Karline R. L. Janmaat is an Endowed Professor in Cognitive Behavioural Ecology at Leiden University's Faculty of Social Sciences, Department of Cognitive Psychology. She holds affiliations with ARTIS zoo in Amsterdam and the University of Amsterdam's Institute of Biodiversity and Ecosystem Dynamics. Her research focuses on understanding the evolutionary function and diversity of cognition in primates and other animals, particularly in wild versus captive environments. She employs methods such as longitudinal observations, VR technology, and ecological modeling to study foraging strategies, episodic-like memory, and route planning in primates. Research Interests: Janmaat investigates cognitive strategies in primates and humans, emphasizing how socio-ecological contexts influence decision-making. Her work bridges evolutionary biology, psychology, and conservation, aiming to improve captive animal welfare through insights into natural habitat challenges. She leads the Mbendjele Foraging Project, exploring foraging cognition in diverse populations. Labs/Teams: Director of the Mbendjele Foraging Project, collaborating with field and lab researchers internationally. Future work includes applying cognitive ecology findings to conservation and captive animal management.
Prof. Dr. Tim Rollenske is a faculty member and principal investigator at the University of Bonn , affiliated with the Faculty of Medicine and the Institute of Immunology . He leads the Tim Rollenske Laboratory , focusing on mucosal immunology and B cell responses to the microbiota. His research is supported by prestigious grants such as the Emmy Noether DFG Grant and the ImmunoSensation 2 Seed Funding. His research interests include: Mucosal Immunology and IgA function B cell biology and antibody repertoire Host-microbe interactions and microbiota modulation Monoclonal antibody discovery and therapeutic potential Analysis of his recent publications (2018–2025) reveals a strong focus on the role of secretory IgA in shaping microbial communities, B cell development in early life, and cross-reactive antibody responses in infection and immunity. His work integrates human samples, gnotobiotic mouse models, and single-cell BCR analysis. Scientific awards include: Fritz and Ursula Melchers Prize (2022) ImmunoSensation 2 Seed Funding Prize (2023) Travel grant and poster prize at IMMEI Retreat (2024) He mentors several PhD students, including Jonathan Schreiber, Sophie Burkhalter, Antonia Geisse Anguita, and Chris Johann Göschel. His lab is part of a collaborative network within the University of Bonn’s immunology research ecosystem, including the Christian Kurts, Natalio Garbi, and Veronika Lukacs-Kornek laboratories. He has received funding from DFG, Excellence Cluster ImmunoSensation 2, and SFB 1454 Metaflammation. His laboratory investigates the molecular mechanisms by which B cells and antibodies maintain mutualistic host-microbe relationships at mucosal surfaces, with long-term goals of improving mucosal vaccination and developing monoclonal antibody therapies.
Prof. Dr. Gerrit Remane is a full-time professor at Wedel University of Applied Sciences since 2018, leading the Bachelor's program in IT Management, Consulting, and Auditing (IMCA) and the Master's program in Business Information Systems / IT Management (WIM). He specializes in IT management, business intelligence, and digital transformation, integrating his industry experience from Roland Berger and academic research on digital business models and innovation. Education: Dr. rer. pol (Digital Business Models in the Mobility Sector), Georg-August-University Göttingen (2014–2017) M.Sc. Business Information Systems, Technical University of Munich (2008–2011) B.Sc. Business Information Systems, Wedel University of Applied Sciences (2005–2008) Research Interests: Digital transformation and business model innovation Agile methodologies in enterprise IT Strategic data acquisition and analytics Sustainable IT practices and Green Technology DevOps, BizDevOps, and hybrid project management His recent publications focus on digital business models, agile transformations, and sustainability in IT. He has supervised numerous student seminars on topics like ITIL maturity assessments, data privacy, generative AI use cases, and metaverse applications. While no specific scientific awards are documented, his work has been presented at conferences including AMCIS, ECIS, and WI. Gerrit Remane collaborates with scholars such as S. Schneider, A. Hanelt, and L.M. Kolbe, and his research underscores the integration of IT with organizational strategy.
Robert Bruce Findler is a Professor of Computer Science at Northwestern University, specializing in programming languages and software engineering. He serves as a core developer of the Racket programming language and has contributed extensively to language design, macro systems, and gradual typing. Affiliation: Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, McCormick School of Engineering Research Interests: Programming Languages (PL), Domain-Specific Languages (DSLs), Macro Systems, Gradual Typing, Contracts His work spans both theoretical and practical domains, including the development of Racket's Redex framework for semantics engineering and innovative approaches to contract systems in gradual typing. He has been actively involved in the PL community through committee memberships and program organization. Recent research focuses on macro systems (Rhombus), contract optimization (Collapsible Contracts), and language interoperability (The Functional, the Imperative, and the Sudoku). His GitHub contributions reflect ongoing development in Racket and related tools. Key Collaborations: Racket development ecosystem, PLDI/POPL/ICFP/SPLASH conferences Committee Roles: ICFP Programme Committee, REBLS Program Committee, POPLmark Retrospective Panelist
Miguel Mahecha is Professor of Environmental Data Science and Remote Sensing at the University of Leipzig, where he serves as Institute Head of the Institute for Earth System Science and Remote Sensing. He is also affiliated with the Remote Sensing Centre for Earth System Research, a collaboration between Leipzig University and the Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research (UFZ). Mahecha is a member of the German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) and serves as Principal Investigator in the Centre for Scalable Data Analytics and Artificial Intelligence. Additionally, he is a Fellow of the European Laboratory for Learning and Intelligent Systems and co-spokesperson for the National Research Data Infrastructure for Earth System Sciences (NFDI4Earth). Full Professor for Modelling Approaches in Remote Sensing, University of Leipzig (since 03/2020) Research Group Leader: Empirical Inference in the Earth System, Max Planck Institute for Biogeochemistry, Jena (12/2012 - 03/2020) PostDoc, Max Planck Institute for Biogeochemistry, Jena (10/2009 - 11/2012) PhD in Environmental Sciences, ETH Zürich (06/2006 - 09/2009) Diploma in Geoecology, Bayreuth University (10/2000 - 04/2006) Mahecha's research focuses on understanding ecosystem responses to climate extremes and human-environment relationships during these events. He investigates macro-ecological dynamics and ecosystem functioning using data-driven methods and high-dimensional Earth observations. A key contribution is his co-development of the Earth System Data Cube concept, which integrates empirical methods with theoretical understanding to analyze complex Earth system interactions. His work spans biogeography, ecosystem functioning, and advanced data science methodologies for environmental monitoring. His recent publications demonstrate a strong emphasis on analyzing compound climate extremes, particularly heatwaves and droughts, and their impacts on ecosystems. Mahecha has pioneered methods using Earth System Data Cubes to integrate diverse environmental datasets, enabling novel insights into biosphere-atmosphere interactions. His research increasingly incorporates artificial intelligence and machine learning approaches to understand spatiotemporal patterns in ecological systems, with applications in real-time forest monitoring and biodiversity assessment. Fellow of the European Laboratory for Learning and Intelligent Systems Co-spokesperson for NFDI4Earth (National Research Data Infrastructure for Earth System Sciences) Mahecha leads multiple significant research projects including Digital Forest (real-time forest monitoring), NFDI4BioDiversity, and XAIDA (extreme events: AI for Detection and Attribution). His work receives funding from diverse sources including EU, DFG, and Stiftungen Inland. He collaborates extensively with the German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) and the Centre for Scalable Data Analytics and Artificial Intelligence. His research group, Earth System Data Science (ESDS), focuses on developing methods to extract valuable information from long-term environmental observations to understand coupled Earth system dynamics. At the Remote Sensing Centre for Earth System Research, Mahecha's ESDS group investigates how ecosystem functions respond to climate extremes, societal vulnerability to environmental hazards, and nonlinear interactions in coupled Earth systems. The group leverages citizen science data, remote sensing observations, and advanced computational methods to address pressing environmental questions.
Dr. Marcell K. Peters is a Senior Academic Councillor at the Chair of Animal Ecology and Tropical Biology (Zoology III) at the University of Bremen. His research focuses on biodiversity patterns, ecosystem functioning, and climate-land use interactions in tropical and montane environments, with extensive fieldwork in East Africa and the Amazon. He leads projects under DFG and EU funding, including the UPSCALE initiative. Habilitation in Zoology (University of Würzburg, 2018) PhD in Biology (University of Bonn, 2008) Diploma in Biology (RWTH Aachen & University of Bonn, 2003) Research spans multi-taxa community ecology, army ants and ant-following birds, DNA barcoding applications, and climate change impacts on pollination networks. Google Scholar highlights recent work on climate-agriculture interactions in sub-Saharan Africa, trait-based community assembly, and network resilience in biodiversity hotspots. His publications emphasize elevational gradients, disturbance ecology, and functional diversity across Mount Kilimanjaro studies. Current affiliations include the DFG Research Unit Kilimanjaro and EU-funded UPSCALE project. He employs advanced methods like airborne LiDAR for biodiversity prediction and investigates nutrient use by ant communities across continents.
Dr. Oksana Buzhdygan is a Senior Researcher in Theoretical Ecology at the Department of Biology, Faculty of Biology, Chemistry, Pharmacy at Freie Universität Berlin. She holds a PhD in Ecology from Chernivtsi National University and has held postdoctoral positions at institutions including the University of Georgia (USA) and Freie Universität Berlin. Her research focuses on biodiversity-ecosystem functioning links, multitrophic interactions, and ecological network analysis. Education: BSc, MSc, and PhD in Ecology (2000–2008), Chernivtsi National University, Ukraine Postdoctoral Fellowships: University of Georgia (2010–2012), Freie Universität Berlin (2013–2021) Research Interests: Environmental change impacts on biodiversity and ecosystem functions Ecological network analysis of multitrophic systems Food web dynamics in grasslands and freshwater ecosystems Publications reflect her expertise in biodiversity effects on energy flow, human impact on ecosystems, and plant diversity drivers. Her work bridges theoretical ecology with applied conservation challenges, particularly in grasslands and agroecosystems. Labs/Teams: Member of the Tietjen Group (Theoretical Ecology at Freie Universität Berlin), collaborating widely in international projects on biodiversity and ecosystem services.
Dr. Jianbei Huang is a Group Leader at the Max Planck Institute for Biogeochemistry in Jena, Germany, within the Department of Biogeochemical Processes (BGP). His research focuses on understanding mechanisms driving plant-soil carbon cycling, particularly in dryland ecosystems and plant allocation strategies. Key areas include how environmental stresses like drought affect carbon partitioning, tree defense mechanisms, and ecosystem resilience. His work integrates field experiments, isotopic labeling (e.g., 13C, 14C), and advanced analytical techniques (e.g., LC/GC-MS, PTR-MS) to study carbon dynamics, secondary metabolites, and BVOC emissions. Collaborations with Prof. Susan Trumbore and Prof. Sönke Zaehle highlight interdisciplinary approaches to model ecosystem responses under climate change. Research themes emphasize trade-offs between growth, carbon storage, and defense in trees, as well as the impact of extreme climate events on vegetation and soil carbon. Current opportunities include postdoc and PhD positions on dryland forest ecology and carbon-water relations in changing climates. Affiliations: Max Planck Institute for Biogeochemistry (Jena, Germany) Labs/Teams: Dryland Ecosystem Processes Group, Plant Allocation Research Notable projects include investigating Mediterranean forest responses to drought, carbon storage prioritization in spruce trees, and modeling tree defense against bark beetles in drying environments.
Dr. Katja Wehner is a Postdoctoral Researcher in the Faculty of Biology at the Technical University of Darmstadt, Germany, specializing in soil arthropod ecology with a focus on oribatid mite communities across forest microhabitats including litter, soil, dead wood, and tree bark. Her work examines their role in forest food webs and responses to environmental stressors. Education: PhD in Biology, Technical University of Darmstadt (2009). Dissertation: 'Parthenogenesis and Sexuality in Oribatid Mites' Diploma in Biology, Technical University of Darmstadt (2004). Thesis: 'Variability at the hsp82-locus of the parthenogenetic oribatid mite Platynothrus peltifer' Research Focus: Dr. Wehner investigates biotic interactions and acarological dynamics in Central European forests, emphasizing how land-use intensity, drought, and structural factors shape oribatid mite biodiversity. Her work integrates community ecology, soil science, and microhabitat specialization to understand ecosystem resilience and food-web interactions, with particular attention to parthenogenetic versus sexual reproduction strategies in microarthropods. Publication Trends: Recent publications (2018-2022) reveal a strong emphasis on anthropogenic impacts, including land-use change effects on aboveground-belowground linkages, drought/storm damage consequences for soil communities, and microhabitat-driven variations in mite sex ratios and seasonal dynamics. Her collaborative work in journals like Nature Communications and Global Ecology and Conservation demonstrates methodological integration of field surveys, controlled experiments, and multi-taxon analyses. Collaborative Networks: Dr. Wehner actively participates in large-scale ecological initiatives including the Biodiversity Exploratories project, collaborating with researchers from institutions like the Technical University of Munich and University of Würzburg on cross-taxa biodiversity studies. Her co-authorship on multi-investigator papers indicates strong engagement with Germany's ecological research infrastructure.
Dr. Rico Friedrich is a computational materials scientist leading the "Autonomous Materials Thermodynamics - AutoMaT" research group, jointly operated by the Chair of Theoretical Chemistry at Technische Universität Dresden and the Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR). His work focuses on data-driven computational design of advanced materials for information technology and energy applications through the DRESDEN-concept research alliance. His research spans several cutting-edge areas: Discovery and design of 2D non-van der Waals materials with novel electronic and magnetic properties Data-driven modeling of high-entropy ceramics based on entropy maximization principles Development of computational methods for accurate thermodynamic stability prediction, particularly the coordination corrected enthalpies (CCE) method Applications of artificial intelligence in materials design Dr. Friedrich's publication record shows a strong trend toward computational materials discovery, with significant contributions to understanding non-van der Waals 2D materials and high-entropy ceramics. His work bridges theoretical developments with practical applications, resulting in publications in high-impact journals including Nature, Nano Letters, and Advanced Electronic Materials. His key scientific contributions include: Development of the coordination corrected enthalpies (CCE) method for accurate formation enthalpy calculations Creation of the AFLOW-CCE module implemented in the AFLOW software ecosystem Discovery of novel 2D non-van der Waals materials with ultra-low exfoliation energies Formulation of the disordered enthalpy-entropy descriptor (DEED) for high-entropy ceramics Dr. Friedrich actively mentors the next generation of materials scientists, currently supervising PhD students and postdoctoral researchers in his AutoMaT lab. His research group collaborates extensively within the DRESDEN-concept research alliance, leveraging computational resources and expertise across multiple institutions to advance materials science and engineering.
PD Dr. Ansgar Schanbacher serves as a Research Fellow at the Institute for Regional Historical Research, University of Göttingen, specializing in environmental and urban history of Early Modern Central Europe and the Netherlands. His work examines resource management and hazard responses in cities like Braunschweig, Würzburg, and Utrecht through interdisciplinary environmental history frameworks. His academic formation includes a Dr. phil. from Göttingen University (2011-2015) on Potato Blight and Famine in Northwestern Germany (1845-1848), completed within the Research Training Group Interdisciplinary Environmental History. Earlier, he earned an M.A. in History, Economy, and Polish Language/Literature from Leipzig University and Lublin's Catholic University (2003-2010), followed by freelance translation work (2009-2011). Schanbacher's research centers on Environmental History, Urban History (17th-19th centuries), History of Science, and Eastern European History. His scholarship reveals how early modern cities navigated ecological challenges through municipal policies, technological adaptations, and social coping mechanisms, with particular attention to waste management, fire prevention, food crises, and horticulture across German and Dutch urban contexts. His 15 most recent publications demonstrate consistent focus on urban environmental resilience, showing evolution from specific hazard case studies (fires, earthquakes) toward broader sustainability frameworks. Key trends include comparative analysis of municipal responses, interdisciplinary methodology bridging history and environmental science, and contextualization of historical practices within modern sustainability discourse. His scientific recognition includes: Prize of the Historical Commission for Lower Saxony and Bremen (2016) DFG Scholarship at Göttingen University (2011-2014) DAAD Scholarship for Poznań/Kraków (2008) Grant leadership includes Scientific Coordination of 'Sustainability as Argument' (2016-2020) and a 2016 Graduate School of Humanities research grant. He actively disseminates research through the 'Stadtgeschichten' urban history blog (co-editor), 'Epidemien in der frühneuzeitlichen Stadt' podcast series, and public lectures on Central European urban environments. Current affiliations include the European Society for Environmental History and European Association for Urban History, with contributions to the Portal zur Geschichte and Frauenstift Gandersheim projects. Based at Göttingen University's Heinrich-Düker-Weg campus, he maintains active scholarly engagement through editorial work, conference presentations, and interdisciplinary collaborations exploring historical dimensions of urban sustainability.
Professor Werner Härdtle is a distinguished academic at the Institute of Ecology within the School of Sustainability at Leuphana University of Lüneburg. With over 247 publications to his name, he has established himself as a leading researcher in forest ecology, heathland ecosystems, and nutrient cycling. His work primarily focuses on understanding ecosystem functioning, biodiversity conservation, and the impacts of environmental changes on cultural landscapes. Professor Härdtle's research interests center on forest ecology, heathland ecosystems, nutrient balance, and ecosystem services. His work explores how biodiversity influences ecosystem functioning, particularly in heathland landscapes of northern Germany. He investigates the impacts of management practices, climate change, and nutrient deposition on these sensitive ecosystems, with particular attention to conservation strategies that maintain biodiversity while supporting multiple ecosystem services. His research integrates field experiments with theoretical approaches to understand complex ecological processes. His most recent publications reveal a strong focus on biodiversity-ecosystem functioning relationships, climate change impacts, and conservation strategies for heathland ecosystems. Härdtle's work demonstrates how tree diversity enhances forest resilience to climate change, how management intensity affects spider diversity in heathlands, and how nitrogen deposition interacts with climate factors to influence rare plant species. His research consistently bridges theoretical ecology with practical conservation applications. Scientific Awards: Most Cited Researcher of the Year 2008 der Leuphana Universität Lüneburg (3. Platz) Most Cited Researcher of the Year 2009 der Leuphana Universität Lüneburg (3. Platz) Most Cited Researcher of the Year 2010 der Leuphana Universität Lüneburg (2. Platz) Professor Härdtle has been actively involved in numerous research projects including TreeDiversity Interactions (TreeDi), which examines tree-tree interactions in Chinese subtropical forests, and the Ökokult project focusing on ecosystem services in extensively managed cultural landscapes. His editorial work includes serving as editor for the Yearbook of the Natural Science Association for the Principality of Lüneburg from 1851. He has organized and participated in significant events such as the European Heathlands Workshop, demonstrating his leadership in the international heathland research community. His work combines ecological research with practical conservation applications, particularly in the Lüneburg Heath region of northern Germany.
Prof. Fabian Meder is an Associate Professor at the BioRobotics Institute of Scuola Superiore Sant'Anna in Pisa, Italy, leading the Lab for Surface Phenomena and Integrated Systems . He holds a PhD in Materials Science (2013) from the University of Bremen and has held positions at EMPA (Switzerland), University College Dublin (Ireland), and the Max Planck Institute (Germany). His research focuses on surface phenomena and their applications in energy harvesting, soft robotics, and biohybrid systems, particularly leveraging plant surfaces for sustainable technologies. Education: Bachelor's in Bio- and Nanotechnology (2008) – South Westphalia University of Applied Sciences PhD in Materials Science (2013) – University of Bremen Research Interests: Triboelectric charging and energy conversion on biological surfaces Plant-inspired biohybrid systems for autonomous energy generation Epicuticular electrification mechanisms and their ecological implications Soft robotics and sensor technologies integrated with natural systems Grants & Awards: ERC Consolidator Grant (2024) for the EpiC project on epicuticular electrification National Italian Habilitation (ASN) as Associate Professor in Physical Chemistry (2022) Labs & Teams: Leads the Lab for Surface Phenomena and Integrated Systems, collaborating on interdisciplinary projects in biohybrid robotics and energy harvesting.
Professor Angelika Krehl serves as Professor for Economics, regional and sectoral structural policy and Director of the NIERS Institute (Lower Rhine Institute for Regional and Structural Research) at Niederrhein University of Applied Sciences since 2020. Her academic leadership spans regional economics, urban spatial structure analysis, and sustainability research within the Department of Economics. Her research focuses on theoretical foundations and empirical analysis methods of urban spatial structures, regional economics, economic geography, and GIS-based regional research with emphasis on sustainability aspects. Key methodologies include polycentricity measurement, density pattern analysis, and integrated spatial modeling using remote sensing data. Her work bridges urban morphology with economic development processes. Recent publications reveal strong trends in polycentric urban systems analysis, corporate regional responsibility frameworks, and sustainable land use economics. Over 70% of her recent work examines German metropolitan regions through morphological polycentricity lenses, with increasing focus on sustainability transitions and social innovation mechanisms since 2020. Methodological innovation in GIS integration and spatial metrics development characterizes her publication trajectory. Professor Krehl leads multiple major research initiatives including RediStar (diversity-sensitive startup funding), AUFBRUCH (sustainable bioeconomy transformation), R(h)einTex (textile recycling innovation), and R³ (corporate regional responsibility). Her institutional leadership extends to directing NIERS Institute and serving on the university's Advisory Board for Research and Transfer. As Director of NIERS Institute, she oversees collaborative research teams focused on regional structural policy, with particular emphasis on lignite phase-out governance, sustainable learning projects, and regional innovation ecosystems. Her work integrates academic research with practical policy implementation through close partnerships with regional stakeholders.
Ulrich Dolata is a Professor of Organizational and Innovation Sociology at the Institute of Social Sciences, University of Stuttgart, where he has been serving since October 2009. He heads the Department of Organizational and Innovation Sociology (Sowi VI) and served as Managing Director of the Institute for Social Sciences from 2011 to 2021. His academic career includes previous positions as Research Affiliate and Senior Scientist at the Max Planck Institute for the Study of Societies, and as a scientist at artec - Research Center for Sustainability at the University of Bremen from 1998 to 2007. Professor Dolata's research centers on the Sociology of Technology , Organizational Sociology , and the Political Economy of Digitalization . He has developed influential theoretical frameworks for understanding sociotechnical change, particularly his theory of the transformative capacity of new technologies. His work examines how digital platforms reconfigure economic sectors, with special focus on market coordination, production structures, and innovation processes in the internet age. He has pioneered sociological perspectives on platform companies as a new organizational form that integrates market, production, and innovation functions. Analysis of Professor Dolata's extensive publication record (spanning from 2003 to 2025) reveals a consistent trajectory of theoretical development in technology sociology. His early work established frameworks for understanding technological innovations and sectoral change, which evolved into detailed examinations of internet platforms and their societal implications. His recent scholarship demonstrates increasing focus on platform regulation, platform architectures, and the political economy of digitalization, often in collaboration with Jan-Felix Schrape. His publications appear in leading sociology and innovation studies journals, reflecting his significant contributions to these fields. Professor Dolata has held prominent academic leadership positions, including board membership and spokesperson role for the Section for Science and Technology Research of the German Sociological Association (2007-2018), co-editorship of "Science, Technology & Innovation Studies" (2011-2014), and membership on the Advisory Board of the Sociology of Science and Technology Network (SST-Net) of the European Sociological Association. He currently serves on the Scientific Advisory Board of 'TAT u P - Zeitschrift für Technikfolgenabschätzung in Theorie und Praxis' and the jury for the journal prize of Vereins der Freunde und Ehemaligen des Max-Planck-Instituts für Gesellschaftsforschung. His teaching includes the MA Seminar "Economic Sociology of the Internet" and thesis colloquia, where he guides students through theoretical and empirical explorations of digital economy and platform society. Professor Dolata's academic influence extends through his extensive publications, editorial work, and leadership in professional associations, making him a significant figure in contemporary sociology of technology and digital transformation studies.
