Alexey Ignatiev is an Associate Professor in the Optimisation research group at Monash University's Faculty of Information Technology. Previously, he was a postdoctoral researcher and researcher at the University of Lisbon's Faculty of Sciences, focusing on SAT/SMT-based decision procedures. He holds a Ph.D. from the Matrosov Institute for System Dynamics and Control Theory (Russian Academy of Sciences), where his thesis explored parallel CDCL-BDD integration. His research emphasizes formal methods in AI, including explainable AI (XAI), SAT-based reasoning, and optimization for applications like software upgradability, model-based diagnosis, and fault localization. His work spans over 100 publications, with notable contributions to MaxSAT solving (RC2 solver), neuro-symbolic frameworks (NEUSIS), and rigorous explanations for machine learning models. He has collaborated extensively with institutions like the University of Lisbon and Monash University, contributing to advancements in formal verification and interpretable machine learning.
Franz Maier is a Professor at the University of Applied Sciences Wels, affiliated with the Research Center Wels Center of Excellence Automotive/Mobility. His expertise spans material science, mechanical engineering, biomechanics, and computer simulation. He holds a BSc, MSc (implied via DI title), and PhD. His research focuses on composite material draping simulations, finite element analysis, and AI-driven manufacturing processes. Key research interests include reinforcement learning applications in draping automation, defect detection in simulations, and biomechanical studies of soft tissues. He has presented work at international conferences on topics like colorectal biomechanics and osteoarthritis progression. His recent publications (2023-2025) emphasize AI integration into manufacturing processes, including surrogate models for FE simulations and reinforcement learning for woven fabric automation. Collaborations involve robotics and sensor technologies for precision manufacturing. Maier collaborates with institutions on multiscale biomechanics and has contributed to advancements in composite material processing. His work bridges computational modeling with real-world manufacturing challenges, emphasizing automation and defect mitigation.
Lukas Gahleitner is a Researcher at the Research Center Wels, Center of Excellence Automotive/Mobility, University of Applied Sciences Upper Austria, specializing in Materials Thermography and Non-Destructive Testing for high-performance composite components in automotive applications. His work directly supports UN Sustainable Development Goals related to industry and innovation. Education: BSc Dipl.-Ing. (Diplom-Ingenieur) His research focuses on advanced thermographic NDE methodologies including photothermal imaging, virtual wave concepts, and pulsed thermography for defect detection in carbon fiber composites. He pioneers techniques for 3D defect reconstruction in curved orthotropic structures and develops industrial solutions for quality control in fluid injection molding processes. His fingerprint analysis confirms deep expertise in subsurface defect characterization and virtual wave parameter estimation. Recent publications (2024-2025) reveal a strong trend toward solving industrial NDE challenges through algorithmic innovation, particularly in handling non-uniform thermography data and reconstructing defects in complex composite geometries. This work bridges fundamental thermal physics with practical applications in automotive manufacturing. Scientific recognition: Teufelberger Master-Thesis Award 2023 Innovation Award FH Wels 2023 (1st place in Engineering) Research leadership: Co-Investigator in EXCITE project (2025-2028): Thermo-tomographic sensor technologies for composite quality control Co-Investigator in JR-Centre for Thermal NDE of Composites (2018-2022) Active peer-reviewer for Nondestructive Testing and Evaluation journal He operates within the Research Center Wels infrastructure, collaborating with Gerald Mayr's team on the Center of Excellence Automotive/Mobility initiatives, with experimental facilities focused on thermographic NDE of composite materials.
Christian Jandl is a Researcher and Head of the Digital Technologies Research Group at the Institute of Creative Media/Technologies, University of Applied Sciences St. Pölten. He holds a Master's in Media Technology (specializing in Mobile Internet) from FH St. Pölten (2010–2016) and has been a researcher there since 2016. His work focuses on IoT, Industry 4.0, digital healthcare, and usability. Research & Projects: Leading 20+ projects including DPP4Food (digital supply chain), SensiTrack (privacy-aware IoT tracking), and IoT4LAC (community IoT solutions) Explores tracking systems in manufacturing, healthcare usability, and industrial asset management Develops privacy-by-design frameworks for industrial IoT applications Publications & Impact: Over 15 peer-reviewed articles on topics like privacy in tracking systems, industrial quality control, and AR in production Key contributions to Bluetooth-based asset tracking (BlueDAT framework) and auditory process monitoring Labs & Collaboration: Immersive Media Lab for VR/AR applications Focus on Industry 4.0 initiatives and enterprise asset tracking solutions
Ao.Univ.Prof. Michael Schmid is a Professor at TU Wien's Surface Physics Research Group (E134-05). His work focuses on atomic-scale surface structures of oxides, perovskites, and catalytic materials. Key research areas include scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) studies, surface reconstruction prediction, and material reactivity under environmental conditions. He has contributed significantly to understanding oxide surfaces like Al2O3, Fe3O4, and SrTiO3, exploring their functional properties through advanced characterization techniques. Recent work highlights surface interactions with water, CO adsorption dynamics on single-atom catalysts, and quasicrystalline ordering in manganites. Schmid has advised over 14 PhD and Master's students since 2014, focusing on surface science and materials engineering. His team uses computational modeling alongside experimental methods to bridge theoretical predictions and real-world material behavior.
Prof. Ulrike Diebold is a distinguished academic at TU Wien's Faculty of Physics, leading the Surface Physics research group. She holds the academic rank of Professor and has been actively involved in pioneering research on oxide surfaces, perovskites, and catalytic systems. Her work integrates experimental techniques like scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) and computational methods to study atomic-scale phenomena. Key research areas include surface chemistry of oxides, water interactions with mineral surfaces, and the development of advanced materials for energy applications. She has led major projects such as the Wittgenstein-Prize funded initiative and coordinates the SFB 'Taming Complexity in Materials Modeling'. Roles: Principle Investigator (PI) for multiple grants, Supervisor of over 15 graduate students Notable Achievements: Wittgenstein-Prize recipient, Editor of influential journals in surface science Publications span 500+ articles, emphasizing atomic-level insights into oxide surfaces, catalytic mechanisms, and novel material synthesis. Her group collaborates globally on topics like Fe₃O₄ surface reconstruction and perovskite termination control. Lab Infrastructure: State-of-the-art surface science facilities including ultra-high vacuum (UHV) systems and in-situ spectroscopy tools.
Florian Mittendorfer is a Professor at TU Wien's Faculty of Physics, affiliated with the Forschungsbereich Surface Physics. His research focuses on computational surface science, oxide materials, and adsorption mechanisms using advanced DFT methods. He has contributed to studies on mineral surfaces (e.g., feldspar, mica), oxide reconstructions (Al₂O₃, VO₂), and nanomaterials like h-BN. Key areas: Surface Physics, Oxide Phase Stability, Atomic-Scale Modeling Notable projects: K-feldspar/water interactions, ZrO₂ polymorphs, Pt-supported h-BN Recent work includes predicting Al₂O₃(0001) reconstructions via force fields and investigating nonclassical h-BN nucleation on Pt(110). His lab utilizes DFT and experimental techniques like Nc-AFM for surface characterization. He has supervised PhD theses on transition metal oxides (Jakub Planer), YSZ metastability (Thomas Mayer), and adsorption on complex oxides (Wernfried Mayr-Schmölzer). Current research emphasizes bridging computational predictions with experimental surface analysis.
Dr. Hajar Maleki is a Privatdozent (Habilitand) and Junior Research Group Leader at the Institute of Inorganic Chemistry, Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, University of Cologne. She also serves as an Associated Junior Research Group Leader and Career Advancement Group Leader at the Center for Molecular Medicine Cologne (CMMC). Her research focuses on developing bio-inspired porous materials, particularly aerogels for biomedical, environmental, and energy-related applications. Dr. Maleki earned her Bachelor's degree in Chemistry from Tehran University in 2006, followed by a Master's in Organic Chemistry from Sharif University of Technology in 2008. She completed her Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering with a focus on Nanomaterials at the University of Coimbra, Portugal in 2014, where she developed mechanically reinforced polymer-silica aerogels for aerospace thermal insulation. In May 2023, she completed her Habilitation in Inorganic Chemistry at the University of Cologne with her thesis titled 'Multifunctional Bio-inspired Silk-based Hybrid Porous Materials: Rational Design and 3D Printing for Theragenerative Applications.' Dr. Maleki's research centers on the rational design of bio-inspired, self-assembled, and sol-gel-derived nanomaterials as theragenerative systems that combine therapy and regeneration. Her group develops smart, multifunctional biomaterials (hydrogels and aerogels) by hybridizing self-assembled biopolymers like silk fibroin with surface-engineered nanoparticles. They utilize advanced fabrication techniques including 3D printing, directional freeze casting, and microfluidics to create innovative bulk and micro aerogels with enhanced properties for bone tissue engineering, cancer therapy, and environmental applications. Recent work has focused on 4D-printed 'black' bioceramics for addressing osteosarcoma and bone defects in the craniomaxillofacial region through minimally invasive methods. Analysis of Dr. Maleki's recent publications reveals a strong focus on theragenerative materials that combine bone regeneration with cancer treatment. Her work consistently integrates silk fibroin biopolymer with various functional nanoparticles to create multifunctional aerogel scaffolds. The research spans multiple disciplines including biomaterials science, nanotechnology, tissue engineering, and cancer therapy, with applications extending from biomedical fields to environmental remediation and energy conversion. 2023 ACS Materials Au Rising Star in Materials Science Top 2% Most Influential Scientists Worldwide in Nanoscience & Materials Chemistry (2022-2024) FWF Lise Meitner Postdoctoral Fellowship Marie Curie Ph.D. Fellowship Multiple DFG and DLR research grants Career Advancement Group Awardee of CMMC (2024) Dr. Maleki has mentored over 30 students and early-career researchers, including Ph.D. candidates and postdocs. Her research has been supported by approximately 1.5 million euros in independent funding from sources including the German Research Foundation (DFG), German Aerospace Center (DLR), and Chemical Industry Fund. She serves on editorial boards of Scientific Reports, Smart Materials and Methods, and Frontiers in Biomaterials Science, and is a Fellow of the Young Academy of Europe (FYAE). Dr. Maleki leads a dynamic interdisciplinary research group at the University of Cologne's Institute of Inorganic Chemistry, with laboratory facilities at Greinstrasse 6. Her team collaborates closely with the Center for Molecular Medicine Cologne (CMMC) to conduct in vitro cell-based studies on synthesized biomaterials. The group's work spans both biomedical applications (bone tissue engineering, cancer therapy) and non-biomedical directions (thermal insulation, environmental remediation, and energy conversion).
Ulrike Diebold is a University Professor at the Institute of Applied Physics, Vienna University of Technology, where she leads the Research Unit of Surface Physics. She concurrently serves as Vice President (part-time) of the Austrian Academy of Sciences (ÖAW). Her research focuses on atomic-scale investigations of oxide surfaces, catalysis, and water-oxide interactions using scanning probe microscopy and surface science techniques. Research interests span surface physics, chemical physics, and solid-state phenomena, with emphasis on TiO₂, Fe₃O₄, and perovskite oxides. Key themes include surface defects, polaron dynamics, water adsorption, and catalytic mechanisms. Her group develops advanced methodologies for surface characterization and collaborates extensively on computational modeling. She has received prestigious awards including the Wittgenstein Prize, ERC Advanced Grants (twice), and the Arthur W. Adamson Award. Major honors include memberships in the German Academy of Sciences (Leopoldina), Academia Europaea, and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. Her laboratory utilizes STM, AFM, LEED, and PLD systems for surface synthesis and analysis. Current projects investigate single-atom catalysis, electrochemical interfaces, and oxide thin-film growth. She leads an active research group with international collaborations and extensive third-party funding.
Markus Höglinger-Rauscher is a researcher at the University of Applied Sciences Upper Austria, active in the Center of Excellence Automotive/Mobility and Center of Excellence Medical Engineering/TIMed Center. His work focuses on advanced material characterization techniques and computational methods. Affiliations: Research Center Wels, Smart Production Computed Tomography focal area Research Interests: His primary fields include Computed Tomography , Machine Learning , and Non-destructive Testing with applications in Carbon Fiber Reinforced Polymers and Thermoelectric Modules . He specializes in industrial X-ray imaging, neural network-based segmentation, and multi-modal material analysis. Recent Publications: In 2024, he published two conference posters on thermoelectric module inspection using infrared thermography and acoustic microscopy. In 2023, he contributed to a journal article on U-Net neural networks for pore segmentation in composites, leveraging X-ray CT data. Projects: He is a co-investigator in the HyperMAT project (2023-2028) for hyperspectral material characterization and the TC-HiResFoot project (2022-2025) applying high-resolution imaging to diabetic foot complications. His collaborations span institutions in Upper Austria, focusing on advanced procedures and aerospace applications.
Priv.Doz.Dr. Daniel Tunega is a Senior Lecturer at the Institute of Soil Research within the University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna (BOKU) . His research focuses on molecular-scale interactions between environmental pollutants and soil components, with a particular emphasis on clay minerals and iron-based nanoparticles. Principal Investigator on projects funded by the Austrian Science Fund (FWF) Active in interdisciplinary research combining soil science, computational chemistry, and environmental engineering Research Interests include: Theoretical modeling of: Adsorption mechanisms of hydrophobic organic chemicals on mineral surfaces Reductive dechlorination processes using modified nanomaterials Mechanical properties of clay minerals and hybrids Wettability and surface interactions in soil systems Environmental fate of persistent pollutants Geochemical reaction pathways His publication portfolio demonstrates expertise in Density Functional Theory (DFT) calculations, molecular dynamics simulations, and experimental validation through collaborations. Key themes across his 2023-2025 publications include: Pollutant adsorption on modified clays Nanoparticle-mediated contaminant degradation Soil mineral-water interactions Organic-inorganic composite materials Scientific Presentations reveal continuous engagement with international conferences like Goldschmidt, Euroclay, EGU General Assembly, and World Congress of Soil Science, focusing on: Mechanistic soil pollution remediation Molecular-scale interface analysis Computational environmental chemistry
Peter Cengeri is a researcher affiliated with the Faculty of Physics , specializing in the Dynamics of Condensed Systems . His work focuses on materials science, particularly in structural, mechanical, and physical properties of advanced materials processed via severe plastic deformation (SPD) techniques. Key research areas: Magnesium alloys, hydrogen storage, thermoelectrics, and nanomaterials Active collaborations with international institutions on titanium chip consolidation and bulk nanomaterial fabrication Publications in Acta Materialia , Journal of Materials Science , and Materials Science and Engineering A (peer-reviewed, open-access) His research explores lattice defects in skutterudites, hydrogenation of magnesium alloys, and grain refinement in copper/nickel through high-pressure torsion (HPT). Recent activities include oral and poster presentations at conferences on SPD methods and sustainable manufacturing. Scientific Contributions 4 peer-reviewed articles (2016-2025) 12 conference activities (talks/posters) emphasizing SPD processing and hydrogen storage Network collaborations in Austria, Japan, and Europe His work aligns with advancing bulk nanomaterials and improving thermoelectric efficiency through defect engineering.
FH-Prof. Dr. Hirut Grossberger is a Senior Researcher at the Carl Ritter von Ghega Institute for Integrated Mobility Research and International Coordinator for the Department of Rail Technology and Mobility at University of Applied Sciences St. Pölten. She teaches in three programs: Rail Technology and Management of Railway Systems (MA), Rail Technology and Mobility (BA), and Rail Vehicle Technology (BA). Her research bridges railway engineering, sustainable infrastructure, and digital mobility solutions. Education includes: BSc in Agricultural Engineering (Debub University, Ethiopia) MSc in Water Management and Environment (BOKU Vienna) MSc in Land Management, Infrastructure and Civil Engineering (BOKU Vienna) Doctoral research at Institute of Structural Engineering (BOKU Vienna) Research focuses on: Railway Technology : Infrastructure lifecycle assessment, noise reduction, and sensor-based monitoring Sustainable Mobility : Eco-materials (e.g., clay noise barriers), emission reduction, and circular economy applications Digital Transformation : Mobile inspection tools, digital product passports, and acoustic sensing systems Recent publications (2019-2025) emphasize sustainability in transport infrastructure, with trends toward: Environmental action programs (CLEA) Eco-material innovation for noise control Distributed Acoustic Sensing for rail safety Digital tools for infrastructure management Leads/contributes to 20+ EU projects including: STAFFER (rail skill development) ZeroEmissionCityBahn (sustainable infrastructure) DPP4ALL (digital product passports) Smart Inspection (AI-assisted bridge maintenance) ECO-TCO (operational efficiency)
Dr. Elina Harriet Ahlgren is a researcher in the Faculty of Physics , specializing in the Physics of Nanostructured Materials . Her work focuses on advanced manipulation and characterization of 2D materials through techniques like ion implantation and electron microscopy. Primary Affiliation: Faculty of Physics (Nanostructured Materials) Research Focus: Graphene, 2D materials, ion beam processing Dr. Ahlgren's research explores nanoscale chemical modification of 2D materials, leveraging methods such as scanning transmission electron microscopy and ion bombardment . Recent publications highlight her work on graphene engineering, noble gas clusters, and ultra-low energy ion implantation. Her 2024-2025 articles demonstrate expertise in creating atomic-scale structures (e.g., one-atom-thick gold layers), analyzing carbon nano-onions, and developing integrated vacuum systems for material manipulation. Keywords from her work span Materials Science , Nanotechnology , and Physics .
Konstantin Schekotihin is an Associate Professor at the Department of Artificial Intelligence and Cybersecurity, Alpen-Adria University of Klagenfurt. His research focuses on artificial intelligence, machine learning, and semantic technologies with applications in industrial systems and semiconductor manufacturing. Reinforcement learning for industrial scheduling Answer Set Programming (ASP) and stream reasoning Failure analysis automation and ontology engineering Neuro-symbolic AI integration Knowledge-based systems in manufacturing Recent publications emphasize AI-driven optimization in semiconductor production, decomposition strategies for scheduling problems, and multi-agent systems for workflow management. His work combines symbolic reasoning with machine learning to address complex industrial challenges. Contact: Konstantin.Schekotihin@aau.at
