Alexander Stolz

Prof. Dr.-Ing. Alexander Stolz is a full Professor (W3) holding the Chair for Resilience Engineering for Technical Systems at the University of Freiburg since November 2020, while concurrently serving as Head of Safety Technology and Protective Structures at the Fraunhofer Institute for High-Speed Dynamics, Ernst Mach Institute (EMI). His work focuses on quantifying resilience in socio-technical systems to ensure efficient functionality during crises through robust design and rapid recovery mechanisms.

Education:

• PhD in Civil Engineering, Bergische Universität Wuppertal (2010)

Stolz's research centers on developing metrics for resilience quantification in complex systems, employing full-physics cross-scale numerical simulations from components to entire networks. He pioneers resilience-specific monitoring concepts for structural state assessment and bio-inspired technical solutions for robust infrastructure. His work bridges the tension between efficiency demands and the need for fault tolerance, emphasizing measurable 'return on investment' for resilience measures to guarantee sustainable technology implementation.

Key Projects:

• ErfASst: Automation for bridge stability evaluation
• RESISTO: Resilience platform for communication infrastructure operators
• SecureGas: Securing European gas networks
• HERAKLION: Municipal resilience analysis using data spaces
• POSTER: Space-based thermal monitoring for infrastructure

Awards:

• Award of Association of German Engineers, Bergischer Berzirksverein (2003)

Stolz directs research teams spanning the University of Freiburg and Fraunhofer EMI, with significant influence through European expert roles including ERNCIP topic coordination (2012-2020) and Transport Research Board membership (since 2017). His leadership in critical infrastructure protection drives practical applications for transportation, energy, and communication networks, focusing on preemptive crisis management and post-crisis recovery frameworks.