Prof. Dr. Jörg E. Drewes is a Full Professor and Chair at the Research Institute for Urban Water Management, Technical University of Munich (TUM), Germany. He also serves as Academic Program Director for Environmental Engineering at TUM and is a co-founder of Waterloop Solutions GmbH. His work spans advanced water treatment technologies, wastewater reuse, and environmental health surveillance. Affiliations : TUM, Colorado School of Mines, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, UNSW Water Research Centre Research focuses on advanced oxidation processes , membrane fouling mitigation , micropollutant removal , and wastewater epidemiology for public health. His team develops integrated systems for water-energy-food nexus applications and graphene oxide-based treatment solutions. Recent publications address PFAS remediation , UVC-LED pre-treatment for biofouling control, and GIS-based wastewater surveillance models . Awards include the Bayerische Staatsmedaille (2023) and William Dunbar Medal (2022). 2023 : Bayerische Staatsmedaille 2022 : William Dunbar Medal 2018 : IWA Fellow He leads the Nexus@TUM initiative and contributes to EU water resilience strategies. Collaborations include projects in Germany, China, India, and Spain, focusing on climate-resilient water systems and resource recovery .
Prof. Dr. Mathias Christmann is a faculty member at the Institute of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Freie Universität Berlin , leading the research group in Organic Chemistry . His work focuses on strategic and methodological challenges in synthetic chemistry, particularly in total synthesis, organocatalysis, and renewable resource transformations. Position: Professor Contact: mathias.christmann@fu-berlin.de Location: Takustr. 3, Room 24.16, 14195 Berlin Research Interests include: Natural product-inspired small molecule synthesis for biological pathway modulation Minimizing C-C bond formations through selective functionalization of terpene building blocks Organocatalytic and metal-catalyzed reactions in multistep sequences Flow chemistry applications for scalable and sustainable synthesis Biological evaluation of TRPC channel agonists/antagonists for cancer therapy Publication Trends highlight expertise in total synthesis of complex terpenoids, organocatalysis for stereocontrolled reactions, flow chemistry for late-stage transformations, and TRPC4/5 channel modulation in renal cancer studies. His group pioneers asymmetric desymmetrization , photo-oxidation protocols , and electrosynthesis methods with minimal reagent waste. Advisees include PhD candidates Jan-Hendrik Dickoff , Mayar Elbendary , Nadine Kreidt , Tobias Olbrisch , Kamar Shakeri , and Zhen Wang , focusing on terpene-based drug discovery and catalytic reaction design.
Prof. Dr. rer. nat. Lothar Elling is a University Professor and director at the Helmholtz Institute for Biomedical Engineering, RWTH Aachen University, Germany. His research focuses on biomaterials, glycoengineering, and enzymatic synthesis of carbohydrates and glycoconjugates. Institution: RWTH Aachen University Research Unit: Helmholtz Institute for Biomedical Engineering Academic Rank: Full Professor Prof. Elling's research interests include: Glycoengineering of biomaterials Enzymatic synthesis of glycans Glycosyltransferase immobilization Glycan-protein interactions Biocatalytic cascade reactions Biomedical applications of glycomaterials His recent publications demonstrate strong expertise in: - Automated enzymatic glycan synthesis - Multi-enzyme cascade systems for nucleotide sugar production - Glycosyltransferase engineering - Galectin-targeted glycomaterials - Microgel-based biosensors
Dr.-Ing. Steffen Klamt leads the Research Group 'Analysis and Redesign of Biological Networks' at the Max Planck Institute for Dynamics of Complex Technical Systems in Magdeburg, Germany, where he has been employed since 1998. He received his Diplom-Systemwissenschaftler degree from the University of Osnabrück in 1998 and his Dr.-Ing. from the University of Stuttgart in 2005. His research focuses on computational systems biology with emphasis on metabolic engineering, biochemical networks analysis, and bioprocess optimization. He develops computational tools like CellNetAnalyzer for network analysis and StrainDesign for metabolic engineering applications. Key research areas include constraint-based modeling, minimal cut sets analysis, and dynamic optimization of metabolic processes. His recent publications demonstrate strong focus on multi-stage bioprocess optimization, enzyme cascade engineering, and novel strain development strategies for chemical production. Common themes include ATP manipulation strategies, thermodynamic constraints in metabolism, and integration of experimental data with computational models. Scientific Awards: Ernst Dieter Gilles Lecture Award Ernst Dieter Gilles Fellowship He leads a research group developing computational methods for metabolic network analysis and maintains collaborations with experimental groups for model validation and application. The group develops open-source software tools widely used in systems biology research.
Prof. Heinz Koeppl is a Professor in the Department of Electrical Engineering and Information Technology at TU Darmstadt. His research focuses on self-organizing systems, systems biology, and control theory, with applications in synthetic biology, robotics, and stochastic processes. He explores interdisciplinary topics such as genetic circuit design, UAV swarm dynamics, and machine learning-driven modeling of biochemical systems. Key research areas include the development of deep learning frameworks for kinetic modeling, Bayesian optimization for riboswitch design, and mean field control theory for sparse networks. His work bridges theoretical foundations with practical engineering solutions, addressing challenges in molecular communication, gene regulation, and robotic swarm coordination. Publications from 2023–2025 highlight advancements in bio-inspired algorithms, swarm intelligence, and computational biology. Notable contributions include studies on RNA-based circuits, active matter dynamics, and optimization strategies for large-scale systems. His research emphasizes interdisciplinary collaboration, leveraging tools from electrical engineering, mathematics, and life sciences. No scientific awards are explicitly listed in the provided text. Advising and grants details are not available. Prof. Koeppl’s lab focuses on integrating systems biology approaches with engineering principles to solve complex problems in healthcare, environmental sustainability, and technological innovation.
Gheorghe Craciun is a Professor in the Department of Mathematics and the Department of Biomolecular Chemistry at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. His research focuses on mathematical and computational models in biology and medicine, particularly dynamical systems models of biological interaction networks. He has been a visiting researcher at the Max Planck Institute for Mathematics in the Sciences during the 2019-2020 academic year and has organized the Madison Workshops on Mathematics of Reaction Networks. Craciun's primary research interests include Mathematical Biology, Dynamical Systems, Chemical Reaction Networks, Computational Biology, Systems Biology, and Algebraic Geometry. He investigates systems of differential equations with polynomial right-hand sides, which are common in biochemical reaction networks, ecological interactions, and epidemiological models. His work often involves proving global stability, analyzing multistability, and characterizing steady states using tools from algebraic geometry and combinatorics. Recent publications demonstrate his focus on toric differential inclusions, endotactic networks, and the global attractor conjecture, extending to applications in biochemical networks and discrete Boltzmann equations. His extensive publication record reveals a strong trend toward algebraic and geometric methods for analyzing complex biological networks, with significant contributions to reaction network theory, stability analysis, and parameter characterization. Craciun's work bridges abstract mathematical concepts with practical applications in biochemistry, ecology, and medicine, including modeling vitellogenin production in trout and peptide mass distributions. He has collaborated extensively with international researchers including Alicia Dickenstein, Anne Shiu, Bernd Sturmfels, Casian Pantea, and Miruna-Stefana Sorea. In education, Craciun teaches graduate courses such as Math 703 and mentors students through the Madison Math Circle and Putnam Club, while organizing specialized workshops that foster collaboration in reaction network theory.
Prof. Dr. Nils Kröger serves as Chair for "Biomimetic Materials" at the Technical University of Dresden, Germany, where he leads the Kröger Group dedicated to studying diatoms and their remarkable biological capabilities. His research program investigates two extraordinary phenomena exhibited by these microalgae: silica biomineralization and underwater adhesion. Academic Background: Diploma in Chemistry, University of Regensburg, Germany (1991) PhD in Biochemistry, University of Regensburg, Germany (1995) Habilitation in Biochemistry, University of Regensburg, Germany (2001) Assistant Professor, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, USA (2005) Associate Professor, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, USA (2011) W3 Professor for Biomimetic Materials, TU Dresden, Germany (2012) Professor Kröger's research sits at the intersection of biology, materials science, and nanotechnology. His group employs biochemical, molecular genetic, and cell biological approaches to unravel how diatoms construct intricate silica structures and adhere to surfaces underwater. This work has significant implications for developing novel bio-inspired materials and understanding fundamental biological processes. Recent advancements in his laboratory have revealed molecular mechanisms behind diatom motility and the precise control of silica pattern formation. Analysis of Professor Kröger's publication record shows consistent focus on diatom biology with increasing interdisciplinary collaboration. His recent work demonstrates sophisticated integration of physics, engineering, and biology to understand the mechanical aspects of diatom movement and structure formation. The research shows progression from basic protein characterization to complex systems-level understanding of diatom motility and morphogenesis. Current Research Funding: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG): PoL Nucleation grant with Prof. Stefan Diez (2022-2025) - Acto-myosin cooperativity and regulation underlying diatom gliding motility Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) (2018-2022) - Molecular basis of diatom adhesion and motility Previous funding from Air Force Office of Scientific Research (AFOSR) (2010-2016) - Molecular Mechanism of Diatom Adhesion Professor Kröger actively mentors PhD students and maintains a vibrant research group comprising senior scientists, postdoctoral researchers, technicians, and graduate students. His laboratory serves as a hub for interdisciplinary collaboration, bridging traditional boundaries between biology, chemistry, physics, and materials science. The group maintains strong international connections and participates in numerous collaborative research initiatives focused on biomineralization and bio-inspired materials.
Brenda Schulman is a Professor and Director of the Molecular Machines and Signaling Pathways department at the Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry in Martinsried, Germany. She also holds an honorary professorship at the Technical University of Munich's Department of Chemistry and serves as Adjunct Faculty at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital in Memphis, TN, USA. Her research focuses on understanding how ubiquitin and ubiquitin-like proteins regulate cellular processes through protein modification. Dr. Schulman's research interests center on structural biology of the ubiquitin-proteasome system and ubiquitin-like proteins. Her work has shown that hundreds of dynamic multiprotein complexes are transiently converted into different conformations by specialized regulatory factors that control ubiquitin and ubiquitin-like proteins, thereby monitoring virtually all processes in cell biology. She combines biochemical reconstitution, structural analysis, enzymology, protein design, cell biology, and genetics to understand how these molecular machines function. Her research has significant implications for understanding diseases such as cancer, neurodegenerative disorders, and viral infections where defects in ubiquitin pathways are implicated. Her extensive publication record demonstrates expertise in ubiquitin signaling, protein degradation mechanisms, structural biology of E3 ligases, and molecular machines. Her work spans from fundamental mechanisms of ubiquitin chain formation to therapeutic applications in targeted protein degradation. Among her numerous scientific accolades are the Feldberg Prize for Anglo-German Scientific Exchange (2025), ERC Advanced Grant (2023), Louis-Jeantet Prize for Medicine (2023), Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz Prize (2019), and election to the National Academy of Sciences (2014). She has also received the Dorothy Crowfoot Hodgkin Award from The Protein Society and has been an Investigator of the Howard Hughes Medical Institute. Dr. Schulman leads an active research group that has produced numerous high-impact publications in top journals including Nature, Cell, and Nature Structural & Molecular Biology. Her team has made significant contributions to understanding the structural mechanisms of ubiquitin transfer, E3 ligase specificity, and the role of ubiquitin in cellular quality control pathways. Current research in her lab focuses on deciphering the ubiquitin code and developing novel approaches for targeted protein degradation.
Prof. Dr.-Ing. Johannes Henrich Schleifenbaum is a Professor and Chair of Digital Additive Production at RWTH Aachen University, where he leads research in the Profile area Production Engineering (ProdE). His work advances additive manufacturing (AM) through interdisciplinary approaches combining materials science, process engineering, and digital technologies. His research encompasses: Laser powder bed fusion (LPBF) process optimization and defect mitigation Development of novel alloys/composites for AM applications Sustainable manufacturing practices including material recycling Integration of AI/ML for accelerated material and process design Digital tools for automated design and distributed manufacturing Recent publications (2023-2025) demonstrate a strong focus on: Multi-material processing and microstructure control Machine learning-driven alloy development Standardization and scalability of AM processes Advanced simulations for meltpool dynamics and thermal behavior Applications in aerospace, construction, and biochemical engineering He leads the Chair of Digital Additive Production, collaborating with industry partners to translate research into industrial solutions for next-generation manufacturing.
Shengjie Li is a Researcher in the Department of Biogeochemistry at the Max Planck Institute for Marine Microbiology (MPI-Bremen), Germany. Their postdoctoral research focuses on microbial ecology and biogeochemical processes in marine oxygen minimum zones, particularly linking particle properties, microbial communities, and nitrogen-loss dynamics. Li holds a PhD from Peking University (2017-2022) and conducted a guest PhD at the University of Calgary (2020-2021). Research interests include microbial responses to environmental change, nitrogen cycling in aquatic systems, and the interplay between organic carbon, sulfur, and iron in driving nitrate reduction. Key projects explore isotopic signatures of N₂O production, methane dynamics in groundwater, and the role of biochar in stress resistance. Publications highlight contributions to understanding N₂O emissions, cold seep nitrogen-loss mechanisms, and microbial adaptations in fluctuating environments. Ongoing work bridges microbial community analysis with biogeochemical modeling to address global climate impacts.
Dr. Matthew James Slater is the Head of the Aquaculture Research Group at the Alfred Wegener Institute, focusing on sustainable marine bioeconomy. His work emphasizes integrated multitrophic aquaculture (IMTA), holothurian ecology, and economic development through aquaculture. He leads applied research with industry partners to develop sustainable feed solutions and improve aquaculture practices. Research interests include optimizing feed ingredients from by-products (e.g., black soldier fly larvae, shrimp processing remains) and exploring the ecological roles of sea cucumbers. He investigates the effects of environmental factors (soundscapes, light, temperature) on aquatic species and promotes circular economy principles in aquaculture. Key contributions span over 60 peer-reviewed publications, with recent work on microplastic contamination in fish and the economic value of small-scale fisheries. His research integrates interdisciplinary approaches to address global challenges in aquaculture sustainability and food security. Contact: matthew.james.slater@awi.de | +49(471)4831-2727 | Alfred Wegener Institute, Bussestraße 27, 27570 Bremerhaven
Prof. Dr. Bastian Blombach holds the Professorship for Microbial Biotechnology at TUM Campus Straubing for Biotechnology and Sustainability. His research focuses on optimizing microbial production processes for chemicals and fuels from renewable resources using metabolic engineering, synthetic biology, and systems biology. He leads the Professorship for Microbial Biotechnology since 2018 and has extensive experience in microbial systems optimization, including work with Corynebacterium glutamicum and Vibrio natriegens . Blombach’s academic career includes a doctorate from the University of Ulm (2009) and a junior research group leadership position at the University of Stuttgart (2012–2018). He is affiliated with the Green Fuel Center and the SynBioFoundry@TUM, contributing to biorefinery and synthetic biology initiatives. His research emphasizes quantitative metabolic analysis, strain engineering for industrial applications, and sustainable bioproduction. Key achievements include developing carboxydotrophic bacteria for syngas utilization and pioneering fast-growing Vibrio natriegens as a production host. Awards include the 2009 Doctoral Award and 2010 Research Bonus from the University of Ulm. He serves on DECHEMA’s Biochemical Engineering working group and the DAAD selection committee for postdoctoral fellowships.
Dr. Christoph Diehl is a researcher at the Faculty of Chemistry , affiliated with the Organic Chemistry and Biocatalysis Group at the University of Bielefeld . His work focuses on synthetic biology and biocatalysis, particularly in developing biochemical systems for CO 2 fixation and complex molecule synthesis. Current Affiliation: University of Bielefeld, Faculty of Chemistry Research Group: Organic Chemistry and Biocatalysis / Center for Biotechnology (CeBiTec) Research Interests Dr. Diehl specializes in: Designing synthetic CO 2 fixation cycles (THETA, HOPAC) Developing in vitro biochemical networks Engineering biocatalytic enzyme cascades Optimizing carbon utilization for chemical production Integrating machine learning with metabolic engineering Creating cell-free systems for biomanufacturing Publication Trends His recent work emphasizes synthetic CO 2 fixation pathways, biocatalytic cascade design, and machine learning-guided optimization of metabolic systems. He has pioneered modular approaches for terpene/polyketide synthesis from CO 2 and developed novel carboxylation modules.
Tsung-Yi Ho is a Professor in the Department of Computer Science at National Tsing Hua University, Taiwan. He holds the Hans Fischer Fellowship at the Technical University of Munich's Institute for Advanced Study (TUM-IAS). His primary research focuses on design automation for microfluidic biochips and nanometer integrated circuits, emphasizing reliability, optimization, and interdisciplinary applications in bioengineering. Ho received his Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering from National Taiwan University in 2005. He has held positions at National Cheng Kung University and National Chiao Tung University before joining National Tsing Hua University. His work bridges algorithmic design with practical biochip fabrication, addressing challenges like contamination control, routing optimization, and fault tolerance in microfluidic systems. His research interests span design automation for emerging technologies, including paper-based biochips and 3D microfluidic architectures. He has pioneered methods for integrating hardware-software co-design principles into biochip development, enhancing both functionality and reliability. His contributions include novel routing algorithms, contamination mitigation techniques, and reliability-aware synthesis frameworks. Ho has authored over 100 publications, including influential papers in IEEE Transactions on CAD and ACM journals. He serves on the editorial boards of multiple top-tier journals and chairs professional chapters for ACM and IEEE. His awards include the Humboldt Research Fellowship, Dr. Wu Ta-You Memorial Award, and Best Paper Awards at VLSI Test Symposium and IEEE Transactions on CAD. His current projects involve optimizing control-fluidic co-design for paper-based biochips and developing AI-driven frameworks for microfluidic functionality prediction. He collaborates widely, leading cross-disciplinary initiatives at TUM-IAS and Taiwan's academic institutions.
Dr. Hans Oechsner is a leading academic in agricultural engineering and bioenergy, holding multiple leadership positions including Head of the State Institute for Agricultural Engineering and Bioenergy (Landesanstalt für Agrartechnik und Bioenergie), Managing Director of the Baden-Württemberg Working Group on Agricultural Engineering and Rural Construction (ALB), and Project Leader for the International Graduate College focused on maize-based agricultural systems adaptation to limited phosphate reserves. He teaches advanced courses on biogas technology and bioenergy infrastructure at the Department of Agricultural Engineering in the Tropics and Subtropics. His research centers on optimizing bioenergy systems and sustainable resource management, with key interests in: Advanced biogas production techniques (e.g., mechanical pretreatment, two-stage digestion) Phosphorus recovery from organic waste streams Valorization of agricultural residues and livestock manure Development of circular bioeconomy models for crop systems Dr. Oechsner's recent publications (2022-2025) demonstrate a strong focus on enhancing biogas plant efficiency, nutrient recycling from digestate, and sustainable biomass utilization. His work consistently integrates full-scale applications with fundamental research, particularly in pretreatment optimization and waste stream valorization. He leads research infrastructure at the State Institute for Agricultural Engineering and Bioenergy, coordinating teams working on large-scale biogas optimization and agricultural waste management. His projects frequently involve international collaborations and industry partnerships.
