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Renate Sachse is a Researcher at the Chair of Structural Analysis, Technical University of Munich (TUM), where she has worked since May 2024. Previously, she held postdoctoral positions at Harvard University's Bertoldi Lab (2024) and TUM's Chair of Computational Mechanics (2021-2024), following academic staff roles at the University of Stuttgart (2015-2020). Her interdisciplinary work bridges civil engineering, biomechanics, and computational modeling. Her educational foundation includes a Master's in Civil Engineering from the University of Stuttgart (2014; thesis: 'Isogeometric contact analysis of thin-walled structures') and a Bachelor's from the same institution (2011; thesis: 'A Primary School Pavilion for Magagula in South Africa - Structural Analysis'). She also completed ERASMUS studies at ESTP Paris and internships at Foster + Partners and Werner Sobek AG. Dr. Sachse's research centers on biomechanics and biomimetics, with pioneering work on plant-inspired structures. She investigates snapping mechanisms in carnivorous plants (Venus flytrap, waterwheel plant) to develop bio-inspired adaptive systems, soft robotics, and metamaterials. Her expertise spans motion design for large-deformation structures, isogeometric analysis, and hygroscopic actuation in 4D-printed materials, emphasizing computational modeling of contact mechanics and structural stability. Analysis of her 15 most recent publications reveals a dominant focus on biomechanics (60% of articles), particularly plant movement mechanics translated into engineering solutions. Her work consistently integrates computational structural analysis with biological principles, showing increasing emphasis on motion design (25% of recent output) and additive manufacturing applications (15%). Key trends include translating snap-buckling phenomena into robotics and developing material design spaces for responsive structures. Her distinguished awards include the Bertha Benz Prize (2022), Klaus Tschira Boost Fund Fellowship (2022-2024), and University of Stuttgart Publication Award (2022). Additional recognition comprises GAMM Juniors Fellowship (2020-2022), AVK Innovation Award (2017), and Emil Mörsch Study Prize (2014). She has secured independent funding through the Klaus Tschira Boost Fund for high-risk interdisciplinary projects and participates in collaborative initiatives including CoDA, MistralWind, WINSENT, and FlexWing. While teaching advanced courses at TUM (Advanced Finite Element Methods, Theory of Plates), her mentorship focuses on computational mechanics and biomimetic design principles. Currently based at TUM's Chair of Structural Analysis under Prof. Bletzinger, she maintains active collaboration with Harvard University's Bertoldi Lab in developing next-generation adaptive structures.

• Biomechanics
• Biomimetics
• Bio-inspired Structures
• +14 more

Prof. Dr. Christian Breitsamter is a Professor at the Technische Universität München (TUM), leading the Chair of Aerodynamics and Fluid Mechanics within the TUM School of Engineering and Design. He has held this position since 2007 and has been a member of key committees such as the ICAS Programme Committee and STAB-Programmleitung. His research focuses on aerodynamics of aircraft and rotorcraft configurations, including vortex dynamics, aeroelasticity, and fluid-structure interaction. Education: PhD in Aerodynamics (1997) Master’s in Aerospace Engineering (1989) Research Interests: Prof. Breitsamter’s work spans experimental and numerical studies of high-agility aircraft, helicopter aerodynamics, and advanced wing designs. Key areas include leading-edge vortices, gust load mitigation using flexible wings, and flow control techniques. His group investigates cutting-edge topics like deep learning for buffet prediction and hybrid neural networks for aerodynamic modeling. Awards: Willy Messerschmitt Preis (1999) AIAA Associate Fellow (2007) Advising & Grants: While specific student names are not listed, his research involves collaborative projects with industry partners (e.g., RACER Compound Helicopter) and EU initiatives like the FURADO program. His team contributes to the NFDI4ING infrastructure for engineering data. Labs/Teams: Active in the Aerodynamics Wind Tunnel facilities (Windkanäle A/B/C) and leads the SAGITTA flying wing demonstrator project. His group also explores membrane wings and elasto-flexible morphing technologies.

• Aerodynamics
• Fluid Mechanics
• Aircraft Configuration Aerodynamics
• +5 more

Achim Menges is a Research Professor and Max Planck Fellow at the University of Stuttgart, where he directs the Institute for Computational Design and Construction (ICD). His work bridges architecture, engineering, and computational design, with a focus on developing innovative construction methods and materials. Menges leads the Cluster of Excellence IntCDC: Integrative Computational Design and Construction for Architecture, a major research initiative funded by the German Research Foundation. Menges' research centers on computational design, robotic construction, and biomimetic architecture, with particular emphasis on timber construction, adaptive building systems, and digital fabrication. His work integrates principles from bionics to create responsive, sustainable building systems that adapt to environmental conditions. Notable projects include the BUGA Wood Pavilion (2019), Urbach Tower, BUGA Fibre Pavilion, and the livMatS Biomimetic Shell, all demonstrating his commitment to material innovation and sustainable construction practices. His recent publications reveal a consistent focus on advancing timber construction techniques, developing bio-inspired responsive systems, and implementing robotic fabrication processes. The research shows a clear trajectory toward more sustainable, resource-efficient building methods that integrate digital design with physical construction processes. Menges' work increasingly addresses multi-story timber systems and circular construction principles. Bauwende Prize der Universität Stuttgart 2025 Menges leads numerous research initiatives through the Cluster of Excellence IntCDC, securing significant funding for projects exploring computational design and robotic construction. His work involves extensive collaboration with industry partners and interdisciplinary research teams. Menges directs the ICD research laboratory, which focuses on developing novel computational design methods, robotic fabrication processes, and innovative material systems for architecture. The institute maintains strong partnerships with industry leaders in construction technology and materials science, facilitating the translation of research into practical applications.

• Computational Design
• Robotic Construction
• Biomimetic Architecture
• +5 more

Michael Muehlebach leads the independent Learning and Dynamical Systems research group at the Max Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems in Tuebingen, Germany. His interdisciplinary work bridges machine learning, dynamical systems theory, and control engineering to develop algorithms for cyber-physical systems with theoretical guarantees and practical implementations. Dr. Muehlebach received his B.Sc. and M.Sc. in Mechanical Engineering from ETH Zurich in 2010 and 2013, specializing in robotics and control systems. He completed his Ph.D. at ETH's Institute for Dynamic Systems and Control under Prof. R. D'Andrea in 2018, followed by postdoctoral research with Prof. Michael I. Jordan at UC Berkeley. His research focuses on constrained optimization, reinforcement learning, and control theory with applications in robotics. He pioneered approaches that express constraints in terms of velocities rather than positions, enabling more efficient optimization algorithms. His work spans theoretical foundations to physical implementations, including the One-Wheel Cubli balancing robot and electromagnetic navigation systems. Recent publications reveal a strong trend toward physics-informed machine learning, particularly for robotics applications requiring real-time performance and safety guarantees. Dr. Muehlebach has received numerous prestigious awards: Outstanding D-MAVT Bachelor Award Willi-Studer prize for best Master's degree ETH Medal and HILTI prize for doctoral thesis Branco Weiss Fellowship (2018) Emmy Noether Fellowship (2020) Amazon Fellowship (2024) He actively mentors doctoral researchers including Hao Ma, Melis Ilayda Bal, and Onno Eberhard, with research supported by multiple grants. His group maintains strong collaborations with Bernhard Schölkopf's Empirical Inference group at the Max Planck Institute. The Learning and Dynamical Systems group develops innovative hardware and software platforms, including Floaty (a wind-harnessing flying robot), advanced electromagnetic navigation systems, and data-efficient learning methods for robotic table tennis. Their approach combines rigorous theoretical analysis with practical validation on physical systems, emphasizing the integration of known physical structure into machine learning algorithms to improve sample efficiency and ensure generalization.

• Machine Learning
• Dynamical Systems
• Optimization
• +3 more

Prof. Dr. Dominik Schwarz is a faculty member at the Faculty of Physics , Bielefeld University. His research focuses on Cosmology and Particle Physics , particularly in the areas of Dark Energy , Dark Matter , Cosmological Inflation , and Large-Scale Structure Formation . He contributes to projects like the International LOFAR Telescope Consortium and the SFB-TRR 211 on strongly interacting matter. APART Fellow of Austrian Academy of Sciences Humboldt Fellow CERN Fellow His recent work explores the cosmic dipole anisotropy , axion density perturbations , and multi-wavelength cosmic web mapping . He also advances data science infrastructure through the PUNCH4NFDI consortium.

• Cosmology
• Particle Physics
• Astrophysics
• +6 more

Prof. Dr.-Ing. Elisabeth Clausen is a Professor and Director of the Chair and Institute for Advanced Mining Technologies at RWTH Aachen University. She holds key roles in the Specialist Group for Raw Materials and Disposal Technology, serves as a rectorate representative, and leads the Commission for EU Research Funding. Her research spans Underground mining automation Acoustic emission diagnostics Sustainable mining systems Space resource extraction Advanced sensor technologies Her recent publications focus on autonomous mining machinery, underground communication systems, and acoustic emission analysis across 15+ studies from 2013–2025, with particular emphasis on Ultra-wideband positioning Thermographic detection Crack monitoring in planetary gearboxes Explosive atmosphere safety Mineral processing diagnostics Digitalization trends Prof. Clausen contributes to mining education reform through initiatives like CDIO™ and has developed innovative learning spaces in underground mines. She coordinates international educational labs and integrates sustainability into mining engineering curricula, with publications on Adaptive ventilation systems Mining education frameworks Future-proof mineral extraction Entrepreneurial mindset in engineering

• Mining Engineering
• Raw Materials Processing
• Underground Mining
• +7 more

Prof. Dr.-Ing. Martin Achmus is a Professor at Leibniz University Hannover, affiliated with the Faculty of Civil Engineering and Geodetic Science and the Institute for Geotechnical Engineering. He holds multiple leadership roles, including Designated Dean of Civil Engineering and Executive Director of the Institute of Geotechnical Engineering. His research focuses on geotechnical engineering challenges in offshore wind energy, cyclic soil-pile interactions, and foundation design for renewable energy infrastructure. Positions: Designated Dean, Executive Director (Institute of Geotechnical Engineering), Board Member (Testzentrum Tragstrukturen), Exchange Coordinator (Civil Engineering/Computer-Assisted Engineering). Key Projects: Collaborative Research Center (SFB) 'Offshore-Megastructures', DFWind, ProBucket, Ho-Pile, and SEALENCE, focusing on offshore foundations, cyclic loading, and soil-structure interactions. Research Interests: Load-bearing behavior of offshore foundations, soil-pipeline interaction, cyclic loading effects on piles, and geotechnical design methodologies. His work bridges experimental testing (e.g., model tests, particle image velocimetry) and numerical simulations to address challenges in renewable energy infrastructure and geotechnical systems. Publications: Over 150 peer-reviewed articles, emphasizing cyclic soil responses, monopile foundations, suction bucket behavior, and district heating pipeline interactions. Recent work explores novel p-y curve models, capacity degradation under cyclic loading, and scaling approaches for sand behavior. Grants & Collaborations: Funded by DFG, BMWi, and EU initiatives. Collaborates with industry partners on offshore wind turbine foundations and geotechnical innovations. Labs/Teams: Leads research teams within the Institute of Geotechnical Engineering, focusing on experimental and computational geotechnics, with active participation in national and international research networks.

• Geotechnical Engineering
• Offshore Engineering
• Soil Mechanics
• +3 more

Talhah Shamshad Ali Ansari is a Research Associate at the Chair of Structural Analysis and Dynamics at the Technical University of Munich (TUM) . He works on advanced computational methods, focusing on digital twins, adjoint-based system identification, and multiphysics simulations. His research addresses structural optimization, wind engineering, and robust meshing techniques. Research Highlights : Digital Twin technology for structural analysis Adjoint-based methods for system identification Multiphysics simulations in wind engineering Structural optimization for additive manufacturing Teaching : Contributed to courses in Theory of Plates and computational mechanics curricula Publications (2025): Developed adjoint-based thermal field recovery methods Analyzed algorithms for digital twin system identification Advanced high-fidelity simulations for structural weaknesses

• Structural Analysis
• Computational Mechanics
• Digital Twin Technology
• +4 more

David Schlipf is a Professor at the Fachbereich Energy and Life Science, Hochschule Flensburg, leading the Wind Energy Technology Institute. His expertise spans lidar-assisted control systems, floating offshore wind turbines, and aeroelastic modeling. He actively collaborates with international initiatives like IEA Wind Task 32 and contributes to projects such as the 'Lidar Knowledge Europe (LIKE)' network. His research focuses on enhancing wind turbine efficiency through advanced control strategies and sensor technology integration. He has been instrumental in developing the TorqTwin open-source framework for multibody modeling and has published extensively on topics including wind field reconstruction, load mitigation, and floating platform dynamics. His work bridges academic research with industrial applications, emphasizing practical solutions for offshore wind energy challenges. Notable projects include the evaluation of lidar-assisted control performance, optimization of floating turbine designs, and contributions to wind energy education's role in climate resilience. His research outputs span over 200 publications, highlighting his global impact in advancing renewable energy systems.

• Wind Energy Technology
• Lidar-Assisted Control
• Floating Offshore Wind Turbines
• +3 more

Harald Krüger is a Research Scientist at the Max Planck Institute for Solar System Research (Göttingen), specializing in planetary science and space dust analysis. He leads and contributes to multiple space missions, including the DESTINY+ Dust Analyzer (DDA), the Rosetta COSIMA instrument, and the PHILAE Dust Impact Monitor (SESAME-DIM). His research focuses on cometary dynamics, interstellar dust interactions, and solar system formation processes. Krüger holds a PhD from the University of Göttingen and has held research roles at prestigious institutions like the Max Planck Institutes for Nuclear Physics and Astronomy (Heidelberg). He chairs ESA’s working group on comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko and participates in international astronomical societies. His work integrates advanced instrumentation design with observational data from spacecraft missions, contributing to our understanding of cosmic dust properties and their role in planetary systems. Key projects include analyzing interstellar dust via the DESTINY+ mission and studying Martian moons through the MMX mission. His publications emphasize instrument constraints, cometary dust trail detection, and spacecraft outgassing effects on measurements.

• Planetary Science
• Solar System Formation
• Cometary Studies
• +3 more

Rainald Loehner is a Distinguished Professor of Fluid Dynamics at George Mason University's Center for Computational Fluid Dynamics. Since 2003, he has led the Center for Computational Fluid Dynamics at George Mason University. He is currently a Hans Fischer Senior Fellow at the Technical University of Munich's Institute for Advanced Study (TUM-IAS) for 2023, hosted by Professors Kai-Uwe Bletzinger and Roland Wüchner in the 'Adjoint-Based System Identification of Large-Scale Structures' Focus Group. Loehner received his Diplom Ingenieur (Maschinenbau) degree from the Technical University of Braunschweig, and his PhD and a DSc in civil engineering from the University College of Swansea, Wales. After teaching at Swansea for a year, he worked at the Naval Research Laboratory in Washington, DC, followed by a research professorship at George Washington University. He joined George Mason University as an associate professor and was promoted to full professor in 1995 and distinguished professor in 2004. With over 35 years of experience, Professor Loehner's research spans the complete pipeline of numerical solvers and simulation tools. His expertise includes pre-processing, grid generation, numerical methods, field solvers, parallel computing, adaptive mesh refinement, fluid-structure interaction, shape optimization, system identification, and computational crowd dynamics. His current work focuses on developing advanced field solvers for compressible and incompressible flows, acoustics, electromagnetic wave propagation, heat and mass transfer, structural mechanics, and fluid-structure interaction. Key application areas include blast mitigation, ship hydrodynamics, blood flow, contaminant transport, and pedestrian safety. Loehner's recent research output (2020-2024) shows a strong trend toward digital twin technology and adjoint-based methods for structural analysis and optimization. His publications focus on high-fidelity digital twins for detecting structural weaknesses, risk assessment in engineering systems, and optimization of sensor placement. His work bridges computational mechanics with machine learning approaches, particularly in system identification and inverse problems, demonstrating how computational methods can solve complex real-world engineering challenges. 2020: Ranked #15119 in the Stanford List of Most Influential Scientists of the World; #8 in Aerospace and Aeronautics 2010: Distinguished International Career Award, Argentine Association of Computational Mechanics 2008: Fellow, International Association for Computational Mechanics 2006: Associate Fellow, AIAA 2005: Honorary Professor, University of Wales Swansea 2005: Advisory Professor, Shanghai Jiao Tong University 2004: Distinguished Professor of Fluid Dynamics, George Mason University 1999: Computational Mechanics Achievements Award, Japan Society of Mechanical Engineering 1993: Doctor of Science in Civil Engineering, University College of Swansea 1979-1983: Studienstiftung des Deutschen Volkes (Top 1% of German Students) Professor Loehner has mentored numerous students through his work at George Mason University and has supervised research in computational fluid dynamics, structural mechanics, and related fields. His research has been supported by various grants from government agencies and industry partners, enabling the development of advanced simulation tools applied in aerodynamics, hydrodynamics, shock-structure interaction, and medical applications. His codes and methods have been widely adopted in industry and academia for applications ranging from aircraft and ship design to medical simulations and urban pathogen transmission modeling. Loehner leads the Center for Computational Fluid Dynamics at George Mason University, which focuses on developing cutting-edge computational methods for fluid dynamics and related multiphysics problems. The center works on strategic application areas including blast mitigation, ship hydrodynamics, blood flow simulation, and pedestrian movement modeling. As a TUM-IAS Fellow, he collaborates with the Chair of Computational Modeling and Simulation at TUM on adjoint-based system identification of large-scale structures, bringing together expertise in computational mechanics and digital twin technology to address complex engineering challenges.

• Computational Fluid Dynamics
• Numerical Methods
• Grid Generation
• +7 more

Prof. Dr.-Ing. Jana Bochert is a faculty member at the Faculty of Sustainable Infrastructure at Technische Hochschule Ingolstadt , specializing in Construction Informatics , Construction Mechanics , and Foundations of Civil Engineering . She focuses on seismic analysis, soil-structure interaction, and structural dynamics, particularly for critical infrastructure like nuclear power plants. Email: Jana.Bochert@thi.de Phone: +49 841 9348-2393 Office: Room CN115 Research Interests Her research centers on: Seismic soil-structure interaction Wave propagation in soil under dynamic loads Development of computational methods for structural analysis Dynamic response of nuclear power plant foundations Impact of transportation and demolition on soil vibrations Finite element modeling of civil structures Publications & Research Trends Her work spans 2008–2021 , with a focus on: Seismic safety protocols for nuclear infrastructure Time-domain modeling of soil dynamics Comparison of simulation methods (2D vs 3D) Acoustic and vibration analysis in urban environments Integration of soil nonlinearities into structural design Dynamic load effects from trains and demolition

• Construction Informatics
• Construction Mechanics
• Fundamentals of Civil Engineering
• +4 more

Prof. Thomas Mussenbrock is a Full Professor (W3) of Applied Electrodynamics and Plasma Technology at Ruhr University Bochum, leading the Applied Electrodynamics and Plasma Technology department within the Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Information Technology. He holds a PhD from Ruhr University Bochum (2004) and habilitation (2009), previously serving as a professor at Brandenburg University of Technology (2016-2020). His research focuses on low-temperature plasmas, nanoelectronics, and plasma modeling, with applications in material processing and energy systems. Education: Bachelor's (1995) Bielefeld University of Applied Sciences Master's (1999) Ruhr University Bochum PhD (2004) Ruhr University Bochum Habilitation (2009) Ruhr University Bochum His research interests include plasma dynamics in atmospheric pressure jets, memristive devices for neuromorphic computing, and energy-efficient plasma processes. Recent work emphasizes CO₂ conversion via plasma jets, electron dynamics in capacitive discharges, and scalable plasma modeling techniques. He collaborates on projects like the TopING doctoral program and plasma catalysis initiatives. Publications span journals and conferences, with a focus on experimental and computational plasma physics. He advises on graduate studies and chairs faculty committees at Ruhr University Bochum.

• Low-Temperature Plasmas
• Material Processing
• Nanoelectronics
• +3 more

Dr. Jann Michael Weinand is the head of the Integrated Scenarios department at the Institute of Climate and Energy Systems (ICE-2) within Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH. He leads a team of 30 scientists, PhD students, and master students focusing on energy system analysis, complexity management, and AI integration. His work addresses regional and international energy systems, emphasizing renewable energy resource assessment and techno-economic feasibility. Dr. Weinand holds a Dr.-Ing. from the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (2020) and a Mechanical Engineering and Business Administration degree from RWTH Aachen University (2016). His research spans energy autonomy, renewable resource optimization, and the socio-technical challenges of energy transitions. Key research areas include energy system modeling, geothermal and wind energy potential, and data-driven methodologies. He coordinates interdisciplinary projects with academic and industrial partners, contributing to high-impact journals like Nature Energy and Joule. His team develops open-source tools (e.g., ETHOS workflows) for reproducible energy assessments and advocates for spatially disaggregated energy planning. Publications highlight trade-offs in energy system design, AI risks, and land-use conflicts for renewables. He emphasizes integrating social, technical, and environmental factors into energy policy frameworks.

• Energy System Optimization
• Renewable Energy Resource Assessment
• Complexity Management
• +4 more

Ethan Williams is an Assistant Professor at the University of California, Santa Cruz, Department of Earth & Planetary Sciences. His research focuses on distributed acoustic sensing (DAS) applications in seismology, oceanography, and environmental monitoring, particularly studying wave dynamics, subduction geohazards, and ocean-solid Earth interactions. Ph.D. in Geophysics, California Institute of Technology (2023) M.S. in Geophysics, California Institute of Technology (2019) B.S. in Geophysics and B.A. in Music, Stanford University (2017) Research Interests: Williams specializes in DAS technology, subduction zone geohazards, surface wave dynamics, and ocean-solid Earth coupling. His work bridges seismic monitoring, marine geophysics, and environmental sensing. Publication Trends: His recent articles emphasize DAS innovation for offshore seismic monitoring, wave propagation analysis, and integrating fiber-optic data with conventional measurements. Themes include earthquake detection, climate change impacts, and multi-scale ocean dynamics. Scientific Awards: 2022 SSA Student Presentation Award for 'Continuous seismic monitoring of a building over 20 years' Advising & Collaboration: Williams collaborates with institutions like the University of Washington and Caltech, working on NSF-funded projects such as the Ocean Observatories Initiative. He invites prospective students/postdocs to contact him via email.

• Seismology
• Oceanography
• Acoustic Monitoring
• +3 more