Bernhard J. Berger is a Lecturer in the Department of Computer Engineering at the Institute of Embedded Systems, Hamburg University of Technology (TUHH). His research focuses on software security, static code analysis, machine learning, optimization, and research data management. He has held significant roles such as Program Committee member for ICPC 2025 and MSR 2025, and has received awards including the Best Reviewer Award (ICPC 2023) and Best Engineering Paper Award (SCAM 2019). His work spans interdisciplinary applications including maritime systems security, GPU-accelerated AI, and evolutionary algorithms. Recent studies emphasize AI-driven security tools (e.g., ML-SAST) and domain-specific language approaches to optimization (EvoAl). He has contributed to over 30 peer-reviewed publications, with notable work in IEEE Transactions on Software Engineering and Science of Computer Programming. Berger collaborates closely with industry through DAAD review committees and serves on artifact evaluation boards for ISSTA and ARES conferences. Education: Doctoral Thesis (2022), Diploma in Computer Science (2007) Key Projects: ArchSec tool suite, Threat Modeling Frameworks, Bauhaus static analysis methodology Lab Affiliation: Embedded Systems Design Group His advisory roles include Deputy of TUHH's Election Verification Committee and Session Chair at IEEE Congress on Evolutionary Computation 2023. Current research trends integrate machine learning with static analysis for automated vulnerability detection, while also exploring explainable AI techniques for neural network optimization.
Qiaowei Pan is a Researcher at the University of Lausanne , focusing on Evolution and Ecology . They have held a Guest Researcher role at the Institute of Molecular Biology gGmbH (IMB) in Mainz, Germany since 2023, and a Postdoctoral Researcher position at the University of Lausanne since 2018. Education: PhD in Molecular and Evolutionary Biology (2014-2018), INRAe, University of Rennes II, France Erasmus Mundus Master in Evolutionary Biology (MEME) (2012-2014), University of Groningen (Netherlands) & University of Montpellier II (France) BSc in Biology (2008-2012), University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, USA Research Interests: Qiaowei Pan's work centers on the intersection of molecular genetics , evolutionary biology , and developmental biology , particularly in sex determination mechanisms across diverse animal models. Their studies span non-coding RNA regulation , sex chromosome evolution , and signal transduction pathways like TGF-β in reproductive systems. Publication Trends: Recent articles highlight expertise in sex determination systems (5/12 publications), genomic approaches (6/12), and fish developmental evolution . Collaborative work includes computational methods ( RADSex workflow ) and comparative studies across ant , goldfish , catfish , and cavefish models. Labs & Teams: Currently affiliated with the Keller-Valsecchi group at IMB and the Department of Evolution and Ecology at the University of Lausanne.
Prof. Alessandro Golkar is a Professor at the Technical University of Munich (TUM), leading the Chair of Picosatellites, Nanosatellites, and Satellite Constellations. He joined TUM in September 2022 and previously served as one of the founding faculty members at Skoltech, a Moscow-based graduate research university. His research focuses on advanced space mission concepts, systems engineering for picosatellites, and federated satellite systems. Prior to academia, he held roles at Airbus CTO, contributing to technology roadmapping and planning. His academic background includes expertise in aerospace engineering, systems design, and agile development methodologies for space hardware. Key research areas include CubeSat constellations, distributed satellite systems, and the integration of AI tools like Large Language Models (LLMs) into spacecraft design processes. He has pioneered projects such as the FSSCat mission, winner of the ESA Sentinel Small Satellite Challenge, and has explored applications of additive manufacturing for lunar missions. Prof. Golkar’s awards include the 2021 Karman Fellowship and IEEE Senior Membership (2018). His recent work emphasizes optimizing satellite networks, digital twin implementation, and orbital maneuvering for collision avoidance. He actively contributes to technology roadmapping, focusing on future human landing systems and lunar infrastructure development. Education: Ph.D. in Aerospace Engineering (details not explicitly stated). Grants & Funding: Extensive grants for CubeSat projects, federated systems research, and space technology innovation. Labs/Teams: Leads the Chair’s research group at TUM and collaborates with industry partners like Airbus on advanced mission concepts. His publications span over two decades, addressing topics like constellation design, machine learning in space, and agile processes for hardware development. He advocates for hybrid agile methodologies to bridge traditional systems engineering and modern product development.
Prof. Dr. Nina Gantert is a distinguished Professor of Probability Theory at the Technical University of Munich (TUM) , affiliated with the TUM School of Computation, Information and Technology . She has held faculty positions at Karlsruhe Institute of Technology and the University of Münster prior to joining TUM in 2011. Her research focuses on probability theory , particularly stochastic processes , large deviations , and random media . She investigates random walks in random environments as models for transport in disordered systems and explores applications in physics and biology . Recent publications highlight her work on branching random walks , mixing times , biased random walks , and large deviation principles for complex stochastic systems. She has co-authored studies on random walks in dynamical percolation , interacting edge-reinforced processes , and extremal point processes in branching models. Scientific Awards: Elected fellow of the IMS (2016) Her academic career spans institutions including ETH Zürich, University of Bonn, Technical University of Berlin, and TUM. She has supervised numerous Bachelor’s and Master’s theses on topics ranging from mixing time analysis to percolation theory , often collaborating with international co-authors.
Prof. Waldemar Kolanus leads the Molecular Immunology and Cell Biology department at the University of Bonn's Life & Medical Sciences Institute (LIMES) . His research bridges immunoregulation , stem cell dynamics , and metabolic stress responses in immune cells. Unit 2 member at LIMES Principal investigator in SFB 704 and ImmunoSensation Cluster Leads a multidisciplinary lab with postdocs, PhD students, and technical staff His work focuses on intracellular signaling pathways connecting immune activation to tissue homeostasis, particularly through: Cytohesin proteins in integrin-mediated adhesion and migration TRIM71 in stem cell regulation and congenital hydrocephalus High-salt environments affecting macrophage function Publication trends show expertise in immune cell migration , genetic models , and chemical inhibition , with frequent use of mice and zebrafish for in vivo studies. Key articles explore: TRIM71's dual role in auditory development and germ cell maintenance Cytohesin family's Golgi regulation and insulin signaling Ruxolitinib's off-target migration inhibition of dendritic cells Contact details: Address: LIMES Institute, Carl-Troll-Straße 31, Bonn Email: kolanus.sekretariat@uni-bonn.de Phone: +49 228 73-62788
Dr. Sabine Krabbe is a Group Leader at the German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE) in Bonn, Germany, where she leads research on neural circuit mechanisms underlying adaptive learning and state-dependent decision-making. Her work integrates neuroscience, molecular biology, and behavioral approaches to understand how internal states influence behavior and how these processes are disrupted in neurological disorders. Dr. Krabbe's research focuses on the interactions between midbrain circuits of the substantia nigra and ventral tegmental area with their output structures such as the striatum and amygdala. She investigates how these networks integrate internal states with environmental cues to produce appropriate behavioral responses. Her laboratory employs state-of-the-art techniques including deep-brain calcium imaging at single-cell resolution in mice, opto- and pharmacogenetic manipulations, anatomical tracings, and molecular approaches to characterize neural circuit elements in detail. Her recent publications reveal significant insights into amygdala interneuron plasticity during fear learning, brain-wide representational drift in memory consolidation, and the molecular mechanisms underlying Parkinson's disease progression. Her work demonstrates how activity patterns within specific neural circuits change in early stages of neurodegenerative diseases and how this dysfunction contributes to cognitive deficits and emotional disturbances. Dr. Krabbe is actively involved in the neuroscience community, organizing the BonnBrain Conference 2026 and sharing research through social media platforms. She has established herself as an emerging leader in the field of systems neuroscience with a particular focus on the neural basis of emotional states and decision-making processes.
Anna Levina is an Assistant Professor for Computational Neuroscience at the University of Tübingen , affiliated with the Department of Computer Science under the Faculty of Science. Her research focuses on the self-organization of neuronal activity, critical dynamics in neural networks, and the excitation/inhibition balance in cortical circuits. Current positions: Assistant Professor (since 2018), Group Leader (2017-2018), Equality Officer (Computer Science) Previous roles: IST Fellow (2015-2017), Associated Researcher (2011-2015), Postdoc/PI (2011-2015), Postdoc (2008-2011) Her research integrates mathematical modeling , statistical physics , and computational neuroscience to study criticality phenomena, neural avalanches, and adaptive network dynamics. Key interests include: Self-organized criticality in neural systems Excitation/Inhibition balance mechanisms Network topology and dynamics Timescale analysis in neural processing Stochastic modeling of neural activity Recent publications reveal trends in understanding critical dynamics across biological and artificial networks, with applications to memory systems, sensorimotor integration, and disease modeling. She has received recognition as an IST Fellow .
Prof. Massimo Fornasier holds the Chair of Applied Numerical Analysis at the Technical University of Munich (TUM), within the School of Computation, Information and Technology and the Department of Mathematics. His research focuses on mathematical modeling, numerical analysis, and data-driven methods, particularly in areas like compression, sparse recovery, and optimization. He has made significant contributions to consensus-based optimization, control of multiagent systems, and applications in image/signal processing. Education: PhD in Computational Mathematics, University of Padua (2003) Postdoctoral fellowships at University of Vienna, Sapienza University of Rome, and Princeton University Awards: ERC Starting Grant (2012) START Prize (2011) Prix de Boelpaepe (2009) His work bridges theoretical analysis and computational methods, with applications ranging from compressive sensing to machine learning. Recent research emphasizes consensus-based optimization frameworks and their global convergence properties. Editorial roles include journals like Networks and Heterogeneous Media and Calcolo . He leads research groups in areas such as Data Science and Numerical Analysis at TUM.
Dr. Stephanie Spahr is a Research Group Leader at the Leibniz Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries (IGB) in Berlin, Germany, where she leads the Organic Contaminants research group within the Department of Ecohydrology and Biogeochemistry. Previously, she served as a Junior Research Group Leader at the University of Tübingen's Center for Applied Geoscience (2019-2021) and as a Postdoctoral Researcher at Stanford University's Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering (2016-2019). Dr. Spahr earned her PhD in Environmental Chemistry from the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne (EPFL) and the Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology (Eawag) in 2016. Her doctoral research focused on the formation of N-nitrosodimethylamine during water disinfection with chloramine. She completed her MSc in Geoecology at the University of Tübingen in 2012, with thesis work on carbon and nitrogen isotope analysis of benzotriazoles conducted at Eawag, and her BSc in Geoecology/Ecosystem Management at the same institution in 2010. Dr. Spahr's research focuses on trace organic contaminants in aquatic systems, with particular expertise in transformation processes of contaminants in natural and engineered systems, advanced oxidation processes for water treatment, urban blue-green infrastructure, and compound-specific isotope analysis. Her work bridges environmental chemistry, engineering, and ecology to address water quality challenges in urban and natural water systems. She employs advanced analytical techniques to track contaminant sources and transformation pathways, with a strong emphasis on practical applications for water treatment and environmental protection. Her recent publications demonstrate a strong focus on biochar-based water treatment technologies, particularly for stormwater management. She investigates how biochar amendments can remove trace organic contaminants from urban runoff, with recent work examining persulfate activation mechanisms, the role of chloride in reactive species formation, and the performance of engineered media filters under dynamic conditions. Her research also extends to understanding contaminant transport in rivers, the ecological impacts of pollutants, and developing analytical methods for environmental monitoring. The interdisciplinary nature of her work connects chemical processes with ecological outcomes. Outstanding Review Paper Award 2023 in Environmental Science: Water Research & Technology Selected for the Falling Walls Female Science Talents Intensive Track 2023 Selected mentee in the Leibniz Mentoring Programme 2022-2023 Best poster award (1st prize) at the Wasser 2022 of the Water Chemistry Society Selected fellow in the Postdoc Academy for Transformational Leadership 2020-2022 (Robert Bosch Stiftung) Selected fellow in the Athene Program for early female career researchers at the University of Tübingen, 2020-2021 As a Research Group Leader, Dr. Spahr supervises multiple research projects including 'POllution in UrbaN ponds, eco-evolutionary Dynamics, and Ecosystem Resilience (POUNDER)', 'Dynamic hyporheic zone', 'NYMPHE', and the 'Incident-related special investigation programme for the environmental disaster in the Oder River'. She serves on the Executive Board of the German Water Chemistry Society and heads its Expert Committee on 'Oxidative Processes'. Her collaborative work spans numerous institutions across Germany and internationally, addressing critical water quality challenges through interdisciplinary approaches. Dr. Spahr leads the Organic Contaminants research group at IGB Berlin, which focuses on understanding the fate and treatment of organic pollutants in water systems. Her team employs advanced analytical techniques including compound-specific isotope analysis to track contaminant sources and transformation pathways. The group collaborates extensively with other departments at IGB and with international partners on projects addressing urban water challenges and ecological impacts of pollution. Current research emphasizes innovative water treatment technologies, particularly biochar-based systems for stormwater management, and investigating the complex interactions between contaminants, aquatic ecosystems, and human activities.
Dr. Peter Bartsch serves as curator of the fish collection and construction project officer at the Museum für Naturkunde (MfN), Leibniz Institute for Evolution and Biodiversity Science, which is affiliated with Humboldt University Berlin. With expertise in ichthyology, embryology, and comparative anatomy, Dr. Bartsch has been instrumental in the museum's collection management and building renovation projects since joining the institution as a research associate before becoming curator in 2000. Dr. Bartsch received his academic training in ichthyology, embryology, and comparative anatomy at the University of Cologne. His academic career includes positions as a research assistant at the University of Tübingen and a postdoctoral fellowship at the Natural History Museum in Stockholm before joining the Museum für Naturkunde. Dr. Bartsch's primary research focuses on the evolution and systematics of major groups of bony fishes (Osteichthyes), with particular emphasis on primitive ray-finned fish lineages. His work integrates morphological analysis of both fossil and extant species to understand evolutionary relationships. A significant portion of his research centers on the developmental biology of ancient fish groups, especially the Polypteridae (bichirs), examining embryonic development, skeletal formation, and sensory systems. More recently, his interests have expanded to include the logistics and optimal management of research collections, reflecting his administrative responsibilities at the museum. Analysis of Dr. Bartsch's recent publications reveals a consistent focus on fish morphology, evolution, and development, with particular attention to primitive actinopterygian lineages. His work spans both systematic taxonomy and functional morphology, with increasing attention to museum collection management challenges. The publications demonstrate expertise in comparative anatomy across diverse fish groups including chondrichthyans (sharks, rays, and chimaeras) and basal actinopterygians. Recent work shows integration of molecular phylogenetic approaches with traditional morphological analysis. Dr. Bartsch has held significant administrative roles at the Museum für Naturkunde, serving as head of the collections department from 2011 to 2013. He was responsible for the museum's construction program for the east wing reconstruction, completed in 2010, which created modern facilities for the storage and scientific processing of the museum's wet collections. Currently, he manages the second phase of the building's renovation that began in 2011 and participates in planning for the future development of the museum's facilities. The Museum für Naturkunde houses extensive ichthyological collections that form the basis for Dr. Bartsch's research. His work involves close collaboration with various research teams within the museum, particularly in the areas of molecular phylogenetics, collection preservation, and paleontological research. The museum's facilities include specialized laboratories for morphological analysis, molecular studies, and collection management that support his research activities.
Tobias Dick serves as Professor and Head of the Division of Redox Regulation at the German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) in Heidelberg, maintaining a primary affiliation with Heidelberg University's Faculty of Biosciences. His leadership spans molecular switch research within the SFB/TRR186 consortium focusing on spatio-temporal control of cellular signal transmission. Academic Background: PhD in Biochemistry, Freie Universität Berlin (1997, summa cum laude) Habilitation in Biochemistry, Heidelberg University (2009) Diploma thesis at German Cancer Research Center (1994) Study program in Biochemistry, Freie Universität Berlin (1989-1994) Research Focus: Dick pioneers investigations into thiol-based redox switches governing cellular signal transduction. His work establishes fundamental mechanisms of peroxiredoxin-mediated hydrogen peroxide signaling, protein persulfidation dynamics, and sulfur-based radical scavenging systems. Key contributions include developing real-time imaging probes for redox species and elucidating redox relays connecting peroxiredoxins to transcription factors like STAT3. Current research explores hydropersulfide protection against ferroptosis and metabolic adaptation through redox-sensitive enzymes. Publication Trends: Over 15 years of high-impact publications reveal an evolutionary trajectory from foundational redox imaging techniques (2008-2011) to sophisticated molecular mechanism studies (2013-2020), culminating in recent breakthroughs on sulfur signaling in cell death pathways (2023). His work consistently appears in premier journals like Nature Chemical Biology , demonstrating sustained innovation in redox biology methodology and conceptual frameworks. Scientific Recognition: ERC Advanced Grant (2017) Society for Free Radical Research Europe Basic Science Award (2017) Chica- and Heinz-Schaller-Award for young scientists (2009) Marie Curie Excellence Grant (2004) DFG Postdoctoral Fellowship (1998-2000) Studienstiftung des Deutschen Volkes Scholarship (1989-1994) Leadership & Mentorship: As founding vice-coordinator of DFG priority program SPP1710 (2014-present) and GBM Redox Biology Study Group (2011-2017), Dick shapes national research agendas. His division at DKFZ mentors next-generation scientists through ERC and DFG-funded projects, with trainees contributing to landmark publications on redox switches and cellular physiology. Research Infrastructure: The Division of Redox Regulation operates within DKFZ's state-of-the-art facilities, collaborating extensively through the SFB/TRR186 consortium. This environment enables cutting-edge investigations into redox-controlled cellular processes using advanced biochemical, imaging, and computational approaches.
Dr. Philipp Porada is a Junior Professor of Ecological Modeling at the University of Hamburg, affiliated with the Department of Biology within the Faculty of Mathematics, Computer Science and Natural Sciences. He works at the Institute of Plant Sciences and Microbiology, specifically in the Applied Plant Ecology group, based at the Otto Warburg House. His research integrates process-based modeling with ecological field studies to investigate non-vascular vegetation, biogeochemical cycles, and climate-vegetation interactions across multiple temporal and spatial scales. Porada's research focuses primarily on non-vascular vegetation (bryophytes, lichens, and biocrusts), examining their role in global biogeochemical cycles, biodiversity-ecosystem functioning relationships, and paleoclimate dynamics. His work spans from contemporary ecosystem processes to geological time scales, with particular emphasis on the impacts of climate change on non-vascular communities. He has developed several process-based models including LiBry for lichen and bryophyte communities, LiDELS for soil-vegetation interactions, and LYCOm for early vascular plants. His research demonstrates how non-vascular vegetation influences carbon sequestration, water cycling, and soil processes across diverse ecosystems from urban forests to polar regions. Analysis of Porada's publication record reveals a strong interdisciplinary approach combining ecological theory, biogeochemistry, and computational modeling. His work spans multiple ecosystems including peatlands, drylands, urban forests, and coastal blue carbon systems. A consistent theme across his research is understanding how non-vascular vegetation mediates the relationship between environmental conditions and ecosystem functions. His most recent work increasingly focuses on climate change impacts and potential mitigation strategies through vegetation management. Porada leads two major research projects funded by the German Research Foundation (DFG): 'Effects of nutrient limitation on non-vascular vegetation under climate change' and 'The role of early plants for palaeoclimate dynamics'. These projects reflect his dual interest in contemporary environmental challenges and deep-time ecological processes. His collaborative work, evident in his extensive publication record with international researchers, demonstrates strong interdisciplinary connections across ecology, biogeochemistry, and climate science. Dr. Porada maintains an active research laboratory focused on ecological modeling, with particular expertise in non-vascular vegetation dynamics. His team develops and applies process-based models to address questions ranging from micro-scale lichen water relations to global biogeochemical cycles. The research group collaborates extensively with field ecologists, climate scientists, and biogeochemists to ground-truth model predictions and explore new ecological phenomena.
Jonathan Külz is a Researcher at the Technical University of Munich (TUM) , affiliated with the Department of Informatics 6 - Chair for Cyber Physical Systems under Prof. Matthias Althoff. His research focuses on Modular Robotics , Reinforcement Learning , Cyber-Physical Systems , and Control Systems . His work includes algorithmic synthesis of modular robot compositions, model-based manipulator co-design, and unifying benchmarks for robotics. He has supervised multiple Master’s theses Bachelor’s theses Practical courses on topics like Robot Workspace Representation and Dynamic Model Identification . Notable supervised projects include Autonomous Navigation of Reachbot and Task-Based Modular Robot Configuration Synthesis . His recent publications span Robotics , Benchmarking , and Computational Social Science . Key trends include Computationally efficient assessment of robot capabilities Deep reinforcement learning for robotics Analysis of political discourse polarization Jonathan emphasizes structured thesis supervision, requiring exposés, shared folders, and protocol-driven meetings. He advocates for LaTeX in scientific writing and tools like NotebookLM and Zettlr for research documentation.
Prof. Dr. Susanne Foitzik is a Professor of Evolutionary Biology at Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz since 2010, where she leads the Evolution & Behavioral Ecology of Ants research group at the Institute of Organismic and Molecular Evolution (IOME). Previously, she was Professor in Behavioral Ecology at LMU Munich (2004-2010) and Assistant Professor in Zoology at the University of Regensburg (2000-2004). She earned her PhD in Biology from Julius Maximilian University, Würzburg in 1998. Her research integrates approaches from behavioral ecology through genomics to epigenetics, focusing on ants as model organisms to study complex social behaviors. Host-parasite coevolution and social parasitism in ants Molecular mechanisms underlying division of labor Reversal of the fecundity-longevity trade-off in social insects Gene regulation in phenotypic plasticity Evolution of chemical communication systems Analysis of her recent publications (2022-2025) reveals a strong focus on molecular mechanisms of social behavior, with particular emphasis on host-parasite interactions, epigenetic regulation of behavior, and genomic adaptations in social insects. Her work increasingly combines transcriptomic, proteomic, and functional genomic approaches to understand the molecular basis of social evolution. Among her notable scientific achievements: Speaker of Research Training Group 2626 GenEvo: Gene Regulation in Evolution (2019-present) Speaker of EES Master Program funded by VW foundation (2007-2010) DAAD Fellow at State University of New York (1992-93) Prof. Foitzik has supervised numerous PhD students and postdocs, including Maide Macit, Tom Sistermans, and Marcel Caminer. Her research is supported by multiple DFG-funded projects investigating host-parasite coevolution, the role of gene regulation in division of labor, and parasite interference in host gene expression. She serves as Handling Editor for Biology Letters and previously served on the editorial board of Insectes Sociaux. Her research group operates within the Institute of Organismic and Molecular Evolution (IOME) at Mainz, with laboratory facilities at the Biozentrum I. The group collaborates extensively with researchers across Germany and internationally, including partnerships with institutions in Frankfurt, Freiburg, Bristol, and Tel Aviv.
Prof. Dr. Nils Stieglitz is a distinguished Professor of Strategy at Frankfurt School of Finance & Management since 2012 and serves as President & CEO since 2018. He leads the Management Department (2015–2018) and held the Executive Board role as Vice President Corporate Development (2017–2018). His research spans Strategic decision-making Organizational adaptation Human-agent interaction across dynamic environments. His scholarly work appears in top-tier journals like Strategic Management Journal , Management Science , and Organization Science , focusing on complex organizational trade-offs, incentive design, and scenario planning. He also contributes strategic insights to global media outlets such as Harvard Business Review and The Economist . As Senior Editor at the Journal of Organization Design and editorial board member of Organization Science , he shapes discourse on organizational theory. His teaching emphasizes strategy formulation and organizational design principles.
