Schloss Dagstuhl - Leibniz Center for InformaticsGermany
Florian Tramèr is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Computer Science at ETH Zurich, Switzerland, leading research at the intersection of machine learning security, privacy, and AI safety. His work focuses on identifying and mitigating security vulnerabilities in machine learning systems, particularly in large language models and other AI systems. Tramèr's primary research interests include adversarial machine learning, membership inference attacks, privacy-preserving AI, and the security implications of large language models. His work has significantly advanced our understanding of how machine learning models memorize training data, how this memorization creates privacy risks, and how to evaluate the robustness of machine learning systems against various attacks. His recent publications demonstrate a strong focus on practical security challenges in deployed AI systems, including data extraction from language models, adversarial attacks against generative AI, and developing more rigorous evaluation methodologies for machine learning security. Tramèr's research has been published in top venues including ICLR, NeurIPS, ICML, and IEEE Security & Privacy. Tramèr is actively collaborating with leading researchers in the field including Nicholas Carlini, Matthew Jagielski, and Javier Rando, contributing to important initiatives like the International AI Safety Report. His work bridges theoretical security concepts with practical implications for real-world AI deployment.
Nils Fleischhacker is an Assistant Professor for Cryptography at Ruhr University Bochum, where he leads the Theoretical Cryptography group within the Faculty of Computer Science. His research focuses on foundational aspects of cryptography with particular emphasis on zero-knowledge proofs, digital signatures, and secure computation. Prior to joining Ruhr University, he held postdoctoral positions at Johns Hopkins University and Carnegie Mellon University. Dr. Fleischhacker received his PhD in Computer Science from Saarland University in February 2017, advised by Dominique Schröder. During his doctoral studies, he was a research intern at Microsoft Research with Chris Brzuska and a research visitor at the University of Maryland, College Park with Jonathan Katz and Dana Dachman-Soled. His research spans theoretical cryptography with significant contributions to zero-knowledge proofs, multi-signature schemes, property-preserving hash functions, and security proofs for cryptographic primitives. Fleischhacker's work often addresses fundamental questions about the limits and possibilities of cryptographic constructions, with particular attention to black-box separations and lower bounds. His recent publications demonstrate a strong focus on lattice-based cryptography and post-quantum secure protocols. Fleischhacker's publications over the past five years reveal a consistent research trajectory focused on improving the efficiency and security of cryptographic primitives, with particular emphasis on signature schemes, zero-knowledge protocols, and secure computation frameworks. His work frequently appears in top-tier cryptography venues including CRYPTO, EUROCRYPT, and CCS. Dr. Fleischhacker actively mentors PhD students, with numerous successful graduations spanning from 2010 to 2024. His former PhD students include Önder Askin (2024), Floyd Zweydinger (2023), and Lars Schlieper (2022), among others. His research is supported through various academic channels and collaborations. He is affiliated with several prominent research organizations including the Horst Görtz Institute (HGI) for Information Security, the DFG Excellence Cluster CASA, the EU Marie Curie Network QSI, and the International Association for Cryptologic Research (IACR). These affiliations provide a strong institutional framework for his theoretical cryptography research.
Debora Weber-Wulff is a Professor of Media Informatics at the Berlin University of Applied Sciences with a doctorate in computer science. She serves as an ethics evaluator for EU projects and is active in the European Network for Academic Integrity and the VroniPlag Wiki. Her research focuses on ethical issues in computer science, particularly examining the intersection of technology and moral decision-making. Dr. Weber-Wulff has made significant contributions to understanding how IT systems can be designed, operated, and used ethically, with particular attention to biometrics, data protection, and intellectual property concerns. Her publications reveal a consistent focus on practical applications of ethical frameworks in technology. The 2023 publication "Remorse – Case studies on ethical problems in computer science" demonstrates her ongoing commitment to developing case-based approaches for teaching and understanding ethical dilemmas in the field. Her work bridges theoretical ethical considerations with practical implementation challenges. Scientific Awards: Fellow of the German Informatics Society As an active participant in professional organizations, Dr. Weber-Wulff contributes to shaping ethical standards in computer science education and practice. Her involvement with the European Network for Academic Integrity and the VroniPlag Wiki demonstrates her commitment to maintaining academic standards and addressing plagiarism issues in scholarly work.
Professor Rainer Böhme is a prominent academic in the field of IT security and privacy at the University of Münster's School of Business and Economics, Department of Information Systems. He also holds a professorship for Security and Privacy at the University of Innsbruck's Institute of Computer Science. His research spans multiple dimensions of digital security, with particular expertise in steganography, digital forensics, privacy-enhancing technologies, and the economic aspects of cybersecurity. Dr. Böhme earned his Doctoral Degree from TU Dresden's Faculty of Computer Science in 2008, following studies in Communications, Economics and Computer Science at Technische Universität Dresden and Université Paris XII. His academic journey includes positions as Assistant Professor at the University of Münster (2010-2015), Postdoctoral Fellow at the International Computer Science Institute in Berkeley (2009-2010), and Scientific Staff at TU Dresden's Chair of Privacy and Data Security. His research interests focus on steganography and steganalysis, digital forensics, privacy-enhancing technologies, security and usability, economic and behavioral aspects of information privacy, virtual currencies, and the economics of information security. His work bridges technical security mechanisms with economic and behavioral considerations, creating a unique interdisciplinary approach to cybersecurity challenges. Analysis of his recent publications reveals a strong trend toward the economics of security, particularly regarding blockchain technologies, cryptocurrency, and privacy valuation. His work increasingly examines the intersection of technical security mechanisms with market dynamics, regulatory frameworks, and user behavior. The research spans theoretical game-theoretic models, empirical studies of user behavior, and practical applications in digital forensics and privacy protection. Program Co-Chair, Financial Cryptography and Data Security (2015) Program Co-Chair, New Security Paradigms Workshop (NSPW) (2015) General Chair, 8th International Conference on IT Security Incident Management & IT Forensics (2014) Organizer and Program Co-Chair, 1st Workshop on Bitcoin Research (2014) Associate Editor, Electronic Commerce Research (since 2013) Associate Editor, EURASIP Journal on Information Security (since 2013) Professor Böhme has supervised multiple Master's theses in Information Systems, including work on static code analysis for smart contracts, remote maintenance protocol security, and application protection requirements in retail banking. His research is supported by significant grants from the German Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space, the DFG, and the EU FP7 program, with projects focusing on digital forensics, privacy-enhancing technologies, and cryptocurrency crime prevention. He leads the IT Security Research Group at the University of Münster, which investigates theoretical and applied aspects of information security with particular emphasis on the economic dimensions of security decisions.
Prof. Dr. Ina Christin Meier serves as Head of Department and Head of Research Unit for Functional Forest Ecology at the University of Hamburg, within the Faculty of Mathematics, Computer Science and Natural Sciences. She is affiliated with the Institute of Wood Sciences (Institut für Holzwissenschaften) in the Department of Biology, where she leads research on forest ecosystem responses to global environmental changes at Ohnhorststrasse 18, 22609 Hamburg. Dr. Meier's research focuses on the impacts of global change factors —including increasing atmospheric CO 2 concentration, summer drought, nitrogen deposition, and intensified management—on the biogeochemistry and biodiversity of temperate, boreal, Mediterranean, and global forest biomes. Her work spans functional ecology of forest trees and grasslands , interactions between roots, mycorrhizal fungi and soil , ecophysiology , and long-term changes in forest ecosystems . She has made significant contributions to understanding root carbon allocation, tropical forest responses to climate change, and the role of mycorrhizal relationships in forest ecosystems. Analysis of Dr. Meier's publication record reveals a strong emphasis on belowground ecology and global change biology , with particular attention to root systems across diverse biomes. Her research bridges plant physiology, ecosystem ecology, and climate science, often synthesizing data from multiple studies to identify broader patterns. She frequently investigates how carbon allocation to root exudates affects soil sequestration and drought response, and has developed important frameworks for understanding root trait responses to multiple global change drivers. Dr. Meier actively collaborates with international research teams across continents. Her work on Nature's Contributions to People has demonstrated that securing essential ecosystem services requires maintaining at least 20-25% semi-natural habitat in human-modified landscapes. She also investigates the chemical complexity of root exudates and their ecological significance, contributing methodological advances to this challenging area of research.
Prof. Dr. Steffen Marburg is a Full Professor at the Chair of Acoustics of Mobile Systems within the TUM School of Engineering and Design at the Technical University of Munich. His research focuses on numerical methods in vibroacoustics, structural optimization, and acoustic modeling for applications in automotive, maritime, and musical instrument domains. Education: PhD from Technical University of Dresden (1998). Academic Career: Junior Professor at TU Dresden (2004), Chair of Technical Dynamics at University of the Federal Armed Forces Munich (2010), Full Professor at TUM (2015–present). Editorial Roles: Co-Editor-in-Chief of Journal of Theoretical and Computational Acoustics, Associate Editor of Journal of the Acoustical Society of America, Editor of Acoustics Australia and Mechanical Systems and Signal Processing. His research integrates computational acoustics, boundary element methods, and machine learning to address noise control and structural optimization challenges. Recent work explores acoustic metamaterials, viscothermal losses, and data-driven modeling. He has co-authored over 150 publications and led advancements in multifrequency solution methods and noise-insulating structures. Scientific awards include the Innovation Award of the Industrieclub Sachsen e.V. (1999). His editorial contributions and leadership in journals highlight his influence in computational acoustics and structural dynamics.
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.
Max Planck Institute for Social AnthropologyGermany
Katia Bianchini is a Research Fellow at the Max Planck Institute for Social Anthropology in Halle, Germany, with a focus on the intersection of law and anthropology in refugee and immigration contexts. She holds a PhD in Law (University of York), an LLM in Comparative Laws (University of San Diego), and a Law degree (Università di Pavia). Her work bridges empirical legal analysis with anthropological methodologies to address issues such as statelessness, asylum adjudication, and the rule of law in migration policies. Education PhD in Law, University of York (2011–2016) LLM in Comparative Laws, University of San Diego (1999–2000) Law degree, Università di Pavia (1992–1998) Bianchini’s research interests include refugee law , immigration law , statelessness , EU law , and human rights law . Her current project examines legislation and responses to missing and deceased sea migrants in Italy , analyzing legal frameworks for search, identification, and burial practices, particularly along the Central Mediterranean Route. She emphasizes the importance of legal anthropology to understand gaps between abstract law and its real-world application. The trends in her publications reflect a focus on statelessness determination procedures , asylum law (notably witchcraft-based claims), humanitarian visas , and rule of law challenges in migration contexts. Her work spans journal articles , book chapters , and monographs , often combining legal analysis with empirical data from interviews and fieldwork. Scientific Awards Erasmus scholarship, University of Leuven, Belgium (1997–1998) Grants and Professional Activities include visiting researcher roles at Fordham University and the University of Oxford, as well as editorial work for the Statelessness and Citizenship Review and the CUREDI Database . She has presented extensively on topics like statelessness in the UK , cultural diversity in asylum adjudication , and NGO criminalization in Mediterranean rescue operations .
Prof. Dr. Sebastian Steinhorst is an Associate Professor (W3-level with tenure) at the Technical University of Munich (TUM) within the Embedded Systems and Internet of Things group at the TUM School of Computation, Information and Technology . His research focuses on advancing the security, predictability, reliability, and interoperability of smart connected and autonomous systems, particularly for applications in Internet of Things (IoT) , Industry 4.0 , and automotive systems . PhD in Computer Science (2011) from Goethe University Frankfurt Postdoctoral roles at TUMCREATE Singapore (2011-2016) and Aarhus University (2016) Joined TUM in 2016 as Rudolf Moessbauer Tenure Track Professor His research areas include decentralized embedded systems, hardware/software co-design, modeling and verification of cyber-physical systems, security protocols for automotive networks, and time-sensitive networking (TSN) for industrial applications. Recent work explores blockchain-based data sovereignty, zero-knowledge proofs for vehicle authentication, and resilient architectures for autonomous systems. Key scientific contributions include the 2019 ACM TODAES Best Paper Award and pioneering work on CyberSecDome , LeapChain , and Simutack frameworks. He serves on editorial boards and conference committees, including co-organizing the Autonomous Systems Design initiative at DATE. His teaching portfolio spans lectures on System Design for IoT , Software Architecture for Distributed Systems , and IoT Security across multiple semesters. He also leads advanced seminars on embedded systems and IoT.
Stephen Meisenbacher is a Research Associate at the Technical University of Munich (TUM) , affiliated with the School of Computation, Information and Technology and the Department of Computer Science, I19 . He has been part of the Software Engineering for Business Information Systems (SEBIS) chair since March 2022. His research focuses on Privacy-Preserving Natural Language Processing (NLP) , Differential Privacy , and Privacy-Enhancing Technologies (PETs) , with a particular interest in their integration into software development and business applications. His work also explores Hybrid, Expert-Driven Classification Systems and Usable Privacy solutions. Stephen’s recent publications address trends in AI Privacy Risks , Text Rewriting with DP , Legal AI Use Cases , and Data Protection Compliance . He has contributed to GDPR-related research and PETs adoption in small enterprises. His teaching includes Natural Language Processing seminars and Software Engineering lecture courses for Master’s and Bachelor’s students at TUM. He also organizes Entrepreneurship for Small Software-Oriented Enterprises seminars. Stephen holds a Master’s in Informatics from TUM (DAAD Graduate Scholarship) and a Bachelor’s in Computer Science from the University of Notre Dame, with additional studies in German Language and Literature. Contact: stephen.meisenbacher@tum.de | LinkedIn
Prof. Bryan Ford leads the Decentralized/Distributed Systems (DEDIS) lab at EPFL. He focuses on secure decentralized systems, including blockchain technology, privacy, and systems security. He earned his Ph.D. from MIT and held faculty positions at Yale University and EPFL. His work spans distributed consensus protocols, peer-to-peer networking, and privacy-preserving systems. Key projects include QuePaxa (timeout-free consensus), UIA (global connectivity for mobile devices), and MedCo (secure healthcare data sharing). He advises numerous PhD students and contributes to open-source projects like Bitcoin collective signing and privacy networks like Riffle. Education: Ph.D., MIT; Postdoctoral work at Yale Research interests include blockchain scalability, consensus algorithms, and cryptographic privacy. His lab develops systems like TRIP for coercion-resistant voting and F3B to mitigate blockchain front-running. His work on NAT traversal and peer-to-peer protocols (e.g., STUN/ICE) remains foundational in network architecture. He emphasizes practical, auditable security solutions such as CertiKOS and atomic cross-chain transactions (Atom). Notable contributions: CoSi (collective signing), OmniLedger (sharded blockchain), and privacy-preserving protocols like PURBs (Protected Unsealable Recursive Boxes). His lab collaborates with Swiss Post to audit e-voting systems and designs democratic cryptocurrencies like PoPCoin.
Vijay Laxmi is a Professor in the Department of Computer Science and Engineering at Malaviya National Institute of Technology (MNIT) Jaipur, India. With over a decade of active research publication from 2014-2024, Dr. Laxmi has established themselves as a prominent researcher in network security, Android security systems, and Network-on-Chip architectures. Their work demonstrates consistent collaboration with Manoj Singh Gaur and numerous doctoral students at MNIT Jaipur. Dr. Laxmi's research interests span Network Security, Android Security, Malware Analysis, Network-on-Chip Architectures, Routing Protocols, Side-Channel Attacks, Wireless Networks, and Mobile Security. Their work bridges theoretical security frameworks with practical implementations, particularly in mobile and embedded systems. Recent publications indicate a growing focus on AI-based security approaches including GAN applications for fuzzing and deep learning for image dehazing. The research trajectory shows increasing sophistication in security analysis techniques, evolving from basic malware detection to advanced side-channel attack analysis and sophisticated network security protocols. Recent publications demonstrate expertise in both theoretical frameworks and practical implementations with applications in real-world security challenges. Dr. Laxmi has mentored numerous graduate students including Vineeta Jain, Anugrah Jain, Sonal Yadav, Mohit Singh, and Gaurav Singal, who appear as co-authors across multiple publications. Their collaborative network extends to researchers at international institutions, indicating strong academic connections beyond their home institution.
Max Planck Institute for Sustainable MaterialsGermany
Dr. KN Sasidhar is a Researcher in the Department of Microstructure Physics and Alloy Design at Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf. His work focuses on advanced materials science, particularly corrosion mechanisms, alloy design, and nanoscale structural analysis. He employs cutting-edge techniques like in situ synchrotron investigations and deep learning frameworks to study material behavior under extreme conditions. Current research emphasizes corrosion resistance in stainless steels, phase transformations during nitriding, and radiation effects on coatings. Key achievements include pioneering studies on nanoscale amorphization in metallic systems, data-centric approaches for materials discovery, and the development of predictive models for alloy performance. His work bridges experimental materials characterization with computational methods, addressing challenges in energy and aerospace applications. Publications span corrosion analysis, microstructural evolution under irradiation, and phase separation phenomena. Collaborative projects involve synchrotron facilities and interdisciplinary teams focusing on materials informatics. No formal awards or grants are explicitly listed in the provided texts, though his prolific publication record indicates active academic engagement.
Asia J. Biega is a tenure-track faculty member (W2) at the Max Planck Institute for Security and Privacy (MPI-SP), where she leads the interdisciplinary Responsible Computing group. She is also a principal investigator of the Cluster of Excellence CASA and the FINDHR consortium. Her work sits at the intersection of computing and society, focusing on responsible computing, data protection & governance, and digital well-being within data-driven and AI-based systems. Dr. Biega's research spans multiple disciplines including computer science, law, philosophy, and social sciences. Her work examines how principles of responsible computing can be computationally operationalized, with particular attention to data protection frameworks, privacy technology governance, and digital well-being. She actively collaborates across disciplinary boundaries to make technical contributions while supporting research in other fields. Her approach combines theoretical rigor with practical applications, often drawing from her industry experience at Microsoft and Google. Her publication record reveals a strong focus on the intersection of fairness, privacy, and transparency in information retrieval systems. She has pioneered work on data minimization compliance, fair ranking algorithms, and user perceptions of data collection practices. Her research consistently bridges technical and legal perspectives, particularly examining how GDPR principles can be computationally implemented. Recent work shows increasing attention to generative AI governance, algorithmic hiring systems, and the relational aspects of data in recommender systems. Dr. Biega has received several prestigious awards including the Council of Europe's Rodotà Award for innovative research in data protection, the SaTML Notable Reviewer Award, the GI-DBIS Dissertation Award of the German Informatics Society, and recognition as one of the '100 Brilliant Women in AI Ethics' in 2025. She has advised numerous PhD students and postdocs who have gone on to faculty positions at institutions including the University of Trieste, Penn State, and the University of Washington. Her research is funded by the Max Planck Society, Alexander von Humboldt Foundation, and the European Union (Horizon Europe FINDHR). She serves as General Co-Chair for ACM FAccT 2025 and has held leadership roles in multiple academic conferences.
Max Planck Institute for Innovation and CompetitionGermany
Prof. Dr. Dirk Heckmann is a prominent academic and legal expert currently serving as a member of the Bavarian Institute for Digital Transformation (bidt) Board of Directors and holding the Chair of Digital Law and Security at the Technical University of Munich . As a constitutional lawyer and judge at the Bavarian Constitutional Court, he bridges legal expertise with digital policy through advisory roles in the Federal Government's Data Ethics Commission and the Chancellor's National IT Summit. In 2020, he established the TUM Center for Digital Public Services to advance legally sound, common-good-oriented digitalization. His research focuses on digital education , digital administration , and healthcare digitalization , with particular emphasis on legal certainty for digital systems . Recent projects like ReDiKo (Regulating Digital Communication Platforms) and AFFAIRE (AI Regulation for Examinations) highlight his commitment to evidence-based digital governance. He has authored the juris Practical Commentary on Internet Law since 2021, shaping Germany's digital legal discourse. Professor Heckmann actively engages in public debates about digital sovereignty and platform regulation , most notably at the 2025 Nuremberg Digital Festival where he will discuss open-source foundations for digital sovereignty. His work spans constitutional law , data ethics , and AI policy , with recent publications analyzing social media harassment, AI's impact on education, and digital violence legislation.
