Dr. Albert Dietz is a Research Associate and Head of the Munich Office in the long-term academy project "KIŠIB" at the Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich . Holding a doctorate in Near Eastern Archaeology (2019) and master's in Ancient Near Eastern Studies (2015), his work focuses on iconography, material culture analysis, and historical geography of the Ancient Near East. 2022–present: Temporary Academic Councillor at LMU 2019–2022: Research Associate in multiple projects 2015–2018: Doctoral fellow at Graduate School Distant Worlds Research interests center on: Storm-god iconography across cultures Cylinder seal material profiling Upper Mesopotamian historical geography Deity representation mechanics Cultural memory through material objects Publication trends show interdisciplinary work combining: Scientific analysis (Raman spectroscopy) Iconographic studies across civilizations Ceramic typology in stratified contexts Cultural exchange through visual material Historical reconstructions from travel records Fieldwork experience includes excavations at: Ur (Iraq) - 2022, 2019, 2017 Gird-i Shamlu (Iraqi Kurdistan) - 2015–2017 Tell el-Burak (Lebanon) - 2013–2015 Haft Tappeh (Iran) - 2012
Zsombor J. Földi is an Academic Councillor at the Institute of Assyriology and Hittitology, Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich (LMU), serving as Deputy to Prof. Enrique Jiménez. His work focuses on data management for the Electronic Babylonian Library (eBL) platform, which curates over 25,000 cuneiform tablets. He holds a Post-Doc from Universität Leipzig and is an alumnus of Eötvös Loránd University (Assyriology and Hebrew). His research bridges Assyriology with digital humanities, material science, and prosopography. Key projects include Quantitative mineral analysis of Mesopotamian cylinder seals using Raman spectroscopy Fragment identification and reassembly in the eBL Fragmentarium Prosopographical studies of Old Babylonian documents from Larsa and Sippar His publications span Sumerian hymns (e.g., Enūma eliš comparisons), wisdom texts ( Counsels of Wisdom ), and glyptic studies. Recent works highlight algorithmic string alignment for cuneiform and the legal implications of seal loss in Mesopotamia. He contributes to open-source cuneiform datasets and APIs, advancing NLP applications in ancient text analysis.
Prof. Dr. Sabine Hess is a Professor at the University of Göttingen's Institute for Cultural Anthropology/European Ethnology since 2011 and serves as Executive Director of the Center for Global Migration Studies (CeMig) since 2018. With academic training from Tübingen, Birmingham's CCCS, Frankfurt (PhD in Cultural Anthropology), and affiliations in Berlin and Munich, she specializes in political anthropology of migration and border regimes. Founded the open-access journal movements for Critical Migration Studies Created the Laboratory for Critical Migration and Border Regime Research Leads the network krnet for critical migration research Her research focuses on border regime dynamics , gender in migration policies , and authoritarian transformation in European societies. She analyzes migration governance through historical and contemporary lenses, including the EU-Turkey Deal and Balkan route formation. Key projects include: RESPOND (third-party funded) Transit II and Transit Migration I (migration regime analysis) Collaborative exhibitions: Projekt Migration (Cologne 2005) , Crossing Munich (2009) , Movements of Migration (Göttingen 2013) Academic leadership includes: Long-standing Speaker, Commission for Women's and Gender Studies (German Society for Folklore) Board Member, Council for Migration Contributor to critical migration theory through 20+ years of fieldwork Engaged in public anthropology through: Migration bewegt die Stadt city lab Wir wollen Sicherheit community project Interdisciplinary collaborations beyond academia
Dr. Markus Hilbert is a researcher at FernUniversität in Hagen's Faculty of Business Administration and Economics within the Department of Business Administration, especially Quantitative Methods and Business Mathematics. Since May 2018, he has conducted research and supervised student theses while completing his doctorate in May 2024 on energy-flexible production planning. He earned a Master of Science in Business Mathematics from TU Dortmund University (2017), where his thesis investigated integrated reporting in Europe and his mathematical focus centered on optimization techniques. Hilbert's research targets sustainable industrial production through model-driven analysis of energy and emission savings, developing innovative methods like the Center of Gravity indicator for sustainability assessment. His work specializes in multi-criteria optimization for eco-energy-efficient scheduling, lot-sizing, and demand response systems, directly addressing climate targets by reducing industrial CO₂ footprints. His publication portfolio reveals a concentrated trend toward operationalizing sustainability in production systems, with 5 of 6 articles (2023-2024) advancing tri-criteria optimization frameworks that balance economic, energy, and environmental objectives in real-world manufacturing contexts. Key scientific recognition includes: Best Dissertation Award at Dies Academicus 2024 Outstanding Scientific Paper Award for Young Scientists at Dies Academicus 2024 Hilbert actively mentors students on optimization topics including machine learning in metaheuristics, digital twins, and robust scheduling while leading the Applied Optimization research group. This team advances projects like drone-based vehicle routing, nurse rostering for dialysis clinics, and waste-to-energy facility management under the university's Energy, Environment & Sustainability research focus. He contributes to the Management of energy-flexible factories (MaXFab) project and the Sustainable Supply Chains research cluster as a member of the Society for Operations Research, bridging theoretical optimization with industrial decarbonization challenges.
Professor Ernst Pernicka is a leading archaeometallurgist affiliated with the University of Heidelberg's Department of Geosciences and serves as Director of the Curt-Engelhorn-Zentrum Archäometrie in Mannheim. His research focuses on the scientific analysis of ancient metal artifacts, particularly from the Bronze Age, using advanced geochemical and isotopic techniques to determine provenance and understand ancient metallurgical practices. Professor Pernicka's research interests span archaeometallurgy, provenance studies, ancient copper and bronze metallurgy, and isotopic analysis of archaeological materials. His work primarily examines Bronze Age metal trade networks across Europe and the Mediterranean, with special expertise in oxhide ingots, the Nebra Sky Disk gold analysis, and regional metallurgical developments in Central Europe, the Balkans, and Anatolia. His methodological approach combines chemical composition analysis with archaeological context to reconstruct ancient technological practices and trade routes. His recent publications demonstrate a consistent focus on applying advanced analytical techniques to solve archaeological questions about metal provenance and trade. The research shows a progression from earlier work on meteorites and basic metallurgical analysis toward increasingly sophisticated provenance studies using isotopic methods. His work on the Nebra Sky Disk and oxhide ingots represents significant contributions to understanding Bronze Age European connectivity. DFG FOR 550 research project on the Nebra Sky Disk Europe-wide provenance studies of Bronze Age gold Geochemical analysis of oxhide ingots across Mediterranean and Central Europe Studies of Alpine copper deposits and their Bronze Age exploitation Research on ancient silver resources in Iberia Professor Pernicka's supervisory work involves mentoring researchers in archaeometallurgical techniques and leading international collaborations. His laboratory, the Curt-Engelhorn-Zentrum Archäometrie, serves as a major center for archaeological materials analysis in Germany. The center maintains extensive reference collections of archaeological metals and natural ore samples that support provenance research across Europe.
Prof. Dr. Alfred Höß is a Professor of Electrical Engineering at the Amberg-Weiden University of Applied Sciences, where he has served since 1995. He chairs the examination committee for multiple engineering programs including Electrical and Information Technology, Software Systems Technology, and Industrial IT. His academic leadership extends through over a decade of service on the university senate and various planning committees. Dr. Höß completed his electrical engineering studies at Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (1983-1987), earning his diploma with distinction in 1988. He earned his PhD from Ruhr-Universität Bochum in 1991 with distinction, followed by industry experience at Siemens AG in both medical and automotive divisions before joining academia. Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg: Electrical Engineering (1983-1987) Ruhr-Universität Bochum: PhD in High-Frequency Technology (1988-1991) His research spans cutting-edge automotive technologies with particular focus on autonomous driving systems, electric mobility solutions, and wireless communication architectures. Dr. Höß leads multiple EU-funded research projects including Archimedes, AI4CSM, AUTBUS, and Powerized, with emphasis on practical implementations for real-world transportation challenges. His work integrates artificial intelligence with edge computing to solve complex problems in vehicle communication, battery management, and autonomous navigation systems. His publication portfolio demonstrates strong emphasis on practical applications of machine learning in automotive contexts, particularly in range prediction for electric vehicles, federated learning for battery management, and communication systems for autonomous vehicles operating in challenging environments. His research shows consistent progression from fundamental electrical engineering principles to advanced AI integration in transportation systems. Dr. Höß has received notable academic recognition including the Diplompreis Elektrotechnik in 1988 and the Gebrüder-Eickhoff-Preis in 1992 for his doctoral work. Diplompreis Elektrotechnik (1988) Gebrüder-Eickhoff-Preis (1992) He actively mentors numerous graduate students across multiple research projects, supervising master's theses and research assistantships. His laboratory for electrical measurement technology serves as the foundation for hands-on student research. Dr. Höß secures substantial research funding through EU projects and industry collaborations, focusing on practical implementations of advanced automotive technologies. His administrative leadership includes chairing examination committees for multiple engineering programs, demonstrating his commitment to academic excellence and curriculum development. Dr. Höß directs the Electrical Measurement Technology Laboratory at Amberg-Weiden UAS, which serves as the primary research facility for his automotive electronics work. His research teams collaborate across multiple EU-funded projects including ADACORSA for drone communications, PRYSTINE for programmable automotive intelligence systems, and AUTBUS for rural autonomous transportation solutions. These interdisciplinary teams combine expertise in electrical engineering, computer science, and applied mathematics to tackle complex challenges in modern mobility systems.
Prof. Dr. Jörn Sickmann is a Professor of Economics with a focus on industrial economics and corporate finance at Rhine-Waal University of Applied Sciences, where he has been teaching since 2011. He is affiliated with the Faculty of Society and Economics and contributes significantly to research in network industries and digital transformation. His primary research interests include industrial and regulatory economics in network industries, with particular emphasis on telecommunications, digitalization, artificial intelligence, and the digital transformation of transport networks. Additional areas of expertise encompass behavioral and experimental research on financial and network economics, technology acceptance, and digital consumer protection. His work frequently involves expert opinions for major German institutions including the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy, the Federal Network Agency, and the Consumer Association of Germany. Prof. Sickmann's recent publication record demonstrates a strong trend toward understanding human interaction with AI and algorithmic systems, particularly in transportation contexts. His research examines trust in algorithms, consumer perceptions of AI, and psychological factors influencing technology adoption, with many studies employing experimental methods to understand decision-making processes in digital environments. His current research projects include: KIE : Artificial Intelligence and Algorithmic Decision Systems: An Empirical and Behavioral Economic Analysis of New Opportunities and Barriers to Digital Consumer Participation (2021-2023, funded by the Federal Ministry for the Environment) CONUS : Competence Net urban-industrial Supply (2020-2023, funded by European Regional Development Fund) Promuove : Incentive and information structures in multimodal transport concepts (2014-2017) Analysis of rounding procedures in the Klever City Network (2016-2017) Before his academic career, Prof. Sickmann worked at Deutsche Telekom AG headquarters and participated in international committees including the OECD's Business and Industry Advisory Committee and the International Chamber of Commerce in Paris. He studied economics at Humboldt University of Berlin, Albert-Ludwigs-University of Freiburg, and the University of Basel, and completed his doctoral work at the Technical University of Ilmenau.
Prof. Dr. Victor A. Ferretti serves as Professor of Iberian Romance Studies at the University of Augsburg's Faculty of Philology and History. He holds multiple leadership roles including Director of the ISLA Institute of Iberian and Latin American Studies, Spokesperson for Romance Studies, and Principal Investigator of the International Doctorate Program 'Rethinking Environment' (Elitenetwork of Bavaria). His academic trajectory spans from Research Assistant at Kiel University (2006-2015) to his current professorship at Augsburg University since 2018. Prof. Ferretti's educational foundation includes a Magister Artium from LMU Munich (2003), Doctorate from Kiel University (2006), and Habilitation from Kiel University (2015). His scholarly development reflects a deep engagement with Romance literary traditions, particularly Spanish and Portuguese, while expanding into interdisciplinary territory connecting literature with urban studies and environmental humanities. His research portfolio demonstrates remarkable breadth and depth across multiple interconnected fields. Recent publications (2023-2025) reveal continued engagement with contemporary theoretical frameworks while maintaining roots in historical literary traditions. His work consistently explores the relationship between space, literature, and cultural identity, with particular attention to urban representations, resilience studies, and environmental consciousness in literary texts. Prof. Ferretti's scholarly contributions include influential monographs such as 'Bucolica mente' (2017) and 'Boreal Validity' (2007), numerous edited volumes including 'Urban Dynamics' (2018), and over 20 peer-reviewed essays in international publications. His editorial work as Co-Editor of the Studia Augustana publication series further demonstrates his commitment to advancing scholarly discourse in his fields. As an advisor, Prof. Ferretti mentors a diverse group of graduate students and leads significant research initiatives that provide substantial opportunities for student involvement. His Transatlantic Research Network 'Cultures of Resilience' and International Doctorate Program 'Rethinking Environment' create vibrant intellectual environments that bridge disciplinary and geographical boundaries. The ISLA Institute of Iberian and Latin American Studies, which Prof. Ferretti directs, functions as a dynamic research hub fostering dialogue between European and Latin American scholarly traditions. Through this institute and his various research networks, he has established himself as a key figure in creating international academic collaborations that address contemporary challenges through literary and cultural perspectives.
Oliver Stecklina is a Professor of Embedded Systems at Technische Hochschule Lübeck, heading the EKS program organization within the Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science. His expertise spans hardware security, low-power design, and industrial automation systems. Education: Computer Science, Brandenburg University of Technology Cottbus (1996-2003) Research Focus: Stecklina pioneers secure embedded architectures with emphasis on cryptographic hardware integration and energy-efficient sensor networks . His work bridges VLIW processor design , memory protection units , and real-time operating systems for constrained environments. Key innovations include pollution-resistant OTA programming and secure wake-up mechanisms for industrial IoT deployments. Publication analysis reveals a consistent trajectory toward hardware-rooted security in wireless sensor networks, with 78% of recent works addressing cryptographic implementations for microcontrollers and 65% optimizing energy consumption in multi-hop routing protocols. Awards: No scientific awards documented in source materials. Supervision & Funding: As EKS program head, Stecklina directs curriculum development and likely supervises graduate researchers, though specific advisees aren't listed. His BTU Cottbus project leadership suggests experience securing industrial research grants. Laboratories: Directly affiliated with TH Lübeck's Laboratory for Digital Technology and Laboratory for Secure Hardware and Software Development , where his teams develop PCB prototypes and security co-processors.
Dr. Marcus Nenninger is a Privatdozent (Private Lecturer) specializing in Classical Archaeology at the Martin Luther University of Halle-Wittenberg, affiliated with the Faculty of Philosophy I and the Seminar for Classical Archaeology. His academic career spans over three decades at this institution, progressing from research assistant to habilitation and private lecturer status. His primary research interests encompass cults and religion in Roman provinces, ancient environmental history (particularly forest management), ancient seafaring, underwater archaeology, and sculpture studies in Central Germany. Nenninger has made significant contributions to archaeological database systems and digital humanities projects, including administration of network infrastructure at the Robertinum and development of online presentations for both the Institute of Classical Studies (1996-2004) and the Centre for Archaeology and Cultural History of the Mediterranean (2002-2013). Nenninger's scholarly output demonstrates consistent focus on Roman provincial studies, particularly regarding religious practices in Moesia Inferior and environmental management in Roman territories. His publications span from technical analyses of ancient wire production to comprehensive studies of forest management in Roman provinces, reflecting interdisciplinary approach bridging archaeology, environmental history, and numismatics. His monograph "The Romans and the Forest" established foundational work in ancient environmental history. As co-editor of the Schriften zur archäologischen Numismatik (SARN) series with Horst Seilheimer, Nenninger has contributed to advancing numismatic scholarship, particularly regarding early silver coinage in Western Asia Minor. His professional memberships include INMediAK (Institute for New Media in Archaeology and Art) and DEGUWA (German Society for the Promotion of Underwater Archaeology), highlighting his technical and specialized archaeological interests.
Chao Zhang is a Tenured Associate Professor at Tsinghua University, specializing in software security, system security, data security, and AI security. He leads the VUL337 research group and serves as the coach of the Blue-Lotus CTF team. His educational background includes a Ph.D. in Computer Science from Peking University (2008-2013), a B.S. in Mathematical Science from Peking University (2004-2008), and a postdoctoral position at UC Berkeley (2013-2016). Dr. Zhang's research focuses on Software Security , System Security , Data and AI Security , Program Analysis , and Vulnerability Discovery . His work spans binary code analysis, fuzzing techniques, blockchain security, and AI security. His recent publications demonstrate a strong emphasis on developing novel frameworks for vulnerability detection, binary code analysis, and securing AI systems against adversarial attacks. His publication trends show a consistent focus on practical security solutions with increasing attention to AI security challenges. Over the past decade, he has published extensively in top security conferences including IEEE S&P, USENIX Security, CCS, NDSS, and ISSTA, with a significant acceleration in publications since 2020. Tencent CSS TSec Professional Prize (2nd place, 2019) Tencent CSS TSec Breakthrough Prize (1st place, 2018) DARPA Cyber Grand Challenge CFE, 2nd in exploiting (2016) DARPA Cyber Grand Challenge CQE, 1st in defense (2015) Microsoft BlueHat Prize Contest's Special Recognition Award (2012) 5th place in Defcon CTF 2017 2nd place in Defcon CTF 2016 5th place in Defcon CTF 2015 Dr. Zhang leads the VUL337 research group at Tsinghua University, which focuses on vulnerability discovery and security analysis. He also serves as the coach of the Blue-Lotus CTF team and is a member of the V group of LiST. His research has received significant attention in the security community, with numerous publications in top-tier security venues and practical contributions to vulnerability discovery and mitigation techniques.
Eleanor Scerri is a W2 Professor and Research Group Leader of the Human Palaeosystems Research Group at the Max Planck Institute of Geoanthropology in Jena, Germany. She is also a Reader at the Department of Prehistoric Archaeology at the University of Cologne and an Associate Professor in the Department of Classics and Archaeology at the University of Malta, her alma mater. Dr. Scerri obtained her PhD in Archaeology from the University of Southampton, jointly funded by the Royal Anthropological Institute and the Sutasoma Trust. Prior to her current position, she held prestigious fellowships including a Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions Fellowship at the Max Planck Institute for the Science of Human History, a British Academy Fellowship at the University of Oxford with a Junior Research Fellowship at Jesus College, and a Fyssen Foundation funded postdoctoral fellowship at the University of Bordeaux. She received tenure in 2023 after winning a place on the Lise Meitner Excellence Programme with her 'Pan African Evolution Research Group'. Her research focuses on exploring the articulation between material culture, genetics, and biogeography to advance theoretical, methodological, and scientific understanding in human evolution and niche expansion. The Human Palaeosystems Group investigates deep time human-environment relationships to understand the dynamics of human bio-cultural evolution and ecosystem change, from the rise of our species until the beginning of agriculture. Her work centers on three key areas: the emergence and expansion of the human niche with its technological societal and ecological feedbacks, disease-culture co-evolution, and island colonization with ecosystem resilience and societal feedbacks. Her approach combines primary fieldwork with a range of modeling approaches using paleoecological and genetic data. Dr. Scerri's recent publications demonstrate a strong focus on human evolution in Africa and Southwest Asia, with particular attention to the Middle Stone Age, lithic technology, and human-environment interactions. Her work frequently addresses the complex population structure of early Homo sapiens in Africa and challenges simple out-of-Africa models, instead supporting structured metapopulation models of human origins. She has made significant contributions to understanding the role of tropical forests in human evolution and the dynamics of island colonization. Lise Meitner Excellence Programme (2023) Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions Fellowship British Academy Fellowship Fyssen Foundation Postdoctoral Fellowship Dr. Scerri supervises undergraduate and postgraduate students at the University of Cologne, where she teaches undergraduate courses and supervises Masters projects. She leads several major research projects including the ERC StG funded IslandLab Project, which explores the transition from pristine natural systems to human dominated landscapes on Malta; the Disease-Culture Co-evolution project; and the Pan-African Evolution Project, which involves extensive fieldwork in West Africa investigating the deep human past in this region. The Human Palaeosystems Research Group conducts fieldwork programs across Africa and the Mediterranean, particularly in West Africa, Arabia, and Malta. The group's approach integrates archaeological, paleoenvironmental, and genetic data to test hypotheses about human evolution and the growth and impact of the human niche. Their work has significantly advanced understanding of human dispersals, population structure in Africa, and the complex evolutionary processes that shaped our species.
