Helge S. Stein

Prof. Helge S. Stein is an Associate Professor (W3, tenured) at the Technical University of Munich (TUM), leading the Chair of Digital Catalysis within the TUM School of Natural Sciences. His research focuses on accelerating the discovery and optimization of materials and processes for energy storage and conversion through integration of machine learning, autonomous robotics, and high-throughput experimentation.

Education & Career:

• 2013: MSc Physics, Georg August University Göttingen
• 2017: Doctor of Engineering, Ruhr-University Bochum
• 2017–2020: Postdoctoral Researcher at Caltech (Joint Center for Artificial Photosynthesis)
• 2020–2023: Tenure Track Professor at Karlsruhe Institute of Technology
• Since 2023: Associate Professor at TUM

Research Interests:

Stein’s group develops high-throughput systems for synthesis, characterization, and recycling of materials, with a focus on batteries and catalysts. They leverage data science and robotics to optimize materials-in-systems and bridge the gap between theoretical models and experimental validation. Collaborations include the Munich Data Science Institute (MDSI) and Munich Institute for Robotics and Machine Intelligence (MIRMI).

Key Projects:

• Development of combinatorial synthesis machines and lab automation systems
• Bayesian optimization and explainable machine learning models
• Materials acceleration platforms (MAPs) for rapid material discovery

Grants & Labs:

Labs include CRC 2004-6 and CH631XX offices. Stein’s work is supported by initiatives like the Munich Catalysis Alliance (MuniCat) and international collaborations.

Advising:

Prospective students are encouraged to contact Stein or group representatives for project opportunities in areas like high-throughput robotics, data management, or electrode manufacturing.