Bastian E. Rapp

Prof. Dr.-Ing. Bastian E. Rapp is a Full Professor of Process Technology at the Department of Microsystems Engineering (IMTEK), University of Freiburg, and heads the NeptunLab. He also serves as Managing Director of the Freiburg Material Research Center (FMF). His research focuses on novel materials, processes, and applications in microsystem engineering, life sciences, and biotechnology. Notably, he co-founded Glassomer GmbH, pioneering 3D printing of glass. He has received prestigious awards including the Edison Prize (GE Foundation), GMM Award, and ERC Consolidator Grant for tactile displays for the visually impaired. His work spans advanced manufacturing, biomedical devices, and sustainable materials.

Education: Studied mechanical engineering at Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), PhD (2008), and Habilitation (2017) in microfluidics and fluid dynamics. His research emphasizes high-resolution structuring of materials, tactile interfaces, and 3D-printed glass technologies. He has pioneered innovations in superrepellent surfaces, soft actuators, and microfluidic systems. Recent projects include the GlassAge initiative for next-generation glass manufacturing and tactile displays using gesture recognition.

Awards include nominations for the German Future Award (2021, 2022) for his work on tactile interfaces and Glassomer’s glass 3D printing. His publications span Advanced Materials, Nature, and Science, focusing on microsystem engineering and material science advancements.