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Bernd FischerView profile

Professor

• Automated Software Engineering
• Program Verification
• Logic-based Techniques
• +7 more

Bernd Fischer is a Professor and the current Head of Division in the Division of Computer Science at Stellenbosch University, South Africa. Previously, he held positions at TU Braunschweig, NASA Ames Research Center, and University of Southampton, establishing a strong international academic background in software engineering and formal methods. Professor Fischer's research focuses on automated software engineering, particularly logic-based techniques. His work spans specification-based component reuse, program synthesis, and program verification, with current emphasis on annotation inference, software model checking, and human-oriented presentation of verification results. His research bridges theoretical foundations with practical applications, particularly in concurrent program verification, grammar-based testing, and fault localization techniques. His work has significant implications for improving software reliability and developer productivity. Analysis of his recent publications reveals a strong focus on concurrent program verification through lazy sequentialization techniques, with substantial contributions to tools like CSeq and ESBMC. His research demonstrates consistent innovation in software verification, particularly in addressing the challenges of concurrency, bounded model checking, and fault localization. The interdisciplinary nature of his work connects theoretical computer science with practical software engineering challenges. ASE 2012 Most Influential Paper Award ACM Distinguished Paper Award Best Presentation Award Professor Fischer has successfully advised PhD students including Gillian Greene, who defended her thesis on "Concept-Based Exploration of Rich Semi-Structured Data Collections," and Geoff Birch, who completed work on "Fast, Fully-Automated, Model-Based Fault Localisation and Repair with Test Suites as Specification." His mentoring approach integrates theoretical rigor with practical tool development. His research has been supported through various academic grants enabling the development of multiple software verification tools. Professor Fischer leads development of several important software engineering tools including AutoBayes for statistical program synthesis, ConceptCloud for interactive visualization of software repositories, CSeq for concurrent program verification, and ESBMC for software model checking. These tools represent significant contributions to the software engineering research community and have been recognized in international verification competitions.

Xiang GaoView profile

Associate Professor

• Program Analysis
• Software Security
• Automated Program Repair
• +4 more

Xiang Gao is a Pre-tenure Associate Professor in the School of Software at Beihang University, China. His research focuses on applying program analysis, test generation, and formal methods to improve software quality through automated bug fixing and program synthesis. He has established significant collaborations with Fujitsu Laboratories of America, Microsoft Research, and other leading institutions in the software engineering field, demonstrating strong industry-academia connections. Dr. Gao received his Bachelor's degree in Computer Science (Elite Class) from Shandong University in 2016, followed by a Ph.D. from the School of Computing at the National University of Singapore, where he also served as a Postdoctoral Fellow until December 2021. His educational background spans both Chinese and Singaporean academic institutions, providing him with a global perspective on software engineering research. His primary research interests span multiple cutting-edge areas of software engineering: Program Analysis techniques for detecting and fixing software bugs with formal methods Software Security vulnerabilities with focus on automated repair methods Automated Program Repair systems that generate high-quality patches without overfitting Program Synthesis for creating transformation rules from examples Software Engineering for Artificial Intelligence (SE4AI) to improve AI model reliability and security Mobile Software Engineering with particular attention to UI testing and automation Deep Learning Security including model protection and obfuscation techniques Dr. Gao's recent publication trajectory shows a strategic evolution toward integrating large language models with traditional software engineering approaches, particularly in test generation and program repair. His work on DNN modularization (NeMo, CNNSpliter, SeaM) represents an innovative approach to enhancing model reusability and security in resource-constrained mobile environments, addressing critical challenges in deploying AI on edge devices. His scientific contributions have been recognized with multiple prestigious awards: ACM SIGSOFT Distinguished Paper Award for "ProveNFix: Temporal Property guided Program Repair" at FSE'24 IEEE TCSE Distinguished Paper Award for "Investigating and Detecting Silent Bugs in PyTorch Programs" at SANER'24 ACM SIGSOFT Distinguished Paper Award for "Modularizing while Training: A New Paradigm for Modularizing DNN Models" at ICSE'24 Distinguished Artifact Award for "Automated Patch Backporting in Linux (Experience Paper)" at ISSTA'21 Dr. Gao actively mentors students at various levels, seeking "self-motivated Ph.D, master, undergraduate students and interns with strong programming skills" for his research projects. He serves on numerous program committees for top software engineering conferences including ICSE, ASE, ISSTA, and FSE, demonstrating his growing influence in the academic community. His research has been supported through collaborations with industry partners including Microsoft Research and Fujitsu Laboratories of America, translating theoretical advances into practical applications. His laboratory focuses on several key research projects including Automated Software Vulnerability Repair (with techniques like Fix2Fit, VulnFix, and ExtractFix that address the overfitting problem in program repair), Program Synthesis for Program Transformation (including Semi-supervised synthesis and FixMorph for automated patch backporting in Linux), and Software Engineering for Artificial Intelligence (with projects like CNNSpliter, SeaM, and Sensei that apply software engineering principles to improve AI model usability and robustness). These projects represent cutting-edge work at the intersection of traditional software engineering and modern AI techniques, addressing critical challenges in software reliability and security.

Berkan SariaydinView profile

Lecturer

• Classical Reception Studies
• Latin Literature
• Didactics of Ancient Languages
• +5 more

Dr. Berkan Sariaydin serves as Lecturer in the Department of Didactics of Ancient Languages within LMU Munich's Faculty of Languages and Literatures, while concurrently holding a Studienrat position at Wilhelmsgymnasium Munich. His dual academic-school roles focus on bridging classical philology with contemporary pedagogy through innovative multimedia approaches. His educational trajectory includes: MA-level studies in Latin, German and Philosophy at LMU Munich (2012-2018) First State Teaching Examination (2018) Doctoral degree from LMU Munich (2018-2024) Second State Teaching Examination (2024) Research centers on classical reception studies with emphasis on intermedial transformations of antiquity. His work analyzes how ancient narratives (particularly Virgil and Ovid) manifest in modern media like graphic novels and fantasy literature, while developing practical didactic frameworks for language instruction. Current projects explore mythological narratives as tools for addressing contemporary social challenges through the ERC-funded 'Modern Argonauts' initiative. His publication record shows consistent output since 2016, with increasing focus on methodological innovation in classical reception studies. Recent works demonstrate growing integration of multimedia analysis and pedagogical application, particularly in teacher training contexts. Award highlights include: Bavarian State Ministry award for exceptional teacher training (2024) German National Academic Foundation doctoral scholarship (2019) LMU's MZL Prize for academic excellence (2019) Germany Scholarship for undergraduate studies (2015) Grant involvement centers on the ERC Proof of Concept project 'The Modern Argonauts' at Warsaw University, where he develops multicultural educational programs using classical mythology. His teaching methodology emphasizes active student engagement with ancient texts through contemporary media adaptations. He actively contributes to academic discourse through LMU's 'Rejuvenated Antiquity' research seminar and international conferences, focusing on practical applications of classical studies in modern educational settings.

• Reconstructive Approaches in Social Work
• Ethnography and Qualitative Research Methods
• Biography and Interaction Analysis
• +7 more

Professor Michael Appel serves as a Professor of Theories, Action Concepts and Methods of Social Work at the Evangelische Hochschule Nürnberg since October 2009. His academic career bridges practical social work experience with rigorous research methodologies, having previously worked as Scientific Coordinator of Teaching-Learning Research at the University of Siegen until September 2009. Professor Appel maintains strong connections to both academic research and practical social work settings through his methodological expertise and applied research projects. Professor Appel's research focuses on reconstructive approaches in Social Work, with particular emphasis on ethnography, biography analysis, and qualitative research methods. His work explores intercultural Social Work, integration processes of unaccompanied refugee minors, and cultural change studies. He has developed innovative approaches to research-based, discovery learning that integrate theory, practice, and reflection in social work education. His methodological contributions span narrative interviewing techniques, ethnographic field research, and biographical analysis frameworks. Professor Appel's publication record demonstrates consistent scholarly output across two decades, with recent work concentrating on refugee integration processes and methodological innovations in qualitative social work research. His 2021-2019 publications address critical issues in biographical work with refugee minors and the challenges faced by refugees aging out of youth care systems. His research shows a clear trajectory from earlier work on youth work quality management to current focus areas in refugee integration, maintaining consistent methodological rigor throughout. Professor Appel's advising approach emphasizes reconstructive knowledge building through ethnographic approaches in case-based learning contexts. His research projects often involve collaborative work with students and practitioners, creating opportunities for hands-on research experience. His work on the WANJA project and current refugee integration studies demonstrate his commitment to research that directly informs and improves social work practice. He has developed frameworks for effectiveness dialogue in youth work and quality management systems that have practical applications in social service settings. Professor Appel leads research initiatives focused on integration processes of unaccompanied refugee minors, employing biographical analytical methods and ethnographic approaches. His work combines academic rigor with practical relevance, maintaining strong connections to social work practice settings while advancing methodological approaches in qualitative social research. His research group collaborates with youth welfare services and refugee support organizations to ensure practical applicability of research findings.

• Early Childhood Education
• Play Pedagogy
• Resilience Research
• +6 more

Professor Tanja Brandl-Götz serves as Professor of General Pedagogy with a focus on Early Childhood Education and Program Director for the Bachelor's program in Early Childhood Education at Protestant University of Applied Sciences Nuremberg. A member of the Social Science Institute for Research and Transfer (SWIFT), she brings over two decades of combined academic and practical experience in social pedagogy, having previously led the Fachakademie for Social Pedagogy Hensoltshöhe and coordinated the Familienzentrum Sonnenhof project. Her educational background includes a PhD in Philosophy from Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (2016), Diploma in Educational Sciences from Philipps-Universität Marburg (2007-2009), Diploma in Social Work from Evangelische Fachhochschule Nürnberg (2003-2007), and certification as a state-recognized educator (1998-2001). Additional qualifications include systemic counseling training (2016) and Social Business Administration studies (2007-2008). Brandl-Götz's research centers on early childhood education dynamics, with expertise in play pedagogy, resilience development, and qualitative social research methodologies. She investigates pedagogical processes through the lens of children's perspectives, examining how educational partnerships function during crises like the pandemic and addressing emerging issues such as gender diversity in childhood development. Her work consistently bridges theoretical frameworks with practical applications in kindergarten settings. Analysis of her 15 most recent publications (2011-2025) reveals evolving research trajectories: early work focused on foundational pedagogical theories and play-based learning, transitioning to resilience frameworks during the pandemic, and most recently addressing children's agency in educational design and gender diversity. The publications demonstrate strong interdisciplinary connections between educational theory, child psychology, and social policy implementation. Outstanding Teaching Award 2014 (recognized in Forum der Lehre proceedings) As Program Director, Brandl-Götz oversees curriculum development and student supervision for the Early Childhood Education program, emphasizing reflective practice and theory-practice integration. Her leadership in projects like the Familienzentrum Sonnenhof and 'Kita als sicherer Ort' safety initiative demonstrates successful grant acquisition and implementation. Current research focuses on participatory educational design informed by children's perspectives. Through her membership in SWIFT, Brandl-Götz contributes to interdisciplinary research transfer initiatives that connect academic scholarship with practical applications in social pedagogy and early childhood education settings across Bavaria.

Christiane LütgeView profile

Professor

• Digital Literacy
• AI Literacy
• Foreign Language Education
• +3 more

Christiane Lütge is Professor and Chair of Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL) at Ludwig-Maximilians-University of Munich within the Faculty of Languages and Literatures. She concurrently directs the Munich Centre of Teacher Education (MZL), overseeing teacher education programs across all disciplines at LMU since 2015. Her research pioneers the integration of digital and AI literacy into foreign language pedagogy, examining how algorithmic systems reshape language learning and global citizenship development. Current work investigates critical engagement with AI tools in classroom settings, literature-based approaches to digital citizenship, and ethical frameworks for AI-enhanced language education. Secured €13+ million for the Qualitätsoffensive Lehrerbildung (QLB) project (2018-2022) Principal Investigator for Erasmus+ DiCE.Lang project (2020-2023) with 4 European partners Coordinates English component of BMBF-funded KOKON project on collaborative knowledge construction Leads TEFL Lab developing AI literacy assessment frameworks for language classrooms As director of LMU's teacher education center, she implements research findings through curriculum development, teacher training workshops, and Bavarian education policy initiatives, bridging academic research and classroom practice in digital language education.

• Knowledge Graph
• Semantic Web
• Natural Language Processing
• +1 more

Dr. Sven Hertling serves as Substitute Professor at the University of Mannheim while maintaining a reduced research role at FIZ Karlsruhe's Information Service Engineering group. His career spans institutional affiliations including DFKI GmbH and the University of Mannheim's Data and Web Science Group. His educational background includes: PhD from University of Mannheim (2017-2023) Master of Science in Computer Science from TU Darmstadt (2012-2015) Bachelor of Science in Computer Science from TU Darmstadt (2009-2012) Dr. Hertling's research integrates Knowledge Graphs, Semantic Web, and Machine Learning with Natural Language Processing. His work transitions from foundational contributions like SPARQL endpoint discoverability (ISWC 2013 Best Poster) to contemporary applications including LLM-based climate data extraction and ontology alignment systems, consistently targeting practical implementations in GUI search and knowledge engineering. His 2024-2025 publications reveal a strategic shift toward leveraging large language models for standardizing scientific repositories while advancing core Semantic Web techniques through machine learning datasets. This evolution demonstrates both technical depth in graph algorithms and responsiveness to emerging AI paradigms. Major recognitions include: ESWC 2021 Best Demo (kgextension package) AICA 2017 Best Paper (GUI search engine) ESWC 2016 Top-K Shortest Paths Challenge Winner ISWC 2013 Best Poster (SPARQL endpoints) As an emerging supervisor, Dr. Hertling leverages his Software Campus leadership training and active conference participation (serving on 12+ ESWC/ISWC program committees) to foster student development. His current roles at Mannheim and FIZ Karlsruhe indicate robust institutional support for his research trajectory, though specific grant details remain undisclosed in the source material. He operates within FIZ Karlsruhe's Information Service Engineering framework and maintains ties to Mannheim's Data and Web Science ecosystem, facilitating interdisciplinary work at the intersection of knowledge representation and AI-driven data analysis.

Andreas SchmietendorfView profile

Professor

• Software Engineering
• Business Informatics
• System Development
• +11 more

Prof. Dr. Andreas Schmietendorf is a Professor of Business Informatics – System Development at the Berlin School of Economics and Law (HWR Berlin) and holds a private lectureship in Software Engineering at the Otto von Guericke University Magdeburg. He leads the Business Informatics – System Development research group and is actively involved in the HWR doctoral college and Competence Center Digitization. His research focuses on the intersection of software engineering, business informatics, and artificial intelligence, with particular emphasis on: AI-driven changes in software engineering practices Trustworthy AI implementations in domain-specific contexts Web API security and management Digital transformation through low-code development approaches Requirements engineering for trustworthy digital services Prof. Schmietendorf's recent work has centered on the TAHAI (TrustAdHocAI) research project, which investigates trustworthy ad-hoc AI solutions across multiple domains including railway infrastructure, mediation research, and forestry. His research group regularly publishes on software engineering, AI applications, and digital transformation, with a strong focus on practical industry collaborations. The group has produced numerous workshops (ESAPI, KI4SE), conference proceedings, and practical implementations that bridge academic research and industry needs. He has successfully supervised multiple PhD students to completion and maintains an active doctoral supervision portfolio. His research group collaborates extensively with industry partners, particularly Deutsche Bahn, and regularly organizes events that foster academic-industry dialogue. Prof. Schmietendorf is also active in teaching, offering courses on Service Engineering at the University of Magdeburg and various business informatics topics at HWR Berlin. His teaching emphasizes practical applications of software engineering principles and the integration of emerging AI technologies through hands-on exercises and industry-relevant case studies.

Floris ErnstView profile

Professor

• Signal processing and analysis for biomedical applications
• Sensors for robotics
• Motion tracking and recognition in medical technology
• +4 more

Prof. Floris Ernst serves as Professor of Medical Robotics at the Institute for Robotics and Cognitive Systems, University of Lübeck, where he has been faculty since 2017 after joining as a research associate in 2013. He holds significant leadership roles including membership on the Steering Committee of the Graduate School 'Computing in Medicine and Life Sciences' and editorial positions with IEEE Robotics and Automation Letters and Frontiers in Robotics and AI. His research spans medical robotics , signal processing for biomedical applications , sensors for robotics , and augmented reality in surgery . Key projects include SonoBox (robotic ultrasound for pediatric fracture diagnosis), TWIN-WIN (digital supertwin technology), and robotics applications in rescue medicine. His work consistently bridges theoretical algorithm development with clinical implementation, focusing on real-world medical challenges. Prof. Ernst's recent publications (2023-2025) demonstrate strong activity across medical imaging, rescue robotics, and navigation systems. Trends show increasing focus on deep learning applications in medical imaging, real-time motion tracking for radiosurgery, and autonomous systems for emergency response. His work frequently appears in top robotics and medical imaging venues including IEEE conferences and journals. IEEE Senior Member Associate Editor, IEEE Robotics and Automation Letters (Medical Robotics) Associate Editor, Frontiers in Robotics and AI (Biomedical Robotics) As an active supervisor, Prof. Ernst guides students through courses like Medical Robotics (CS4270) and Bachelor/Master projects, with numerous publications co-authored with students. His lab maintains strong industry and clinical collaborations, particularly in medical device development and clinical robotics applications. The Robotics Laboratory (RobLab) serves as the primary research environment for his team's work on medical and rescue robotics systems.

• Italian Language Teaching
• Migration Studies
• Intercultural Communication
• +3 more

Livia Novi serves as a Lecturer for Special Assignments at the University of Münster's Language Center, coordinating Italian courses and UNIcert® examinations while advising Italian Studies students at the Romance Languages Department. Born in Rome (1965), she brings decades of cross-institutional experience from Münster, Bayreuth, Osnabrück, and Munich's Adult Education Center where she headed the Romance Languages Department (2011-2020). Her educational foundation includes: Master of Arts in History and Literature (University of Osnabrück, 1994) Master's in Didactics of Italian as Foreign Language (Ca' Foscari University Venice, 2011) Novi's research bridges Italian language pedagogy for German speakers with migration history and intercultural communication . Her work examines textbook evolution, language policy frameworks, and flipped classroom methodologies while analyzing Italian diaspora communities through historical and sociological lenses. Current projects focus on autonomous learning strategies and certification systems. Publication trends reveal a strategic shift from 1999-2007 migration studies toward 2012-2023 language education specialization. Recent works dissect intercultural competence development in teaching materials, German-Italian contrastive analysis, and policy implementation for Italian language certification, demonstrating consistent interdisciplinary rigor across 15 scholarly contributions. Professional engagement includes board membership in ADI (Associazione dei Docenti d'Italiano in Germania) since 2012 and lecturer roles in Ca' Foscari University's Master's program (2015-2021). Her advisory work spans curriculum design for cross-level Italian courses (A1-C1), subject-specific instruction for humanities students, and teacher training coordination across German educational institutions. Novi collaborates extensively through research networks including the Essen-Duisburg 'Living Many Worlds' project (2001-2003) on migrant youth experiences, while maintaining active roles in language certification development and textbook consultation for German-speaking Italian learners.

• Social Policy
• Political Science
• Disability Studies
• +1 more

Tanja Blum is a Lecturer at Technische Hochschule Augsburg, affiliated with the Faculty of Humanities and Natural Sciences. She teaches in the Social Work (BA) program, contributing to the academic development of future social work professionals. Her academic focus centers on social policy and political science, with particular emphasis on disability studies and inclusion. Her teaching modules explore the complex relationship between political systems, social structures, and the rights of people with disabilities. Dr. Blum combines her academic work with professional expertise as a Freelance Translator for Plain Language, suggesting a commitment to making complex information accessible to diverse audiences. This dual expertise likely enriches her teaching approach, helping students understand how to communicate effectively about social policy issues. Her research interests span multiple interconnected fields: Social Policy development and implementation Political frameworks affecting marginalized populations Disability rights and societal inclusion Plain language communication in public policy As a faculty member in the Social Work program, she contributes to preparing students for careers that address social inequality and advocate for vulnerable populations, particularly those with disabilities.

Mathias Sablé-MeyerView profile

Research Fellow

• Mechanistic implementation of compositional mental representation
• Geometry perception in humans and non-human primates
• Human reasoning and cognitive fallacies
• +5 more

Mathias Sablé-Meyer is a Postdoctoral Researcher at University College London's Sainsbury Wellcome Centre, working in Tim Behrens's lab. He completed his PhD under the supervision of Stanislas Dehaene at PSL/Collège de France and NeuroSpin, CEA, where he investigated humans' ability to manipulate highly abstract structures, particularly focusing on the perception of geometry. His research spans cognitive neuroscience, computational modeling, and experimental psychology, with a focus on understanding the mechanistic implementation of compositional mental representations. He employs methodologies including MEG, fMRI, behavioral experiments, and computational models to investigate how humans mentally represent abstract structures like geometric shapes, language, and mathematical concepts. Sablé-Meyer's work reveals fascinating insights about human cognitive uniqueness, particularly in geometric perception compared to non-human primates. His recent research examines sequence processing mechanisms and aims to establish foundations for mechanistic implementations of Language of Thought models. He has published in top journals including Cognitive Psychology , Trends in Cognitive Sciences , PNAS , and Journal of Neuroscience . Glushko Dissertation Prize from the Cognitive Science Society (2023) As a supervisor, he co-advises Master's students including Maxime Cauté, who is exploring cross-modal representation of sequences, and is involved with several other students including Svenja Kuchenhoff, Amy Wong, and others. His lab follows open science principles, with code systematically published on the Open Science Framework alongside articles. His research program bridges cognitive science, neuroscience, and artificial intelligence, with implications for understanding both human cognition and developing more human-like AI systems. He maintains active collaborations across institutions including UCL, Collège de France, MIT, and École Normale Supérieure.

• Resilience Research
• Psychiatry
• Psychotherapy
• +4 more

Prof. Dr. Klaus Lieb serves as Scientific Director of the Leibniz Institute for Resilience Research (LIR) and Director of the Department for Psychiatry and Psychotherapy at Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz. He holds a W3 Professorship in Psychiatry and Psychotherapy and leads one of Germany's premier research centers focused on psychological resilience. His academic leadership extends to his role as Editor of the Cochrane Library's section on personality disorders and as an official member of the Drug Commission of the German Medical Association since 2009. Dr. Lieb's educational background includes: Medical studies at the University of Ulm and Tübingen, Germany, and Los Angeles, USA (1985-1992) Dr. med. degree from University of Ulm (1992, summa cum laude) Residency in Psychiatry and Psychotherapy at University of Freiburg (1994-1999) Habilitation in Psychiatry from University of Freiburg (1999) Board certification in Psychiatry and Psychotherapy (1999) His research focuses on psychological resilience mechanisms, mental health interventions, and personality disorders. Dr. Lieb's work bridges clinical practice and scientific research, with particular emphasis on systematic reviews and meta-analyses of resilience-promoting interventions. His group examines trajectories of mental health in response to major disruptions like the COVID-19 pandemic and develops evidence-based interventions for resilience promotion in various populations. His research has significant implications for public health policy and clinical practice in mental healthcare. Analysis of his recent publications reveals a strong focus on digital interventions for resilience promotion, pandemic mental health impacts, and evidence-based approaches to mental health interventions. His work demonstrates a consistent trajectory toward translating resilience research into practical applications, with increasing emphasis on digital health solutions and population-level mental health strategies. The publications span high-impact journals across psychiatry, psychology, and public health domains. Dr. Lieb has received several prestigious awards recognizing his contributions: Hochschullehrer des Jahres (German University Lecturer of the Year, 2013) Hamburger Preis Persönlichkeitsstörungen (Hamburg Prize for Personality Disorders, 2013) Golden Helix Award (2004) Hormosan-Forschungspreis Psychiatrie (2003) As a mentor, Dr. Lieb leads a research group comprising multiple PhD students and postdoctoral researchers including Jan Broll, Clara Burmeister, and Sarah Schäfer. His research program has secured substantial funding exceeding 5 million euros from diverse sources including the German Research Foundation (DFG), Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMFTR), Hertie Foundation, Volkswagen Foundation, and European Union. His research group at LIR focuses on three main areas: systematic reviews of resilience mechanisms, examination of resilience trajectories in different populations, and implementation of resilience-promoting interventions. Dr. Lieb directs the Leibniz Institute for Resilience Research, a major center dedicated to understanding how individuals cope with stress and adversity. His research group collaborates with numerous international partners across Europe and North America and works on cutting-edge projects including the development of digital resilience interventions, optimization of resilience assessment using machine learning, and implementation of evidence-based practices in real-world settings.

Thomas BeckerView profile

Professor

• Automotive Management
• Digital Transformation
• Business Strategy
• +2 more

Thomas Becker is a Professor at the Business School of Ingolstadt University of Applied Sciences (THI), holding this position since 2019, and concurrently serves as Head of the Language Center. His academic affiliation centers on digital innovation within automotive business contexts. His educational foundation includes a Ph.D. in Engineering Management from the University of Kassel (2005), an M.A. in Business Administration from the University of Hagen (1994), and an M.Sc. in Mechanical Engineering from RWTH Aachen and ENSAM Paris (1989). This multidisciplinary background bridges engineering rigor with strategic business acumen. Research interests focus intensely on Digital Automotive Management , leveraging 30+ years of industry immersion. His work integrates automotive sector transformation, digital strategy implementation, and organizational change—shaped by leadership roles at AUDI and top consultancies like A.T. Kearney and Horváth & Partners. This practical expertise drives applied research at the intersection of technology and business evolution in mobility. In his administrative capacity as Head of the Language Center, he oversees institutional language education programs, supporting THI's internationalization efforts through curriculum development and resource allocation in room F224.

• Quantitative Linguistics
• Speech Production
• Articulatory Speech Synthesis
• +4 more

Konstantin Sering is a researcher at the University of Tübingen within the Faculty of Philosophy, specifically working at the Seminar for Linguistics as part of the Quantitative Linguistics group. His academic journey bridges physics and psychology with computational linguistics, culminating in his 2023 PhD thesis on the PAULE (Predictive Articulatory speech synthesis Utilizing Lexical Embeddings) model. He maintains active collaborations with the Cognitive Modeling Group led by Martin V. Butz and the Quantitative Linguistics Group led by Harald Baayen. Sering's research interests center on the computational modeling of human speech production, with particular focus on the articulatory aspects of language. He approaches spoken language from the perspective of computer-aided modeling and simulation, extending the VocalTractLab model to produce spontaneous human speech. His work emphasizes the information-bearing nature of language over its meaning-bearing aspects, investigating how language signals contextual states and conditions. He combines artificial neural networks with predictive forward approaches to model vocal tract control parameters across multiple target spaces, including meaning and acoustic representations. Analysis of Sering's publication record reveals a consistent trajectory in articulatory speech synthesis and quantitative linguistics. His work demonstrates increasing sophistication in modeling the human speech apparatus, with recent publications focusing on improving the PAULE model through speech/non-speech classification, somatosensory feedback integration, and benchmarking methodologies. His research spans both theoretical computational linguistics and practical applications, with strong connections to cognitive science and psycholinguistics. The publications show interdisciplinary collaboration across linguistics, computer science, and cognitive psychology. Sering actively contributes to the academic community through teaching and software development. He has taught courses including Introduction to Psycholinguistics, Physics of Human Speech Production, and seminars on Predictive Articulatory Speech Synthesis. As software author and maintainer, he has developed several important tools for the field: Articubench (an articulatory speech synthesis benchmark), PAULE (his namesake speech synthesis model), create_vtl_corpus, and contributions to pyndl and other packages. His technical expertise spans Python, R, and specialized instrumentation for speech analysis. Based in room 188 at Keplerstr. 2 in Tübingen, Sering maintains an active research program with regular publications and software releases since 2013. His work environment benefits from the resources of the University of Tübingen's linguistics infrastructure and collaborative opportunities across disciplines.