Prof. Ulrich W. Thonemann is a Full Professor and Director of the Department of Supply Chain Management & Management Science at the University of Cologne's Faculty of Management, Economics and Social Science. Since 2019, he has served as Dean of the Faculty and President of the University of Cologne Executive School since 2018. His research spans Supply Chain Management Optimization Behavioral Operations Information Systems . His recent work focuses on Incentive systems for forecast sharing Behavioral inventory metrics Contract design for newsvendor problems Demand information sharing Capacity rationing . He has served on the scientific advisory board of Bundesvereinigung Logistik and as Associate Editor for Production and Operations Management . Scientific Awards: Terman Fellow (1999-2000) Anderson Faculty Scholar (1998-2000) Outstanding Academic Achievements at Stanford (1992) Contact: ulrich.thonemann@uni-koeln.de | Research Group Website
Hanna Meissner is Professor for Interdisciplinary Women's and Gender Studies at Technical University of Berlin, serving as Head of Department at the Center for Interdisciplinary Women's and Gender Studies (ZIFG) within Faculty I - Humanities and Educational Sciences. Appointed to her professorship in January 2020, she has maintained an active research and teaching profile with significant contributions to feminist theory and social philosophy. Her academic credentials include: Doctorate (2009) from Humboldt University of Berlin with dissertation on "Conditional Contingency: On the Social Constitution of Subjectivity and Agency" Diplom-Soziologin (1998) from Freie Universität Berlin Professor Meissner's research spans critical intersections of feminist theory, social philosophy, and political economy. Her work examines subjectivity through new materialist and critical theoretical frameworks, while exploring work-life balance as a systemic crisis of capital reproduction. She has developed significant scholarship on commons theory from feminist perspectives and collective subjectivity in communal living arrangements. Her theoretical contributions bridge classical social theory with contemporary gender issues. Analysis of her recent publications reveals a strong trajectory from theoretical foundations toward practical applications of feminist thought. Her 2024-2025 work increasingly focuses on counterhumanist assemblages, precarious subjectivity, and feminist approaches to commons, demonstrating evolution from earlier work on new material feminisms and historical materialism. This progression shows deepening engagement with collective action models and alternative social organization. Her scholarly contributions have been supported by: Volkswagen Foundation funding for international summer school in Nigeria DAAD support for research in Sudan Hans Böckler Foundation projects on women's career advancement Professor Meissner has supervised numerous students and collaborated extensively across disciplinary boundaries. Her teaching has spanned multiple institutions including TU Berlin, University of Vienna, and University of Duisburg-Essen, with notable international engagement in Nigeria and Sudan. During the pandemic, she co-authored research on the abrupt transition to online teaching. As leader of ZIFG at TU Berlin, she fosters collaborative research that transcends traditional disciplinary boundaries. Her team engages with national and international partners on projects addressing contemporary gender issues through theoretical innovation and practical application, particularly focusing on collective action models and feminist approaches to social organization.
Prof. Ilia Polian serves as Head of the Institute of Computer Engineering and Chair of the Hardware-Oriented Computer Science (HOCOS) department at the University of Stuttgart. His leadership spans research, teaching, and institutional coordination across multiple high-impact projects. Prof. Polian's research focuses on developing circuit and system architectures based on both traditional and novel principles, including neuromorphic, stochastic, and approximate architectures. His second major research focus is systematic design methodology and design automation, with particular emphasis on safety and reliability properties of developed systems. Current research directions include quantum computing engineering, secure mixed-signal neural networks, and resource-efficient stochastic circuits for near-sensor computing applications. His recent publications demonstrate strong trends in quantum computing (particularly circuit partitioning and compilation for multi-QPU architectures), hardware security (including memristive cryptographic implementations), and AI-driven approaches to hardware testing and reliability. These works bridge fundamental computer architecture research with practical industrial applications. University of Stuttgart's Publication Prize for Paper on Partitioning of Quantum Circuits Prof. Polian actively supervises doctoral students including Devanshi Upadhyaya, and leads significant research grants such as the DFG Priority Program Nano Security which he coordinates. His department offers numerous thesis and research opportunities for students interested in cutting-edge hardware research. The Hardware-Oriented Computer Science department maintains strong collaborations with industry partners including IBM, Infineon Technologies, and Advantest, as well as academic institutions through the IQST Graduate School and QuantumBW initiatives.
Prof. Dr. Hannes Taubenböck holds the Chair of Global Urbanization and Remote Sensing at the Julius-Maximilians University of Würzburg (Faculty of Philosophy, Institute of Geography and Geology) since 2022 and collaborates with the German Aerospace Center (DLR). His research bridges remote sensing with urban geography, focusing on: Global urbanization patterns and structural analysis Informal settlements (slums/refugee camps) Climate change and natural hazard vulnerability Migration dynamics via remote sensing and social media He obtained his PhD (2008) and habilitation (2019) at JMU Würzburg, preceded by geography studies at LMU Munich (1999-2004). His recent publications analyze: Climate impacts on African agriculture Urban permeability and walkability Border region disparities Heat exposure modeling Methodologically, he specializes in: Deep learning for earth observation Multi-modal data fusion Urban pattern classification Building stock analysis His work informs policy applications in: EU cohesion programs Disaster risk reduction Environmental justice Urban sustainability
Prof. Dr. Kirsten Jung is a faculty member at the Department of Microbiology , Faculty of Biology , Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich . Her research focuses on bacterial signal transduction, stress response mechanisms, and systems biology approaches to understand microbial regulatory networks. Key research areas include stress-dependent gene expression in bacterial populations Structural and functional analysis of membrane-integrated receptors Metabolism-based chemical communication in bacteria Integration of experimental and computational systems biology Recent publications highlight her lab's work on Escherichia coli epitranscriptomic modifications under heat stress, m 5 C rRNA dynamics, and the role of RNA methylation in host-pathogen interactions. Collaborative studies address bacterial acid stress responses and their implications for antibiotic tolerance. Her interdisciplinary work bridges microbiology with ecological studies, as evidenced by research on biodiversity conservation in forest and urban ecosystems. Publications also demonstrate expertise in advanced imaging techniques (e.g., arterial spin labeling for glioma analysis) and bioinformatics approaches. Current advisees include Gloria Gessinger and Tania P. Gonzalez-Terrazas . She can be contacted at jung@lmu.de .
Anja Müller is a Professor at the University of Siegen , specializing in English Literature and Cultural Studies within the Faculty of Humanities. Her research spans 18th-century English literature , children's and young adult literature , and neomedievalism in contemporary media, including A Song of Ice and Fire and role-playing games. She leads the Research Center for European Children's and Young Adult Literature and co-edits the book series Studies in European Literature for Children and Young Adults . Education : Magister Artium (1995), PhD (2000) in English Literary Studies Positions : W3 Professor at University of Siegen (since 2010), previously held positions at TU Chemnitz, Otto-Friedrich University Bamberg, and Ernst-Moritz-Arndt University Greifswald Research Focus : Explores intersections of childhood construction , canon formation , and intermedial adaptation . Notable projects include DFG-funded work on canon and social imaginaries in British children's literature and the edited book series on European children's literature. Publication Trends reflect her expertise in 18th-century cultural discourse (e.g., periodicals, garden symbolism), children's canon dynamics , and fantasy literature analysis (e.g., Tolkien, Stoppard, Game of Thrones). Scientific Recognition : Children's Literature Association Honor Book (2009) CDE-Award (2002) for her dissertation DFG and Fritz Thyssen Stiftung project funding International fellowships (e.g., Roger W. Eddy Fellowship, DAAD grants) Labs and Teams : Directs the Research Center 'European Children's and Young Adult Literature' and collaborates with institutions like the University of Tübingen and Routledge. Coordinates DFG projects and international conferences on canon studies and childhood representation.
Prof. Dr. Katja Scharenberg is a faculty member at the Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München (LMU) , affiliated with the Faculty of Psychology and Education. Her research focuses on inclusive education, heterogeneity in classrooms, teacher training, science education, and sustainability education. She leads and collaborates on multiple projects funded by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) and the European Union’s Horizon 2020 program. Her work examines how heterogeneous learning environments impact student outcomes, particularly in science and sustainability education. She investigates teacher diagnostic competence in inclusive settings and develops digital learning environments to support accessible experimentation. Current projects include evidence-based modular continuing education programs for teachers and studies on ethnic school segregation’s effects on educational attainment in Germany and Switzerland. Key publications include empirical analyses of sustainability competencies in schools, inclusive pedagogy in primary and vocational education, and classroom dynamics affecting students with special educational needs. She serves on editorial boards and collaborates with networks like the European Association for Research on Learning and Instruction (EARLI) and the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Erziehungswissenschaft (DGfE) . Her research is supported by grants from the BMBF and EU Horizon 2020 . She supervises students in inclusive education and teacher training, and her work integrates research-based learning with practical school reforms in the Freiburg region.
Christoph Gehlen is Professor and Chair of Materials and Materials Testing in Civil Engineering at the Technical University of Munich (TUM), based at Franz-Langinger-Str. 10 in Munich. His research group focuses on advanced concrete technologies, materials science, and digital construction methods, with significant contributions to additive manufacturing in civil engineering through the Collaborative Research Center TRR 277. His research spans concrete technology, durability assessment, and sustainable construction practices. Key interests include corrosion mechanisms in reinforced concrete, non-destructive testing methodologies, and additive manufacturing techniques like Selective Paste Intrusion (SPI). Recent work emphasizes 3D concrete printing for structural applications, life cycle assessment of printed elements, and fundamental studies on material behavior under environmental stressors including carbonation, chloride exposure, and freeze-thaw cycles. Analysis of his 15 most recent publications (2024-2025) reveals dominant research trajectories in digital fabrication of concrete structures, particularly SPI-based additive manufacturing. His work integrates materials science with structural engineering to develop functionally graded components, assess sustainability metrics, and solve reinforcement integration challenges. Significant interdisciplinary efforts address durability issues through electrochemical monitoring, coda wave interferometry, and advanced imaging techniques for concrete microstructure characterization. Gehlen leads the Chair of Materials and Materials Testing in Civil Engineering at TUM, which operates advanced laboratories for concrete characterization including confocal laser scanning microscopy and virtual testing environments. His team actively participates in TRR 277 (Additive Manufacturing in Construction), developing fabrication-aware design methods and experimental validation protocols for novel construction technologies.
Dubravko Radic serves as Professor of Service Management at the University of Leipzig's Faculty of Business and Economics since 2009, while simultaneously holding the position of Deputy Head of the Price and Service Management group at the Fraunhofer Center for International Management and Knowledge Economics IMW since 2013. His academic career spans multiple institutions including the University of Wuppertal where he completed his habilitation, and the University of Frankfurt am Main where he earned his doctorate in statistics and econometrics. Doctorate (Dr. rer. pol. summa cum laude): Johann Wolfgang Goethe-Universität Frankfurt a.M. (2004) Habilitation: Bergische Universität Wuppertal (2009) Diplom-Volkswirt: Johann Wolfgang Goethe-Universität Frankfurt a.M. (1999) Research Stay: University of California Davis (2008) Professor Radic's research centers on the intersection of empirical methods and business management, with particular emphasis on service pricing modeling, applied microeconometrics, and social interactions in service contexts. His work bridges theoretical econometric approaches with practical business applications, especially in the healthcare sector where he has led multiple Fraunhofer IMW projects including ASARob, NurMut, and ATMoSPHÄRE. His research methodology combines quantitative modeling with real-world case studies to address strategic and operational decisions in service organizations. His recent publications demonstrate a consistent focus on discrete choice modeling, game theory applications in marketing, and service innovation frameworks. The 2025 paper "Discrete Games in Marketing Research" presented at the Global Marketing Conference in Hong Kong exemplifies his approach of applying advanced econometric techniques to practical marketing problems, particularly in digital service contexts. His work shows an evolving trajectory from foundational service management concepts toward increasingly sophisticated modeling of strategic interactions in service markets. Professor Radic has extensive experience advising major corporations including Metro AG, Lilly Deutschland, IMS Health, Berlin Chemie, and Augustinum gGmbH. His practical projects at Fraunhofer IMW focus on translating academic research into actionable business solutions, particularly in healthcare digitization and service innovation. He has led the TRAIN@MINE project developing training tools for Vietnam's mining sector and contributed to studies on Big Data applications in health insurance. At the University of Leipzig, he leads research activities through the Institute for Service and Relationship Management, supervising multiple research projects that connect academic inquiry with industry applications. His team collaborates with international partners including the University of California Davis, University of Maryland, Northwestern University, and the Technion Israel Institute of Technology, creating a robust research ecosystem focused on service management innovation.
Professor Caterina Zeppieri is a faculty member at the Institute for Analysis and Numerics within the Faculty of Mathematics and Computer Science at the University of Münster, Germany. She serves as an investigator in Mathematics Münster and specializes in optimization and calculus of variations. Her research spans multiple collaborative projects within the Excellence Cluster EXC 2044. Her primary research interests focus on Calculus of Variations , Homogenization Theory , and Free-Discontinuity Problems , with significant contributions to the mathematical understanding of material science phenomena. Her work bridges theoretical mathematics with practical applications in material modeling, fracture mechanics, and multi-scale analysis. She has developed sophisticated mathematical frameworks for understanding stochastic homogenization, phase-field approximations, and gradient damage models in heterogeneous materials. Analysis of her recent publications reveals a consistent trajectory toward increasingly complex multi-scale problems involving randomness and discontinuities. Her work demonstrates deep connections between Γ-convergence theory, stochastic processes, and applications to material science, particularly in modeling fracture phenomena and composite materials. A notable trend is her development of global methods that unify deterministic and stochastic approaches to homogenization problems. Zeppieri actively contributes to teaching at the University of Münster, regularly offering courses on Partial Differential Equations, Calculus of Variations, and Advanced Topics in Mathematical Modeling. Her teaching spans both undergraduate and graduate levels, including specialized seminars on cutting-edge research topics in her field. She is deeply involved in the EXC 2044 collaborative research center, particularly in project units C1 (Evolution and asymptotics), C2 (Multi-scale phenomena and macroscopic structures), and C3 (Interacting particle systems and phase transitions), where she contributes her expertise in variational methods and homogenization to multi-disciplinary research efforts.
Professor Sabine Eming is a Principal Investigator at the Department of Dermatology & FMNS at the University of Cologne, affiliated with the CMMC and collaborating with CECAD. Her research focuses on the molecular basis of age-related skin pathologies and regenerative responses. Investigates tissue regeneration, immunometabolism, and TOR signaling Develops therapeutic strategies for injured/aging tissues Uses cross-species models (mice, zebrafish, Drosophila, humans) Her work bridges basic science and clinical expertise to translate findings into therapeutic approaches, particularly examining: Metabolic reprogramming in wound healing Immune system's role in regeneration vs. scarring Lipid synthesis and filaggrin processing in skin barrier formation Scarless repair mechanisms in zebrafish vs. mammals She leads research into molecular control systems including: Cell death regulation (FADD-RIPK3 pathways) Nutrient-sensing TOR pathway in skin aging Glutamine metabolism in stem cell maintenance Her group develops genetically modified mouse models and collaborates on clinical trials for impaired healing conditions.
Prof. Dr. Kei Ito is a leading neuroscientist at the University of Cologne , specializing in Drosophila melanogaster brain architecture. His research focuses on mapping " terra incognita " regions of the brain, analyzing glial cell functions across development, and establishing standardized insect brain nomenclature through international collaboration. As AXA Chairholder and former HHMI Senior Fellow , he combines molecular genetics with 3D virtual reality visualization to unravel neuronal network organization . Academic Affiliation : University of Cologne (2016–present) Prior Positions : The University of Tokyo (2002–2017), National Institute for Basic Biology (1998–2002) Research Interests span multiple domains: "Terra Incognita" Analysis : Systematic mapping of previously uncharacterized brain regions (70% of brain volume) Glial Cell Biology : Classification and functional analysis from embryo to adult Connectome Research : Integration of electron microscopy data with genetic tools Neuronal Lineage Studies : 3D reconstruction of neuroblast progeny patterns Scientific Contributions include: Creation of 4,500 NP Gal4 driver lines (Japan consortium, 1998) Pioneering Split-Gal4 systems for precise neuron labeling Establishment of 6 distinct neuron naming schemes for EM data Leadership in Insect Brain Name Working Group (2007–2014) Advising Legacy features direct mentorship of 6 doctoral students and collaborative analysis of 3,777 neuron types in EM datasets. His lab maintains 1,000+ specific Split-Gal4 lines for terra incognita research.
Prof. Dr. Birgit Ulrike Münch serves as Professor of General Art History with focus on Dutch Art and Vice Rector for International Affairs at the University of Bonn's Faculty of Arts and Humanities. Her academic leadership includes directorship of the Institute of Art History (2018-2020) and membership in university-wide committees including the Faculty Council and Habilitation Commission. Her educational background encompasses Magistra Artium in Art History and Medieval/Modern History from Heidelberg University (1995-2003), with additional studies at Paris-Sorbonne and FU Berlin. Her doctoral dissertation Geteiltes Leid. Die Passion Christi in Bildern und Texten der Konfessionalisierung (2007, summa cum laude) and habilitation Jenseits der Académie: Studies on Alternative Art Publics in France and the Netherlands from 1450 to around 1815 (2016) established foundational contributions to Northern European art historiography. Münch's research spans Flemish, Dutch, German, and French art (15th-18th centuries), with pioneering work on genre painting genesis, proverb visualization, and illness representation. She investigates how emotions like existential anxiety shaped artistic production during crises such as the Reformation, and examines court dwarf agency through interdisciplinary collaborations. Recent projects analyze syphilis's impact on art and colonialism's representation in Dutch still lifes, demonstrating her commitment to methodological innovation at the intersection of art history and medical humanities. Her publication trajectory reveals increasing engagement with postcolonial frameworks, particularly in re-examining Northern European art's entanglement with slavery and dependency systems. The 2022-2025 works demonstrate sophisticated interdisciplinary approaches connecting visual culture with critical race theory, gender studies, and economic history. International Wolfgang-Ratjen Prize (2008) for research on graphic arts Nomination for DFG's Heinz Maier-Leibnitz Prize (2016) Senior Global Fellowship at University of St Andrews (2022) Membership in Comité International d'histoire de l'Art (CIHA) As Principal Investigator for the Bonn Center for Dependency and Slavery Studies (2020-present), she directs the project "Prostitution, Serfdom, Slavery: Picturing Female Dependencies in Early Modern Amsterdam." Her leadership in the GOTH Symposium and MeWo Mentoring Program for women at the Centre d'Excellence Denis Mukwege highlights commitment to gender equity. Major grants include DFG Excellence Cluster funding and BMBF research fellowships for collection recontextualization projects. She co-founded the Kunsthistorisches Forum Irsee (2014-2020), producing 7 edited volumes on premodern art communities. Current leadership includes the "Aby Warburg's Bonn Years" research group and the Crossroads project on Frankfurt's 16th-century art market with North American collaborators. Her curation of the "A Feast for the Eyes? Dutch Still Lifes in Detail" exhibition exemplifies her commitment to public scholarship and decolonial museum practices.
Nico Leonhardt is a Researcher at the University of Leipzig's Faculty of Educational Science, specifically in the Department of Pedagogy with a Focus on Intellectual Disability. He works at the Institute for Special Education and coordinates key projects focused on inclusive education development. His current office is located in House 5, Marschnerstraße 29d/e, Room 158, Leipzig. His educational background includes: PhD candidate at the Faculty of Educational Science, University of Leipzig (2023-2025) Master of Education - Special Education Teacher Training from University of Leipzig (2012-2015) B.A. in Rehabilitation and Integration Pedagogy from University of Leipzig (2009-2012) Leonhardt's research focuses on inclusive school development and social space orientation, inclusion-sensitive university development, participatory research and teaching, ableism, educational equity, and artificial intelligence. His work critically examines power structures in educational settings and advocates for student-centered, participatory approaches to inclusive education. He explores how educational institutions can better serve students with intellectual disabilities through social space orientation and child rights-based approaches. His research often addresses the intersection of disability studies with critical pedagogy, examining how ableism manifests in educational systems and how to develop more equitable alternatives. His publications show a strong trend toward practical applications of inclusive education theory, with a focus on ableism in school settings, participatory teaching methods, and the intersection of educational equity with emerging technologies like AI. His work spans from theoretical explorations of ableism in educational contexts to practical handbooks for inclusive school development. The research demonstrates a consistent focus on participatory methodologies, social justice, and critical analysis of power structures in education. Leonhardt has coordinated the QuaBIS project (Qualification of Education and Inclusion Officers in Saxony) since 2018 and worked on the InSide project (Inclusion in Social Spaces) from 2020-2023. He has established international collaborations, including a significant partnership with Universidad National de Cordobá in Argentina starting in June 2024. His teaching activities span numerous topics related to inclusive education, disability studies, and participatory approaches, with presentations at international conferences through 2025. His work spans multiple educational contexts: School development in challenging educational environments University-level inclusive education initiatives Teacher training for inclusive practices Critical analysis of ableism in educational settings Participatory research methodologies across educational levels International comparative studies on inclusive education
Prof. Dr. Matthias Armgardt holds the Nucleus Professorship for Global Legal History and Civil Law as well as Computational Legal Theory at the Faculty of Law, University of Hamburg . His work focuses on interdisciplinary fundamental research at the intersection of history, logic, philosophy, and legal reasoning. Historical perspective: Comparative study of ancient Jewish, Greek-Hellenistic, and Roman law Logical perspective: Development of computational legal theory using formal logic and AI Philosophical perspective: Analysis of Leibniz's legal philosophy Legal perspective: Critique of German civil law with comparative methods His research includes collaborations with Harvard Law School, European University Institute, and University of Bologna. Key projects: CISAL (Center for Ancient Legal History) and LLCA (Legal Logic, Computational Law, and AI project). He organizes summer schools on Law and Logic with institutions like the European University Institute.
