Giuliano Ciavarrella is a research associate and PhD candidate at the Chair of Entrepreneurship, University of Kaiserslautern, working under Prof. Dr. Dennis Steininger . With a background in Industrial Engineering and Business and Engineering, he focuses on entrepreneurship, digital innovation, and entrepreneurial finance . His expertise spans business model development, AI, and lean management, gained through academic and practical roles at institutions like BMW Group and Fraunhofer Society. Education: Master of Science in Business and Engineering, Clausthal University of Technology (2019-2021) Bachelor in Industrial Engineering, Bingen University of Applied Sciences (2012-2017) Semester Abroad: Innovation & Smart Factories, Sapienza University of Rome (2020); International Management & Capital Markets, California State University Fullerton (2015) Research & Teaching: Research focus on intersections of entrepreneurship and digital innovation since 2020 Teaching business studies and economics courses in interdisciplinary programs Practical Experience: BMW Group (2016-2018): Lean management integration in production systems Fraunhofer Society (2019-2021): Business model innovation in AI and energy systems His work addresses challenges in digital transformation and startup financing, informed by extensive global academic and industry exposure. Scientific Awards & Memberships: State Scholarship Lower Saxony (2020) Reviewer for Communications of the AIS , ECIS , and journals like ISJ and ICIS Member of the German Academic Association for Business Research (VHB), German Association for Engineering and Business Administration (VWI), and Startup Westpfalz e.V.
Prof. Dr. Ronald Saladin serves as Assistant Professor of Japanese Studies at the University of Trier within the Faculty of Humanities and Cultural Studies, a position he has held since January 2018. His academic career includes significant research fellowships at the German Institute for Japanese Studies in Tokyo (2016-2017) and teaching appointments at the Universities of Cologne, Vienna, and Trier dating back to 2008. His educational trajectory features: PhD in Japanese Studies, University of Trier (2014) with dissertation on 'Discourses on Masculinities in Japanese Lifestyle Magazines for Young Men' Concurrent doctoral studies in Sociology at Musashi University, Tokyo (2009-2012) Magister degree in Japanese Studies, Sociology and German Studies, University of Trier (1999-2008) Saladin's research centers on evolving masculinities in contemporary Japan, particularly examining gender representations in media ecosystems. His work critically analyzes how Japanese lifestyle magazines, television dramas, and popular culture construct and contest traditional gender norms, with special focus on phenomena like 'sōshokukei danshi' (herbivore men). This interdisciplinary scholarship bridges gender theory, media sociology, and Japanese cultural studies through rigorous discourse analysis of visual and textual media. His publication record since 2011 reveals consistent thematic focus on masculinity transformations, with increasing attention to media discourse mechanisms and cross-generational gender representations. The 2017 special issue of Intersections journal he co-edited marks a significant contribution to understanding gender flux in modern Japan. His recognition includes: Graduate Center Publication Prize, University of Trier (2016) Saladin's academic development was substantially supported by prestigious funding including multiple MEXT Scholarships from the Japanese government (2002-2004, 2008-2009, 2009-2012) and DAAD funding (2008-2010), enabling extended research residencies at Tokyo Gakugei University and Musashi University. While current advising relationships aren't specified in source materials, his position entails graduate supervision within Japanese Studies programs.
Meike Tilebein is a Professor and Director of the Institute for Diversity Studies in Engineering at the Faculty of Engineering, University of Stuttgart. She has been a full professor since November 2009 and leads research at the intersection of engineering, management, and social systems. Her work emphasizes digital transformation, sustainability, and diversity in innovation processes, particularly in small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and the textile industry. PhD in Economics and Social Sciences (Dr. rer. pol.), University of Stuttgart, 2004 Dipl.-Ing. in Technical Cybernetics, University of Stuttgart, 1995 Junior Professor in Innovation Management, European Business School, 2007–2009 Postdoctoral Researcher, University of Stuttgart, 2004–2007 Her research focuses on systems thinking, complexity science, innovation management, and diversity in engineering teams. She investigates how digital technologies enable sustainable and socially valuable business models, especially in textile microfactories and circular economy contexts. She integrates system dynamics and agent-based modeling to analyze organizational behavior and innovation processes. The most recent publications highlight trends in digital solutions for SMEs’ circularity transition, system dynamics in sustainability, and digital workflows for cradle-to-gate sustainability in textiles. These works demonstrate a strong interdisciplinary focus on sustainable engineering, digital transformation, and systemic innovation. She holds leadership roles in major academic initiatives: Research Leader, SimTech Excellence Cluster, University of Stuttgart Research Leader, Graduate School Advanced Manufacturing Engineering (GSaME) Dean of the continuing education MBE program in Intra- and Entrepreneurship (tech) Deputy Dean, Faculty 7 (2021–2023) She has served on numerous national and international committees, including the Innovation Council of the German Federation of Industrial Research Associations (Zuse), the Scientific Advisory Board for Industry 4.0 in Potsdam, and evaluation panels for the Baden-Württemberg Innovation and Research Prizes. She is also active in promoting diversity and gender equality in academia.
Professor Silke Betscher is a Professor for the Science of Social Work with a focus on community work, community development and macro social work at the Department of Social Work, Faculty of Economics and Social Sciences at Hamburg University of Applied Sciences (HAW Hamburg) since 2022. She is also a cultural and social anthropologist with extensive experience in participatory community research at the interface of health and social affairs, particularly through her work with the Polyclinic Veddel on the district survey "Veddel - How are you?" and the establishment of a district laboratory. Her educational background includes a PhD from the School of Cultures, Languages and Area Studies at the University of Liverpool (2010) and a Magister Artium in Cultural Studies with a focus on cultural and social anthropology from the University of Bremen (2006). Prior to her current position, she served as Acting Professor for Health and Diversity at HS Gesundheit Bochum (2020-2022), and was a university lecturer for social and cultural anthropology at the University of Bremen (2012-2022). Professor Betscher's research focuses on community work, flight and migration, anti-discrimination work, participatory research, and multi-perspective casework. Her key competencies include participatory community research at the interface of health and social affairs, ethnographic research in fields of social work, diversity and discrimination-sensitive organizational development, flight and post-migrant society studies, and discourse research. Her work critically examines structural racism, postcolonial perspectives on social work, and the intersection of migration policies with youth welfare systems. Her recent publications reveal a strong trend toward community health research with a focus on participatory, collaborative approaches that bridge social work and public health. She has pioneered community-based health assessments in diverse urban neighborhoods, particularly through the "Veddel - How are you?" project, which won the Citizen Science Prize in 2023. Her work consistently integrates critical perspectives on race, migration, and structural inequality into community health frameworks, emphasizing the importance of diversity-sensitive approaches in both research and practice. 2021 First Prize for Good Teaching, HS Gesundheit Bochum Citizen Science Prize 2023 (together with Poliklinik Veddel) Professor Betscher has secured significant research funding for projects including the "Veddel - How are you?" community health survey, the Bochum-Hustadt district laboratories, and participatory evaluations of care programs for young refugees. Her collaborative approach involves working closely with students, community members, and healthcare providers to co-produce knowledge that addresses real community needs. She has been instrumental in developing diversity- and discrimination-sensitive organizational development frameworks in child and youth welfare services. She leads the Community Health Laboratory Veddel, a pioneering initiative that represents the first quantitative and participatory community health survey in Germany. This project exemplifies her commitment to collaborative research that bridges academic knowledge with community expertise, creating actionable insights for improving health and living conditions in urban neighborhoods. Her work with the Polyclinic Veddel demonstrates how academic research can directly inform community health interventions and policy development.
Felicitas Thiel is a Professor of School Pedagogy and School Improvement Research at the Department of Education and Psychology, Freie Universität Berlin. She has held this position since October 2006 and previously served as Professor for School Education at the University of Vechta in 2006. Her academic leadership extends to national policy, as she has been Co-Chairwoman of the Standing Scientific Commission on Education Policy (SWK) since May 2021 and a member of the Scientific Commission of Lower Saxony (WKN) since 2018. She also serves on the Board of Trustees of the Centre for International Student Assessment (ZIB) since 2016. Her research interests focus on classroom management as a core component of teacher expertise, school quality assurance, evidence-based educational governance, professionalization of pedagogical professions, and organizational theory of schools. She teaches on classroom research, instructional methods, teacher education, school improvement, and educational policy. Her recent publications (2022–2025) reflect a strong trend in video-based teacher training, classroom disruption management, teacher feedback mechanisms, and digital learning environments. She has led major research projects such as Evidence-Based Governance in the German Educational System (SteBis) , K2teach , (Un-)Failing Schools , and FEED-UB , focusing on feedback interventions by school principals. Co-Chairwoman, Standing Scientific Commission on Education Policy (SWK), since 2021 Member, Scientific Commission of Lower Saxony (WKN), since 2018 Board Member, Centre for International Student Assessment (ZIB), since 2016 Editorial Board Member, Zeitschrift für Erziehungswissenschaft , 2014–2021 She has supervised numerous research projects and coordinated the Master’s program in "School Development and Quality Assurance." Her work bridges empirical research, teacher training, and national education policy, making her a key figure in shaping evidence-based practices in German schools.
Prof. Dr. Henner Gärtner is a full Professor for Industrial Logistics in the Department of Mechanical Engineering and Production at Hamburg University of Applied Sciences (HAW Hamburg). He is also Program Coordinator of the cooperative Mechanical Engineering program with the University of Shanghai for Science and Technology, Chairman of the Study Reform Committee, and deputy member of the Department Council. Education & Academic Focus Doctorate (Dissertation on stock-out cost quantification, PZH-Verlag, 2011) Research stays and teaching activities in Germany and China Research Interests Prof. Gärtner’s work spans decentralized production control , Industry 4.0 testbeds , autonomous transport systems (AGVs) , and real-time ergonomic monitoring . A flagship project is the Shared Guide Dog 4.0 , an AI-equipped autonomous rollator that supports blind and visually impaired pedestrians through advanced navigation and puddle-detection algorithms. Scientific Awards Hamburger Lehrpreis 2022 – Excellence in Teaching Projects & Funding SafeWalker – safe navigation assistance for elderly pedestrians Shared Guide Dog 4.0 – AI-driven mobility aid (with DAAD & BMAS support) GehwegNavi – sidewalk navigation for the visually impaired Decentralized Manufacturing Control testbed – “swimming-pool” model for resource negotiation Collaborative projects with Lufthansa Technik Logistik Services, VTG AG, DESY, and Krüss GmbH Teaching & Supervision He teaches bachelor and master modules such as Industrial Logistics , Production Planning & Control , Operations Management , and Project Management & Communication . Prof. Gärtner has supervised more than 30 bachelor and master theses on topics ranging from decentralized AGV control to AI-based computer-vision apps for barrier-free mobility. Labs & Teams Prof. Gärtner leads activities within the Institute for Product and Production Management (IPP) at HAW Hamburg and coordinates interdisciplinary student teams working on robotics, lean production, and service engineering.
Diana Dushkova is a Senior Researcher at the Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research – UFZ in Leipzig, Germany. Her academic background includes a PhD in Geography (summa cum laude, Moscow State University, 2008) and a M.Sc. in Geography (Moscow State University, 2005). She has held postdoctoral positions at Humboldt University Berlin and Moscow State University, with guest research at Leibniz Institute for Regional Geography and Martin Luther University Halle. Current Affiliation: Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research – UFZ, Department of Conservation Biology & Social-Ecological Systems Past Affiliations: Humboldt University Berlin (2017–2020), Moscow State University (2014–2017), Leibniz Institute for Regional Geography (2013–2014) Her research focuses on nature-based solutions (NBS) , urban ecosystem services , and social-ecological systems , with an emphasis on how blue-green infrastructure enhances urban resilience and human well-being. She explores therapeutic landscapes, environmental risks, and co-creation models for NBS implementation. Her work spans European and Russian contexts, addressing climate change, post-socialist urban transitions, and sustainable development. Dushkova’s recent publications (2021–2025) cover topics such as urban greening in Moscow and Saint Petersburg , empowerment programs for coastal communities , and ecosystem service assessments in Russian cities. She evaluates NBS impact through frameworks like the RECONECT project and advocates for interdisciplinary collaboration in urban planning. She supervises B.Sc. and M.Sc. students and contributes to EU Horizon 2020 projects like RECONECT (Grant 776866) and EmpowerUs (Grant 10105995). Her methodological expertise includes cartographic modeling, ecosystem service valuation, and social construction of landscapes. Dushkova collaborates with institutions such as Humboldt University Berlin , Moscow State University , and Leibniz Institute for Regional Geography . She leads projects like the Leibniz-DAAD initiative on cultural landscapes and the DAAD-East-Partnership on urban ecosystem services.
Sophia Reißenweber is an Artistic Associate in Industrial Design at Burg Giebichenstein University of Art and Design Halle, specializing in design in digital contexts since 2024. Her work bridges research and industry with a focus on sustainable production and consumption systems. Her research interests center on developing design strategies for biotechnological processes and initiating circular, locally anchored value creation systems. She explores the intersection of digital fabrication, sustainable materials, and social-ecological transformation through hands-on design projects that address pressing environmental challenges. Reißenweber's work demonstrates consistent trends across multiple projects: transforming waste streams into valuable resources (HYNER, RESUS), creating open and participatory design systems (MFG, Break-up Lab), and developing sustainable alternatives for everyday products (APOTHEEKE, FLUSHED). Her approach integrates digital tools with sustainable material innovation to create holistic design solutions. Finalist Newcomer Design Award 2025 Bundespreis Ecodesign Winner: Break-up Lab 2024 Giebichenstein Design Award Winner: Break-up Lab 2024 Pure Talents Contest Winner: MFG 2024 Designblok Prague Diploma Selection Winner: Break-up Lab 2024 As an educator, Reißenweber teaches courses on Complex Design and CAD modeling at Burg Giebichenstein, focusing on sustainable design methodologies and digital fabrication techniques. She has also taught at the Kassel Art Academy in the Department of Sustainable Product Design. Beyond academia, she serves on the board of das Bedürfnis e.V., an art and culture association that repurposes unused urban spaces in Halle (Saale), demonstrating her commitment to community engagement and social transformation through design. Her work spans multiple collaborative spaces including the BioLab at Burg Giebichenstein (2022-2024) and the BurgMaterial research project (2021-2023), where she contributed to developing and communicating sustainable materials and processes. These labs serve as interdisciplinary hubs connecting design, science, and industry to address sustainability challenges through innovative approaches.
Amal Ahmed is a Professor at Khoury College of Computer Sciences, Northeastern University, where she leads the SILC (Secure Interoperability, Languages, and Compilers) research group. She holds a Ph.D. in Computer Science from Princeton University. Her research focuses on programming languages, compilers, and software security, with emphasis on compiler verification, language interoperability, type systems, gradual typing, and secure compilation. She teaches courses including CS7470 (Seminar in PL: Logical Relations) and CS7400 (Intensive Principles of Programming Languages). Research Focus Dr. Ahmed's work bridges theoretical foundations and practical implementation, exploring: semantics and type systems for imperative/probabilistic languages; safe multi-language interoperability; compiler correctness; gradual typing; and provenance. Her recent publications demonstrate strong emphasis on secure compilation techniques, WebAssembly interoperability, and formal verification of compiler transformations. Professional Recognition NSF CAREER Award recipient Keynote speaker at major conferences including OOPSLA 2023, LICS 2022, and ESOP 2018 Program chair for POPL 2023 and OOPSLA 2022 Editorial board member for Journal of Functional Programming and Mathematical Structures in Computer Science Research Team & Students Dr. Ahmed leads an active research group with 7 PhD students and 1 postdoc. She has graduated 4 PhD students who now hold academic positions at University of Michigan, UBC, and Northeastern. Her mentorship extends to numerous MS students and undergraduates, with several receiving NSF GRFP awards.
Beate Bowien-Jansen is a Scientific Associate at the German Institute for Adult Education – Leibniz Centre for Lifelong Learning , focusing on adult education research and practice. Her work emphasizes financial literacy , basic education , and the digitalization of learning processes , with a particular interest in integrating low-literacy individuals into educational frameworks. Education: Part-time B.A. in Educational Science (2009–2015, Fernuniversität Hagen) Part-time M.A. in Education and Media eEducation (2016–present, Fernuniversität Hagen) Bowien-Jansen's research explores digital tools for financial literacy (e.g., the MONETTO gamified learning platform) and collaborative strategies for professionalizing educators. She has contributed to understanding how augmented reality , workplace learning , and multiplier networks can enhance basic education access and effectiveness. Her publications, including anthologies and peer-reviewed articles, examine work-oriented basic education , interdisciplinary collaborations , and gamification in adult learning . She has co-edited study materials on financial literacy and participated in projects like CurVe II, linking debt counseling to broader educational transitions. Scientific Contributions: Co-development of MONETTO, a financial literacy game Analysis of augmented reality applications for low-literacy learners Framework for workplace-based basic education programs Investigation of multiplier strategies in literacy outreach Evaluation of North Rhine-Westphalia's Alphanetz coordination center Integration of financial literacy with consumer education Bowien-Jansen collaborates extensively with colleagues like Michael Tröster and Eleni Mania, contributing to both practical guides and theoretical advancements in adult education. Her work bridges academic research with actionable strategies for policymakers and practitioners.
Linda von Sobbe is a Researcher at the German Institute for Adult Education (DIE) since 2023, focusing on digitalization-related professionalization of teachers and cognitive linguistics. She holds an M.A. in German Linguistics and a B.A. in German and International Literatures from the University of Tübingen , where she completed her PhD in 2022 in the SFB 833 "Meaning Constitution" project on Language Processing and Time Cognition. Her research prioritizes amodal mental representations of linguistic meaning, grounded cognition theories, and the psychological dimensions of time perception.
Regina Stodden is a Research Fellow at the Department of Computational Linguistics, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, since January 2019. She is affiliated with the NRW Research College for Online Participation (second funding phase) and works under the supervision of Prof. Dr. Marc Ziegele. Education: B.A. in Educational Science, Text Technology, and Computational Linguistics from Bielefeld University M.A. in Information Science and Language Technology from HHU Düsseldorf Her research focuses on automatic text processing , particularly text simplification for online discussions. This includes: Enabling participation for people with limited German proficiency Reducing manual workload in text analysis Exploring accessibility in Open Data portals She has contributed to tools like TS-ANNO for corpus annotation and EASSE-DE for simplification evaluation, with recent work extending to CEFR-based language proficiency assessment . Her research intersects Natural Language Processing , Machine Learning , and Usability Studies , often addressing accessibility challenges in digital participation. Scientific awards: No explicit awards mentioned. Advising and grants: Participates in the NRW Research College for Online Participation funding program and collaborates under Prof. Dr. Laura Kallmeyer's supervision. Her work involves grants related to text simplification for online participation processes.
Prof. Dr. Chris Volkmar is a Professor for Electric Space Propulsion and Electromagnetic Compatibility at the Technical University of Mittelhessen (THM) since October 2019. He serves as Co-Head of the TransMIT EMC Laboratory and leads the Space Electronics Research Group. His institutional affiliations include membership in the Competence Center for Nanotechnology and Photonics (NanoP) and the Research Campus Mittelhessen (FCMH) in the field of space applications, where he serves as Deputy Spokesperson since April 2025. Prof. Volkmar's academic background includes: PhD (2015) from Justus Liebig University Giessen with dissertation on 'Self-consistent numerical 1D/3D hybrid modeling of radio frequency ion thrusters' Master of Science in Electrical Engineering and Information Technology (2012-2014) from THM Graduate Engineer in Information and Communication Technology (2007-2011) from THM Specializing in electric space propulsion systems and electromagnetic compatibility, Prof. Volkmar's research bridges plasma physics with spacecraft engineering. His work focuses on radio frequency ion thrusters, developing innovative measurement techniques and specialized testing facilities including vacuum-compatible reverberation chambers and semi-anechoic chambers for electromagnetic compatibility testing of electric propulsion systems. His expertise spans power electronics for space applications, plasma diagnostics, and spacecraft system integration challenges. Prof. Volkmar's publication record reveals a consistent trajectory from fundamental plasma modeling toward increasingly sophisticated engineering solutions for space applications. His recent work emphasizes system-level integration challenges of electric propulsion systems, with particular attention to electromagnetic compatibility issues that arise when integrating these systems into spacecraft. The research demonstrates strong collaboration between theoretical modeling and practical engineering validation. Ombudsperson for Good Scientific Practice at THM (2023-2027) Deputy Member of the Executive Committee for Young Researchers at THM (2022-2025) Board Member for Instruments (MDPI) journal Guest Editor for Frontiers in Space Technologies research topic 'Advances in Electric Propulsion Systems' Prof. Volkmar actively supervises student research through structured thesis programs at THM, with formal guidelines and LaTeX templates provided for academic work. His research is supported through institutional affiliations with TransMIT GmbH, the Competence Center for Nanotechnology and Photonics, and the Research Campus Mittelhessen. He serves on multiple examination boards and departmental committees, demonstrating significant institutional involvement in academic governance and quality assurance across both THM and joint programs with Justus Liebig University (JLU). As Co-Head of the TransMIT EMC Laboratory and leader of the Space Electronics Research Group, Prof. Volkmar directs specialized testing facilities for electromagnetic compatibility of electric propulsion systems. His team has developed vacuum-compatible reverberation chambers and semi-anechoic chambers specifically designed for spacecraft component validation. The research group maintains strong connections with the German Aerospace Center (DLR) and participates in international conferences including the Electric Rocket Propulsion Society events, contributing to the advancement of electric propulsion technology for space exploration.
Prof. Dr. Stefanie Wannow serves as a Professor and Head of the Master of Digital and International Marketing (MAIM) program at the University of Applied Sciences Mittelhessen (THM), where she is affiliated with the Department of Marketing within the Faculty of Economics. Her academic profile demonstrates extensive engagement in both teaching and research, with particular emphasis on international marketing, consumer behavior across cultural contexts, and the evolving digital marketing landscape. She maintains an active scholarly presence through numerous publications, conference presentations, and peer-review activities for leading marketing journals. Wannow's research expertise centers on consumer behavior with a specialized focus on intercultural differences and contemporary applications including sustainable consumption and emerging technologies. Her scholarly work explores how consumers respond to sustainability initiatives, brand activism, and digital innovations across various platforms including the Metaverse and AI-driven interfaces. She has developed significant insights into moral emotions in consumer responses, generational differences in sustainability attitudes (particularly among Gen Z), and effective communication strategies in climate-related advertising contexts. Her publication trajectory reveals a clear evolution from traditional branding research toward cutting-edge topics at the intersection of digital transformation, sustainability, and consumer psychology. Recent work heavily emphasizes the Metaverse, AI applications in marketing, and generational differences in consumer behavior, while maintaining her foundational expertise in international and cross-cultural marketing. She frequently collaborates with colleagues including M. Haupt, examining consumer responses across diverse contexts with methodological rigor. As an active contributor to the academic community, Wannow serves as a reviewer for prestigious journals including Journal of Business Research, Psychology & Marketing, Journal of Product and Brand Management, Journal of Brand Management, Journal of Consumer Behavior, European Management Review, and Marketing Intelligence & Planning. She maintains professional engagement through scheduled student appointments via Calendly and conducts meetings through both in-person and virtual channels.
Prof. Dr.-Ing. Dipl.-Wirt. Ing. Diethelm Bienhaus is a faculty member at the Faculty of Information Technology (MNI) at Technische Hochschule Mittelhessen . His academic focus spans Cyber-Physical Systems , Industry 4.0 , and Assistive Technologies , with long-term projects in building automation and age-appropriate assistance systems. Research Interests: Cybersecurity for industrial systems, robotics, embedded systems, and human-computer interaction. Committee Roles: Member of the MNI Department Council, Head of Curriculum Development for Computer Engineering, and Chair of multiple appointment committees. Funded Projects: Led initiatives in secure digitalized healthcare production, dendrochronological analysis automation, and industrial connectivity platforms. Email: diethelm.bienhaus@mni.thm.de
