachelor's in Electronics Engineering from NIT Trichy. His research focuses on wearable augmented reality, smart glasses, and accessibility, leveraging cognitive and behavioral theories to design intelligent interfaces. Notable contributions include Mindful Moments (DIS '23, Honorable Mention), a mindfulness tool for smart glasses, and a quadruped robot guidance system for visually impaired individuals (CHI '24, Honorable Mention). He has served as an Associate Chair (AC) for UIST 2025 and CHI 2025. His work bridges HCI with wearable computing, exploring topics like video learning optimization (LSVP, IMWUT '21), sound source localization via neural networks (NCC '18), and accelerating Hawkes processes for event modeling (ICML '17 workshop). He collaborates internationally, including a research visit at UCL's Multi-Sensory Devices Group. Key achievements include 17 peer-reviewed publications (Google Scholar, ORCID: 0000-0003-1430-8770) and interdisciplinary projects like semantic floor map-based robot navigation. Beyond academia, he practices Carnatic music, plays guitar, and is fluent in Malayalam, Tamil, and English, with proficiency in French, German, and Hindi.
Prof. Heiner Igel is a Professor at the Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität (LMU) München. His research focuses on seismology, planetary geophysics, and structural health monitoring, leveraging advanced numerical methods and sensor technologies. He leads projects involving multi-component seismic measurements, seismic wave modeling, and planetary exploration instruments. Key research areas include rotational ground motion analysis, nonlinear seismic wave propagation, and subsurface imaging for Earth and planetary bodies. His work integrates cutting-edge numerical techniques like discontinuous Galerkin methods and Markov Chain Monte Carlo sampling for earthquake dynamics and material parameter inversion. Prof. Igel’s contributions include the NEPOS project for planetary seismic networks and collaborations with instruments like ROMY (Ring Laser Gyroscope). His studies span bridge monitoring, lunar subsurface exploration, and environmental seismology, emphasizing interdisciplinary applications of geophysical data.
Prof. Dr. Igor Lesanovsky is a leading researcher in quantum physics at the University of Tübingen, where he heads the Arbeitsgruppe (Research Group) Lesanovsky within the Institute of Theoretical Physics, part of the Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences. His research focuses on quantum many-body systems, particularly utilizing Rydberg atoms for quantum simulation, quantum information processing, and exploring non-equilibrium phenomena. His research interests span quantum many-body physics, Rydberg atom systems, quantum simulation techniques, non-equilibrium quantum dynamics, quantum thermodynamics, and quantum soft-matter physics. His group investigates how highly excited Rydberg atoms can be used to simulate complex quantum processes, study phase transitions, and develop applications for quantum information processing. They're particularly interested in emergent phenomena such as time-crystals, quantum glassiness, and non-ergodic behavior in quantum systems. The publication record shows a consistent stream of high-impact research, primarily in Physical Review Letters, Physical Review A, and other top physics journals. The research trends indicate a strong focus on quantum simulation with Rydberg systems, quantum non-equilibrium dynamics, quantum information applications, and increasingly on the intersection of quantum physics with machine learning. Recent work explores quantum neural networks, quantum measurement theory, and the application of large-deviation methods to quantum trajectory ensembles. Prof. Lesanovsky's research is supported by multiple prestigious projects including the BMBF Quantum Technology project 'Neural quantum networks on NISQ quantum computers', the DFG Excellence Cluster 'Machine Learning: New Perspectives for Science', DFG Research Units on long-range interacting quantum spin systems and quantum thermalization, the EU EIC Pathfinder Project 'Brisk Rydberg Ions for Scalable Quantum Processors', the QuantERA Project CoQuaDis, and The Center for Integrated Quantum Science and Technology (IQST). The group maintains strong connections with experimental teams, particularly in the areas of quantum simulation of interacting many-body systems and the development of matter wave interferometers and collectively enhanced electric field sensors. They collaborate extensively across Germany and internationally, with publications showing co-authorship with researchers from multiple institutions worldwide.
Mirela Alistar is an Assistant Professor at the ATLAS Institute and the Department of Computer Science at the University of Colorado Boulder. She leads the Living Matter Lab , focusing on cyber-physical systems based on biochips to revolutionize healthcare diagnostics. Her interdisciplinary work bridges computer science, engineering, biotechnology, and bioart. Education : PhD in Embedded Systems Engineering (2010-2014, Technical University of Denmark), Postdoc in Human-Computer Interaction (2015-2018, Hasso Plattner Institute). Her research advances digital microfluidics and fault-tolerant biochips , enabling at-home diagnostic tools like OpenDrop . She also explores bioart through installations such as Semina Aeternitatis and Perfume Distillation Machine . She co-founded >top , a Berlin-based art & science project space, and advises startups digi.bio and bold.health . Her UIST'16 Honorable Mention Award highlights her innovative contributions. The Living Matter Lab under her leadership investigates interactive biodesign , combining technical precision with creative exploration of living systems.
Stephan Preihs is a postdoctoral researcher and group leader at the Institute of Communications Technology of the Leibniz University Hannover , with a focus on acoustics, digital signal processing, and immersive audio systems. He received his Dipl.-Ing. in electrical engineering (communications engineering) from the same university in 2010 and his Dr.-Ing. in 2016. Education: Dipl.-Ing., Electrical Engineering (Communications Engineering), Leibniz University Hannover (2010) Dr.-Ing., Leibniz University Hannover (2016) Research Interests: Acoustics for immersive audio reproduction Digital signal processing and audio coding Signal detection/classification Psychoacoustic models Audio transmission for PMSE Recent Article Trends: Deep learning in sound source localization Wind turbine noise analysis via immersive audio Advancements in headphone technology Immersion prediction in spatial audio Low-latency communication protocols Scientific Awards: Best Paper Award at IEEE International Workshop on Networked Immersive Audio (2024) AES Show 2024 Best Technical Paper Award AES Spring 2021 Student Paper Award AES Poster Award 2019 AES Convention Student Paper Award 2019 Teaching: Lecturer for '3D Audio - Fundamentals of Spatial Reproduction Systems' Lecturer for 'Applications of Digital Audio Signal Processing' Coordinator of student laboratories in 'Audio Communication and Acoustics' and 'Transmission Technology'
Prof. Wolfgang Ecker is a Professor at the Technical University of Munich (TUM), affiliated with the Chair of Design Automation within the TUM School of Computation, Information and Technology . His research focuses on Electronic Design Automation (EDA), RISC-V processor architectures, and hardware-software co-design. He leads projects advancing EDA tools for embedded systems, neural network acceleration, and formal verification methodologies. Ecker's work bridges machine learning techniques with traditional EDA challenges, addressing topics like energy-efficient AI inference and automated documentation generation. His contributions span compiler optimization, FPGA implementations, and fault analysis in digital systems. Recent research highlights include contributions to the TRISTAN project for RISC-V ecosystem development, model-driven architecture frameworks, and AI-driven timing analysis. He actively collaborates on open-source EDA tools and explores Rust-based embedded systems development. Ecker’s lab emphasizes practical applications in edge computing and automotive microcontroller safety, with a strong emphasis on interdisciplinary collaboration across TUM’s CIT School. His publications (15 most recent listed) reflect a focus on EDA tool innovation, processor design, and leveraging machine learning for hardware optimization. While no specific awards are mentioned, his involvement in ERC-funded projects and leadership in international collaborations underscores his academic impact.
Prof. Christian Tetzlaff holds a W2 Professorship at the Department for Neuro- and Sensory Physiology, University Medical Center Göttingen. He leads the Computational Synaptic Physiology group, focusing on integrating computational methods to understand neural systems' principles and translating these into technologies like robotics and neuromorphic engineering. His work spans scales from synaptic protein interactions to large neural networks, leveraging disciplines such as nonlinear dynamics and machine learning. Educational Background: 2009: Diploma in Physics, Georg-August University Göttingen 2013: PhD in Physics (Dr.rer.nat.), Georg-August University Göttingen Research Leadership & Grants: Principal Investigator in EU Horizon 2020 Projects (Plan4Act, ADOPD, Human Brain Project's FIPPA) Lead in DFG-funded SFB 1286 (Quantitative Synaptology) INRC member (Intel Neuromorphic Research Community) BMBF-funded KISSKI project (2022–present) Research Interests: His lab explores synaptic mechanisms underlying learning, memory consolidation via synaptic tagging-and-capture, and neuromorphic hardware implementations. Recent work emphasizes calcium signaling in synapses, memristive devices for synaptic working memory, and robust trajectory generation using neuromorphic chips like Loihi. Affiliations: Co-coordinator of Plan4Act (2017–2021) and active in the Göttingen Graduate Center for Neurosciences (GGNB). Collaborates globally with institutions like the Weizmann Institute and Columbia University. Laboratory: Visit tetzlab.com for lab activities and open-source tools like Plastic Arbor .
Oliver G. Ernst is a Professor of Numerical Analysis at Technische Universität Chemnitz . His research focuses on Numerical Analysis , Uncertainty Quantification , and Inverse Problems , with applications in Thermo-Hydro-Mechanical (THM) processes , Electromagnetics , and Stochastic Partial Differential Equations . He is associated with the Numerical Analysis group at TU Chemnitz. Key Research Areas : Efficient numerical methods for PDEs Krylov subspace techniques Stochastic finite element methods Multi-physics modeling Geoscientific applications Recent Publications (2025-2010): THM simulations under uncertainty Neural network PDE solvers Bayesian inversion frameworks Rational Krylov algorithms Deflated restarting strategies Collaborations : TU Bergakademie Freiberg University of Manchester Technical University of Munich University of Maryland University of Geneva Software Development : Contributor to OpenGeoSys platform Developer of FEMALY MATLAB library Academic Recognition : h-index 32, i10-index 66, with over 4423 citations since 2020.
Tommaso Calarco serves as Director of the Institute for Quantum Control (PGI-8) at Jülich Research Centre, leading cutting-edge research in quantum optimal control methodologies for next-generation quantum technologies. His work focuses on developing transformative computational frameworks applicable to natural sciences, logistics, and high-performance computing through advanced quantum device engineering. His research spans quantum optimal control for computation and many-body systems, emphasizing physical model development, model reduction techniques, and machine learning integration for scalable quantum hardware. Key focus areas include spin-qubit optimization, diamond quantum register engineering, and error suppression in gate operations, with significant contributions to ultracold atom systems and semiconductor-based quantum platforms. Analysis of his 2024-2025 publications reveals concentrated efforts on hardware-specific challenges across multiple quantum modalities: spin shuttling fidelity in semiconductor systems, gate optimization for nitrogen-vacancy centers, and photon-spin interface engineering. This work demonstrates a unifying thread of optimal control solutions tailored to platform-specific decoherence mechanisms and scalability constraints. As Director of PGI-8 within the Peter Grünberg Institut, Calarco oversees a dedicated research team advancing quantum control theory and applications, contributing substantially to European quantum technology roadmaps including the Quantum Flagship initiative and strategic European Commission reports.
Prof. Dr. Bernd Witzigmann serves as Chair Holder at the Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU) within the Department of Electrical-Electronic-Communication Engineering and the Institute of Optoelectronics. His research focuses on advanced optoelectronic device modeling, particularly III-nitride semiconductors for ultraviolet applications, THz sensing, and photonic crystal technologies. Research Areas: Optoelectronic Device Physics, III-Nitride Semiconductors, THz Sensing, Quantum Well Modeling Key Projects: DUV AlGaN LEDs, InP/InAsP Nanowire Photodetectors, Germanium Fano-Resonators His work emphasizes computational simulation of carrier transport, polarization-induced doping effects, and optical gain mechanisms, particularly in ultraviolet light-emitting diodes and quantum disc structures. Collaborative studies span CMOS-compatible sensor fabrication and biofunctionalized THz antenna systems. Recent publications highlight advancements in aluminum nitride trenchFETs, multi-color DUV LEDs, and superparamagnetic label detection using micromagnetic models. His team explores subwavelength field effects in photonic crystal cavities and bandwidth optimization for photogated nanowire photodetectors. Located in Raum 01.045 at Konrad-Zuse-Strasse 3/5, Erlangen, Prof. Witzigmann leads research at the intersection of semiconductor physics and nanophotonic applications through both theoretical and experimental approaches.
