Manuel Friedrich

Manuel Friedrich is a Professor for Applied Analysis at Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU) since 2021. Previously, he was a Junior Professor at the University of Münster (2018–2021) and held a postdoctoral position at the University of Vienna (2015–2018) supported by the Feodor Lynen Fellowship. His research focuses on applied analysis, calculus of variations, nonlinear PDEs, and mathematical modeling of materials science problems, including fracture mechanics, multiscale methods, and atomistic models.

His academic journey includes a PhD in the TopMath program at Universität Augsburg (2012–2015), a Master’s degree at TU Munich (2010–2012), and a Bachelor’s degree at TU Munich (2007–2010). He has been actively involved in teaching, including courses on analysis, partial differential equations, and variational methods at FAU and Münster.

Key research directions include variational fracture models, geometric rigidity, and the analysis of atomistic systems. His work has been supported by grants such as the DFG (German Research Foundation) and the GRK (Graduiertenkolleg) programs. Notable contributions include studies on Griffith fracture models, linearization of fracture evolution, and crystallization in materials.

He leads a research group with members including Marco Bresciani, Antonio Donnarumma, and Joscha Seutter. Former members include Rufat Badal, Leonard Kreutz, and others. His scientific achievements include the Feodor Lynen Fellowship and publications in top journals like Archive for Rational Mechanics and Analysis and SIAM Journal on Mathematical Analysis.