Find Academic Supervisors

• Natural Products Chemistry
• Pharmaceutical Biology
• Cyanobacteria
• +9 more

Timo Niedermeyer is a Professor in the Department of Pharmacy at the Institute of Pharmaceutical Biology, Freie Universität Berlin. He leads a research group focused on the discovery and characterization of bioactive natural products from microorganisms, particularly cyanobacteria and fungi. His work bridges pharmaceutical biology, natural product chemistry, and toxicology. Research Interests: Natural products from cyanobacteria and fungi Discovery of novel bioactive and toxic metabolites Mass spectrometry and metabolomics Genome mining and biosynthesis Chemical ecology and environmental toxicology Drug discovery and development of analytical methods The recent publications reveal a strong emphasis on the 'eagle killer' cyanobacterium Aetokthonos hydrillicola and its neurotoxin aetokthonotoxin, as well as microcystins and other cytotoxic compounds. His research integrates chemical analysis, biological activity testing, and synthetic chemistry, with applications in environmental monitoring and pharmaceutical development. Collaborative work on MIBiG 4.0 highlights his role in advancing bioinformatics for natural product research. Scientific Awards and Recognition: Multiple cover stories in high-impact journals (J. Nat. Prod., PNAS, Science, Chem. Eur. J.) Active contributor to major databases and methodological advances Advising and Grants: With 23 publications as senior/corresponding author and multiple patents, Prof. Niedermeyer leads a productive research group likely supported by external funding. He has mentored numerous researchers, as seen in co-authored publications and patent filings. His work on antibody-drug conjugates suggests translational research and potential industry collaboration. Labs and Teams: He leads a research team at Freie Universität Berlin focused on pharmaceutical biology and natural products. He collaborates widely with national and international researchers in microbiology, chemistry, and bioinformatics, as evidenced by co-authorships on studies involving mass spectrometry, genome mining, and fungal metabolites.

• Applied Algorithmics
• Route Planning Algorithms
• Information Retrieval
• +3 more

Dr. Hannah Bast is a full professor at the Department of Computer Science, University of Freiburg, and heads the Chair of Algorithms and Data Structures. She has held this position since 2009 and since 2018 serves as Dean of the Faculty of Engineering. Her research focuses on applied algorithmics, including route planning algorithms, information retrieval, and natural language processing. Bast has received numerous awards, including the Otto-Hahn Medal (1999), Heinz-Billing Award (2007), and Google Focused Research Award (2012-2015). She leads a research group and has contributed to major projects like the CompleteSearch system and QLever query engine. Education: She studied Computer Science and Mathematics at Saarland University (1988–1994), earning a Master’s degree. Her PhD (2000) focused on scheduling algorithms under Kurt Mehlhorn. She held positions at the Max Planck Institute for Informatics and MMCI Cluster of Excellence before joining Freiburg. Research Interests: Applied algorithmics, with emphasis on route planning, information retrieval systems, and neuro-symbolic approaches. Her work bridges theoretical algorithms and practical applications, such as semantic search engines and public transit routing systems. Grants/Awards: Over 20 years, she has secured significant funding, including Google awards and led projects like multi-modal route planning. Her teaching excellence is recognized through awards like the University Teaching Award (2012–2013). Labs/Teams: Leads the Algorithms and Data Structures group, collaborating on tools like TRAVIC for transit visualization and ELEVANT for entity linking evaluation. She also participates in the German Bundestag’s Enquete Commission on Artificial Intelligence.

• Algorithm Design
• Transportation Systems
• Route Planning
• +3 more

Sabine Storandt is a Lecturer at the Department of Computer Science, University of Freiburg, with a focus on algorithm design and transportation systems. She has contributed significantly to research in route planning, electric vehicle navigation, and public transit optimization. Her work emphasizes practical applications of theoretical algorithms in real-world scenarios. Her research interests include algorithms for vehicle navigation, route optimization, and facility location problems. She has received notable awards, including the Best Paper Award at VLDB 2014 and the INFOS Award for her PhD thesis on 'Algorithms for Vehicle Navigation.' In teaching, she has led courses such as Information Retrieval (as a tutor), Randomized Algorithms (lecture + tutorial), and Information Extraction (seminar). She has also collaborated on projects like DORC (Distributed Online Route Computation) and Enabling E-Mobility, addressing challenges in transportation and energy efficiency. Her recent publications highlight advancements in electric vehicle infrastructure, public transit planning, and efficient route algorithms, reflecting her expertise in bridging theoretical computer science with practical transportation solutions.

• Plant Genomics
• Arbuscular Mycorrhiza Symbiosis
• Root Nodule Symbiosis
• +7 more

Prof. Dr. Helge Küster is a full-time Professor at the Institute of Plant Genetics, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Leibniz University Hannover. He serves as Executive Director of the Institute and leads the Section Plant Genomics. He is actively involved in academic governance, representing professors on the Faculty Council and Examination Boards for Plant Biotechnology and Plant Biology programs. PhD in Natural Sciences (Dr. rer. nat.) His research focuses on plant-microbe interactions, particularly arbuscular mycorrhiza and root nodule symbiosis in legumes. He employs transcriptomics, gene expression analysis, and functional genomics to study symbiotic signaling, gene regulation, and plant defense responses. His work includes the development of genomic resources such as the MtExpress transcriptome database and the Viscum album gene space database. He investigates the role of GRAS transcription factors, defensins, and nutrient stress responses in plant symbioses. The recent publications demonstrate a consistent focus on plant genomics, symbiosis, and stress responses. His work integrates molecular biology, bioinformatics, and systems biology approaches to understand plant-endosymbiont interactions at the cellular and molecular level. He frequently uses model legumes like Medicago truncatula and extends research to non-model species like Viscum album. No scientific awards were mentioned in the provided texts. Prof. Küster leads a research group and supervises academic projects, including final theses. He has been involved in numerous collaborative research projects, particularly in the areas of symbiosis and plant genomics. His work has been supported by institutional and likely national funding sources, though specific grants are not listed. He has contributed to the development of bioinformatic tools and databases for the legume research community. He leads the research group 'Plant Genomics' at the Institute of Plant Genetics, focusing on symbiotic interactions and transcriptome analysis. His team utilizes advanced techniques such as laser microdissection, microarray hybridization, and next-generation sequencing to study cell-type-specific gene expression during symbiosis.

Tiffany KnightView profile

Professor

• Community Ecology
• Pollination Ecology
• Plant-Animal Interactions
• +10 more

Prof. Dr. Tiffany Knight is the Alexander von Humboldt Professor and Head of the Research Group for Spatial Interaction Ecology, jointly affiliated with the Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research (UFZ), Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg (MLU), and the German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) in Leipzig, Germany. Her research program focuses on community ecology, pollination, plant invasions, and climate change impacts across multiple spatial scales. Her research interests lie at the intersection of community ecology, pollination biology, and conservation. She investigates the causes and consequences of exotic plant invasions, the role of human perturbations on plant-pollinator interactions and pollen limitation, the restoration of degraded habitats, and forest community dynamics. Her work integrates field experiments, meta-analyses, and large-scale data synthesis to understand ecological patterns and processes. She is particularly interested in how climate change, land use, and invasive species affect biodiversity and ecosystem functioning. The recent publications reflect a strong trend in synthesizing large datasets, developing ecological models, and applying novel technologies such as AI and remote sensing to study plant-pollinator networks, invasion ecology, and climate change impacts. Her work spans from theoretical frameworks in niche modeling and population dynamics to applied conservation through restoration ecology and biodiversity databases. There is a clear emphasis on global change ecology, with studies conducted across Europe, North America, and the Pacific Islands. Alexander von Humboldt Professorship, Helmholtz Association, Germany (2016) Recipient of Helmholtz Recruitment Initiative, Helmholtz Association, Germany (2015) Yerger Distinguished Alumni Award, Florida State University, USA (2013) Outstanding Faculty Mentor Award, Washington University, USA (2012) Prof. Knight has supervised 8 postdocs, 12 PhD students, and 9 MSc students in Germany, and previously 8 postdocs and 8 PhD students at Washington University in St. Louis. She leads major collaborative projects on pollen limitation, plant-pollinator networks, and automated insect identification. Her research is funded by the Alexander von Humboldt Professorship and the Helmholtz Recruitment Initiative. She is actively involved in scientific leadership as Co-Speaker of iDiv and has organized numerous scientific meetings. She leads the Spatial Interaction Ecology research group at UFZ/MLU/iDiv, which includes postdoctoral researchers, PhD students, and scientific programmers. The team conducts research on plant-pollinator networks, restoration ecology, climate change impacts, and invasive species. She also collaborates extensively with institutions across Europe and North America on projects related to biodiversity monitoring, ecological modeling, and conservation prioritization.

Sonja KnappView profile

Researcher

• Urban Ecology
• Macroecology
• Vegetation Science
• +7 more

Dr. Sonja Knapp is a prominent researcher and Co-Head of the Department of Community Ecology at the Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research (UFZ) in Halle, Germany. She also leads the working group on Macroecology and Vegetation Science and is a member of the German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig. Her work is central to understanding biodiversity in human-dominated landscapes. Her primary research interests lie in Urban Ecology , where she investigates plant biodiversity in cities, including species, traits, and phylogenetic diversity, and its link to ecosystem services. Her expertise extends to Functional Ecology , analyzing how plant traits like morphology and phenology shape ecosystems, and Phyloecology , which uses evolutionary relationships to understand community assembly. She also conducts large-scale Macroecological studies on plant biodiversity across regional to national scales, focusing on the drivers of climate and land use. Dr. Knapp's recent research portfolio reflects a strong focus on the intersection of urban development and biodiversity. Her publications analyze the functional diversity of urban floras over centuries, develop frameworks for multi-scale urban biodiversity, and explore the research agenda for urban biodiversity in the face of a global extinction crisis. Her work on nature-based solutions and the links between biodiversity and human health demonstrates a commitment to applied, interdisciplinary science that addresses pressing societal challenges. A recurring theme in her recent articles is the analysis of biological invasions and the functional traits of both native and alien species in urban environments. Dr. Knapp holds editorial roles for several journals, including serving as a Topic Editor for Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution (Urban Ecology section) and as a member of the editorial boards of Urban Ecosystems , Urban Naturalist , and Web Ecology . She is actively involved in numerous current projects funded by organizations like the DFG, iDiv, and the Helmholtz Association, including 'Comparative urban ecology' and 'sGUBIK - Synthesizing Global Urban Biological Invasion Knowledge'. She advises on urban planning through her research on functional traits and ecosystem services and leads teams within the UFZ and iDiv. Her work is instrumental in developing tools like the garden biodiversity index and advancing the science of urban green infrastructure for resilient cities.

Martin LachmairView profile

Professor

• Human-Computer Interaction
• User Experience
• Data Science
• +12 more

Prof. Dr. Martin Lachmair is a faculty member at DHBW Villingen-Schwenningen, where he serves as Professor and Program Leader in the Department of Business Informatics within the Faculty of Business. He holds a dual academic background in Computer Science and Cognitive Science, and his work bridges the fields of digitalization, human-computer interaction, and cognitive performance. His educational background includes a Diploma in Computer Science and a Ph.D. in Cognitive Science from the University of Tübingen. From 2013 to 2019, he worked as a Post-Doc Research Associate at the Leibniz Institute for Knowledge Media in Tübingen. He has been a professor at DHBW since 2020. Dr. Lachmair's research focuses on the impact of digital technologies—especially virtual and augmented reality—on human perception and cognitive functions. He explores how user experience can be optimized through data-driven, predictive analytics, with a strong emphasis on embodied and situated cognition. His teaching includes courses in Data Science, User Experience, Databases, and Data Management. His recent publications demonstrate a consistent focus on spatial cognition, touchscreen interactions, language processing, and virtual environments. These works appear in high-impact journals such as Frontiers in Virtual Reality , Psychological Research , PLoS One , and Frontiers in Psychology . The articles reflect interdisciplinary trends combining cognitive psychology, linguistics, and computer science, particularly in experimental studies involving virtual interfaces and embodied metaphors. He is a member of the Society for Cognitive Science and actively participates in academic governance, currently serving on the Quality Management team at DHBW. While no scientific awards or student advisees are explicitly mentioned in the provided text, his extensive collaborative research indicates a strong network in cognitive and computer sciences. Dr. Lachmair is involved in research and lectures on virtual learning environments, human-computer interaction, and predictive analytics. He has no listed grants or lab affiliations, but his role as a program leader and active researcher suggests leadership in curriculum and research development within his department.

Bart KempenaersView profile

Professor

• Behavioural Ecology
• Ornithology
• Sexual Selection
• +3 more

Professor Bart Kempenaers serves as Director of the Department of Ornithology at the Max Planck Institute for Biological Intelligence in Seewiesen, Germany. Formerly known as the Department of Behavioural Ecology and Evolutionary Genetics (renamed in July 2023), this department conducts cutting-edge research in avian behavioural ecology. Kempenaers also holds the position of Honorary Professor in Behavioural Ecology at Ludwig-Maximilian University of Munich, a title he has held since 2004. His leadership guides a highly international research team focused on understanding how sexual selection drives biodiversity in bird species worldwide. Professor Kempenaers' academic foundation was established in Belgium where he was born in 1967. His formal education includes: Biology studies at the Universities of Limburg and Antwerp (completed 1989) PhD at the University of Antwerp (completed 1994) As a leading behavioural ecologist and ornithologist, Kempenaers' research centers on sexual selection and the evolution of avian mating behavior. His work investigates mate selection mechanisms, divorce patterns in bird pairs, and the prevalence and implications of extra-pair copulations. He coordinates field studies on arctic-breeding shorebirds with diverse mating systems, employing technology-assisted behavioral observations on large populations of free-living birds. His department maintains a comprehensive database linking life-history traits of approximately 10,000 bird species with environmental and ecological data, enabling large-scale comparative analyses of evolutionary patterns. Their research combines field observations, captive studies, and advanced statistical methods to understand how sexual selection shapes behavioral and life-history traits. Analysis of Kempenaers' recent publications reveals a strong interdisciplinary focus spanning behavioural ecology, evolutionary biology, and conservation science. His research consistently examines breeding site fidelity, sexual selection mechanisms, extra-pair paternity, and the ecological factors influencing avian coloration and behavior. Methodologically, his work incorporates innovative approaches including accelerometry, machine learning, and comparative analyses across diverse bird species. A significant portion of his research investigates shorebirds, particularly species with alternative reproductive tactics, while other studies explore urban adaptation, vocal communication, and host-microbiome interactions. Professor Kempenaers leads a highly international department that investigates how sexual selection acts as a driver of biodiversity. The department's work is characterized by technology-assisted behavioral observations on large numbers of individuals in free-living populations, complemented by captive studies and advanced statistical approaches. They maintain an extensive database linking life-history traits of the world's bird species with environmental data, enabling large-scale comparative analyses of evolutionary patterns. The department's research spans multiple continents, with field studies conducted in Europe, North America, and other regions where their study species breed.

• Mortality Studies
• Health Inequalities
• Demographic Data Systems
• +4 more

Domantas Jasilionis serves as a Research Scientist at the Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research (MPIDR) in Rostock, Germany, with dual affiliations in the Laboratory of Demographic Data and Laboratory of Migration and Mobility under the MaxHel Center. His work bridges demographic methodology and population health analysis, focusing on mortality patterns and data systems across Europe. His research interests center on mortality inequalities , particularly examining socioeconomic, regional, and temporal disparities in life expectancy. Key areas include alcohol-related mortality in Eastern Europe, pandemic impacts on fertility and health, migration data quality, and methodological innovations in demographic estimation. Recent projects involve the Human Mortality Database , Monitoring Mortality Inequalities Consortium , and Mortality and Health in Germany initiatives. Analysis of his 15 most recent publications (2023-2025) reveals three dominant trends: (1) rigorous investigation of alcohol policy impacts on Lithuanian mortality, (2) spatial analysis of mortality seasonality across European regions, and (3) methodological critiques of life expectancy measurement. His work frequently employs census-linked data to dissect educational and geographic mortality gradients.

Alyson van RaalteView profile

Researcher

• Mortality Disparities
• Lifespan Inequality
• Population Health
• +7 more

Alyson van Raalte is a Research Scientist at the Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research (MPIDR) in Rostock, Germany, where she is affiliated with the Laboratory of Population Health and the MaxHel Center. Her research focuses on mortality disparities, lifespan inequality, and socioeconomic determinants of population health. She earned her PhD in public health from Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, and is an alumnus of the European Doctoral School of Demography. Her work integrates advanced demographic methods with public health applications to understand how inequalities in mortality evolve across populations and over time. Her research interests include lifespan inequality, healthy longevity, cohort analysis, demographic methods for measuring mortality variation, and the social determinants of health. She investigates how factors such as education, region, and childhood adversity contribute to disparities in life expectancy and lifespan variation. Her methodological contributions include perturbation analysis of lifespan variability and decomposition techniques for mortality inequalities. The trends in her recent publications reveal a strong focus on lifespan inequality, cohort mortality profiling, educational and regional disparities in mortality, and the impact of structural factors like smoking and reunification on population health. She frequently employs decomposition methods, multistate models, and innovative visualization techniques to analyze complex demographic data. European Demographer Award (mid-career) from Population Europe European Research Council (ERC) Starting Grant (LIFEINEQ) Max Planck Society STG Extension Award Alyson van Raalte has been supported by significant grants, including an ERC Starting Grant and Max Planck Society funding. She collaborates extensively with international researchers and contributes to large-scale projects such as COVerAGE-DB, a global database on age-structured COVID-19 cases and deaths. While no formal students are listed, she likely mentors junior researchers through her collaborative work and leadership in methodological innovation. She is actively involved in research groups focused on population health and contributes to software development, including R and Stata packages for Markov chain analysis. Her work bridges demographic theory, statistical methodology, and real-world public health challenges.

Xinyi ZhaoView profile

Researcher

• Migration Studies
• Computational Demography
• Gender Studies
• +3 more

Xinyi Zhao is an Affiliate Researcher at the Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research (MPIDR) in Rostock, Germany, affiliated with the Laboratory of Migration and Mobility within Emilio Zagheni's Digital and Computational Demography research group. Her work bridges demographic science and computational methods to analyze global academic mobility patterns. Her research focuses on: Gender disparities in international professional migration using LinkedIn data Subnational analysis of scientific talent flows Return migration dynamics of German-affiliated researchers Computational demography methodologies leveraging big data sources Recent publications (2021-2025) demonstrate consistent output in high-impact venues including PNAS and Population and Development Review, revealing how gender, discipline, and geography shape migration flows of scholars. Her work uniquely combines bibliometric datasets (Scopus) with digital trace data to uncover systemic patterns in academic mobility. As an Affiliate Researcher, Zhao contributes to MPIDR's mission through collaborative projects within the Laboratory of Migration and Mobility, which pioneers digital approaches to demographic research. Her work receives institutional support from the Max Planck Society and informs global discussions on research mobility and equity.

Bin XuView profile

Research Fellow

• Urban History
• City Planning
• Archaeological Site Protection
• +3 more

Bin Xu is a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the Palace Museum, focusing on historical urban planning in ancient China and contemporary urbanization processes. She was previously a Li Foundation Visiting Fellow at the Needham Research Institute (2016–2017) and an urban planner at Tsinghua Urban Planning and Design Institute (2008–2010). Her doctoral research at Tsinghua University (2015) examined the cosmological principles in the planning of Qin and Western Han capitals. Her research at the Max Planck Institute for the History of Science (MPIWG) investigates the tradition of 'Making Mount South the Front Gate' in Chinese city planning, utilizing the Chinese Local Gazetteers Database to analyze spatial and chronological patterns. She is actively involved in practical projects such as archaeological site protection, historical city conservation, and strategic spatial planning, bridging traditional planning methodologies with modern applications. Bin Xu has published in refereed journals including Science Bulletin , City Planning Review , and Palace Museum Journal , contributing to interdisciplinary dialogues between historical scholarship and urban design. Scientific Awards: Li Foundation Visiting Fellowship (2016–2017)

Felix OlbrichView profile

Researcher

• Geoinformatics
• 3D City Modeling
• CityGML
• +5 more

Felix Olbrich is a researcher at the Chair of Geoinformatics at the Technical University of Munich. He is actively engaged in geospatial research with a focus on AI integration, 3D city modeling, and multimodal navigation systems. Primary Affiliation : Chair of Geoinformatics, Technical University of Munich Research Interests : His work explores the application of local large language models (LLMs) in geospatial domains, development of 3D site plans for building permits , and multimodal navigation based on CityGML 3.0 . He also contributes to standardization efforts and semantic modeling in urban environments. Recent Trends : His publications and presentations highlight a growing emphasis on CityGML 3.0 interoperability, graph databases for spatial analysis, and AI-driven geospatial solutions . Projects : Since 2024, he has been involved in the "3D Lageplan zum Baugesuch" project (3d-lageplan.org), focusing on 3D site plans for urban building permits. Teaching : Felix contributes to courses like CAFM - Facility Management and GIS and Project Work in Geoinformatics , primarily handling practical exercises and lab sessions.

• Urban Modeling
• Urban Morphology
• Explainable AI
• +3 more

Dongsheng Chen is a researcher at the Technical University of Munich (TUM) within the Chair of Cartography and Visual Analytics under Prof. Dr.-Ing. Liqiu Meng. His work focuses on urban modeling, urban morphology, and explainable AI (XAI) for sustainable urban systems, applying GIS, remote sensing, and deep learning techniques. Research Interests: Urban mechanism, geo-knowledge graphs, sustainable development goals (SDGs), and integration of AI with urban studies. Key Projects: Modeling urban morphology for SDG 11 compliance, developing frameworks for carbon emission forecasting (CarbonVCA), and urban slum mapping via data fusion. Publications: Recent works include explainable graph neural networks for urban function analysis, vector landscape indices (VecLI), and causality-driven approaches to AI ethics and spatial modeling. Supervision: Advised Master's theses on slum mapping and participatory urban planning. Contact: Room 0507.01.767, dongsheng.chen@tum.de

• Soil Science
• Agricultural Engineering
• Materials Science
• +3 more

Rui Machado is an academic affiliated with the University of Algarve, University of Évora, and Embrapa. His research spans diverse fields including soil science, materials science, biotechnology, and environmental science. He has published extensively on topics such as soil salinity management, FPGA-based hardware design, and hydrogel-based cancer therapies. His work on tomato root distribution and irrigation regimes has contributed to agricultural sustainability. Machado's recent studies focus on combating skin cancer using advanced biomaterials and analyzing agroforestry systems in Portugal. He has developed computational tools like StemChecker for stem cell research and databases for molecular interaction networks. His interdisciplinary approach bridges engineering, biology, and environmental science. Research Highlights: Leadership in hydrogel applications for medical treatments Pioneer in FPGA-based time-to-digital converter optimization Expertise in soil management and crop physiology Creator of UniHI database for human molecular interactions