Dorothee Knees

Prof. Dr. Dorothee Knees is a mathematician at the University of Kassel, holding the Professorship for Analysis since 2014. Her research focuses on variational calculus, non-smooth evolutionary equations, and mathematical models for damage processes, crack propagation, magnetic phenomena, and free surfaces in structural mechanics. She has led collaborative projects such as "Rate-independent systems in solid mechanics" with Jörn Mosler and participated in interdisciplinary initiatives like SPP 2256 on variational methods in engineering. Her work bridges mathematical analysis and computational mechanics, emphasizing physical relevance and numerical efficiency.

• University of Kassel (2014–present): Professorship for Analysis
• WIAS Berlin (2008–2010): Head of Leibniz Group "Modelling of Damage Processes"
• University of Stuttgart (2001–2005): Research Associate in Institute for Applied Analysis and Numerical Simulation

Her research spans rate-independent systems, non-convex energies, and optimal control in dissipative materials. Key projects include analysis of phase-field fracture models, balanced viscosity solutions, and adaptive numerical methods for crack evolution. She has co-authored foundational papers on micromorphic continua, stress regularity in composites, and J-integrals for cracks in power-law materials.

Scientific awards include a scholarship from the Robert Bosch Foundation's Fast Track Program (2005–2008). As an editor, she has contributed to special issues on PDEs and nonsmooth continuum mechanics.