Sandra Korte-Kerzel

Sandra Korte-Kerzel is a Professor of Materials Physics and Head of the Institute of Metallurgy and Materials Physics at RWTH Aachen University. She holds a permanent W3 professorship and leads the Faculty of Georesources and Materials Engineering.

Her academic career includes a PhD from the University of Cambridge (2010) and prior professorships at Friedrich-Alexander University, Erlangen-Nürnberg. She specializes in deformation mechanisms of metals, intermetallic phases, and microstructure-property relationships.

Research focuses on nanoscale plasticity in magnesium alloys, Laves phase behavior, and AI-driven materials characterization. Awards include the ERC Starting Grant (2019) and RWTH's FAMOS für Familie Award (2016).

Grants include ERC funding for 'FunBlocks' and strategic partnerships with Rolls-Royce/EPSRC. She has pioneered advanced nanoindentation methods and machine learning tools for microstructure analysis.

Labs include the Institute for Metallurgy and Materials Physics, with active collaborations in magnesium alloy development and intermetallic phase design.