Mathias Göken

Prof. Dr. Mathias Göken is a Full Professor (C4) and Head of the Chair of Materials Science (General Material Properties) at the Department of Materials Science, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU). He has held this position since October 2002. He is a Principal Investigator in the Cluster of Excellence 'Engineering of Advanced Materials' and coordinates the Centre for Nanoanalysis and Electron Microscopy (CENEM). His roles include membership on the Board of Directors of the Central Institute for New Materials and Processing (ZMP) and leadership in the DFG Research Training Group on Multiphase Systems.

His research focuses on advanced materials, particularly high-temperature superalloys (CoNi-based, Ni-base), nanostructured materials, mechanical properties (creep, fatigue, fracture), and microstructural characterization using advanced electron microscopy and nanomechanical testing. He explores alloy design, additive manufacturing processes, and deformation mechanisms in extreme environments.

Recent publications (2022–2025) emphasize CoNiCr superalloys, additive manufacturing of Ni/Co-alloys, nanomechanical behavior of thin films, and oxidation/corrosion effects. Trends show deep integration of combinatorial materials research, in-situ TEM, atom probe tomography, and advanced mechanical testing to optimize high-temperature performance.

Awards & Honors:

• Feodor-Lynen Fellowship, Alexander von Humboldt Foundation (1998)
• Masing Memorial Prize, German Society for Materials Science (2000)
• Elected member of DFG Professional Council 406 (2012–2018)

He leads the Nanomechanics Group and CENEM, coordinating interdisciplinary teams focused on electron microscopy and nanoanalysis. He established FAU's Bachelor/Master program in Nanotechnology (2008) and has supervised numerous collaborative projects with Max Planck, Fraunhofer, and Helmholtz institutes.