Erik Bitzek

Prof. Dr.-Ing. Erik Bitzek leads the Microstructure and Mechanics group at the Max-Planck-Institut für Nachhaltige Materialien and holds a secondary affiliation at the Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU) Department of Materials Science and Engineering. His research focuses on multi-scale modeling of fracture mechanics, atomistic simulations of dislocation and grain boundary interactions, and nanomechanics of interface-dominated materials.

• ERC Consolidator Grant (2016) for Microscopic Origins of Fracture Toughness (microKIc)
• DFG Mercator Fellow (2024) for GRK2423: Fracture across Scales
• Co-initiator of NFDI-Matwerk and working group 3D Materials Data Science

Recent work includes deformation mechanisms in amorphous materials, alloying effects on fracture toughness, and research data management in materials science. He has contributed to over 70 peer-reviewed publications and co-organized 20+ international workshops.