Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and GeneticsGermany
Jeffrey D. Schall is the E. Bronson Ingram Professor of Neuroscience at Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, where he has been a faculty member since 1989. His research focuses on the neural mechanisms underlying executive control, visual attention, and decision-making processes, particularly in relation to eye movements and cortical processing. Research Interests: Dr. Schall's work centers on cognitive neuroscience, with emphasis on how the brain controls attention, resolves conflict, and regulates speed versus accuracy in decision-making. He investigates neural correlates of error detection, distractor inhibition, and oculomotor control using electrophysiological and behavioral methods in primates and humans. His studies often involve the supplementary eye field and medial frontal cortical areas. Recent Research Trends: Analysis of his recent publications shows a strong focus on cortical mechanisms of cognitive control, including theta-band error signals, distractor positivity, and neural dynamics of speed-accuracy trade-offs. His work bridges experimental neuroscience with theoretical models of attention and executive function. Scientific Awards: E. Bronson Ingram Professor of Neuroscience Advising and Grants: While specific students and grants are not listed in the provided text, Dr. Schall leads an active research program with extensive publication output and editorial engagement. His long tenure and named professorship suggest a history of successful mentoring and external funding. Labs and Teams: Though no lab name is provided, Dr. Schall directs a neuroscience research group at Vanderbilt focused on cognitive control and visual processing. He collaborates widely with experts in attention, perception, and cognitive neuroscience across institutions.
Prof. Dr. Garvin Brod is a Research Professor at the DIPF | Leibniz Institute for Research and Information in Education and Goethe University Frankfurt, specializing in individualized learning and cognitive development. He is affiliated with the Department of Educational Psychology within the College of Psychology & Sports Science. His research focuses on technology-supported educational interventions, memory and learning dynamics, and the development of knowledge acquisition processes. Brod leads projects like ACHILLES (learning success diagnostics), PROMPT (digital prompting techniques), and VokSi (vocabulary learning), addressing self-regulated learning, reading education, and cognitive strategies. The 13 most recent publications highlight trends in educational technology, self-regulated learning mechanisms, and cognitive development. Key themes include mobile learning interventions, memory retention strategies, and the role of executive functions in belief revision. Brod’s work bridges experimental psychology with practical EdTech solutions for children’s learning challenges. As a visiting fellow at St John's College, University of Cambridge, and head of DIPF’s departments for Individualized Support and Education and Development, Brod collaborates on data-sharing initiatives like ShaReD. He holds a doctorate from Humboldt University and a diploma in psychology from Saarland University.
Prof. Dr. Michael Beurskens is a faculty member at the Faculty of Law of the University of Passau , holding the Chair of Private Law, especially Business Law and Digitalisation . His work integrates Private Law , Competition Law , and Intellectual Property Law with Digitalization challenges, focusing on AI regulation, data access, and GDPR compliance. Academic Background: LL.M. in Intellectual Property Rights (University of Chicago) LL.M. in Gewerblicher Rechtsschutz Attorney-at-Law (New York) Habilitation: University of Düsseldorf, 2007 His research interests span the legal frameworks governing online platforms (Digital Markets Act, Digital Services Act), data trading (Data Act, Data Governance Act), AI regulation (AI Act), and copyright (InfoSoc Directive, DSM Directive). He emphasizes practice-oriented research and team-based academic collaboration , including social activities like weekly lunches and access to central ice cream supplies. Key teaching activities include courses on Corporate Law , Commercial Law , Law of Obligations , and Intellectual Property , with a focus on e-learning projects such as Schuldrecht AT Online and Gesellschaftsrecht Online. He advocates for student-led research and early publication opportunities . The chair actively promotes women in science through preferential employment and intensive supervision. It also develops legal tech tools like Visilex (jurisprudence flashcards) and CASIM (case simulation software).
Heiko Falk is a Professor and Head of the Institute of Embedded Systems at Technische Universität Hamburg (TUHH). His roles include serving as Workshop Chair for the 2024 Embedded Systems Week (ESWEEK), Scientific Coordinator for the B.Sc. and M.Sc. Computer Science programs, and Deputy Head of the Board of Examiners for Computer Science and Engineering. His research focuses on real-time systems, compiler optimizations, and worst-case execution time (WCET) analysis. Key areas include multi-core architectures, cache management, energy efficiency, and hardware/software co-design. Falk's work emphasizes practical compiler techniques for improving real-time performance, such as WCET-aware memory allocation, dynamic SPM optimization, and event-driven scheduling. His publications analyze shared cache interference, preemptive/non-preemptive scheduling, and DMA-aware optimizations. Recent work explores multi-objective trade-offs between WCET, energy consumption, and code size in embedded systems. No scientific awards are explicitly listed, but his contributions to WCET benchmarking (e.g., haRTStone project) and compiler frameworks demonstrate significant impact in the field. Advising and grants: No formal advisees are listed in the provided texts. Falk's work is supported through projects like teamplay, focusing on cyber-physical systems optimization. Labs/Teams: His group operates within TUHH's Institute of Embedded Systems, collaborating on projects addressing real-time system challenges in multi-core environments.
Steve Zdancewic is the Schlein Family President's Distinguished Professor and Associate Chair in the Department of Computer and Information Science at the University of Pennsylvania's School of Engineering and Applied Science. He is a leading researcher in programming languages, formal methods, and computer security with over two decades of impactful contributions to the field. His research interests span programming languages, type theory, logic, computer security, quantum programming, and formal verification. Zdancewic has made significant contributions to information-flow security, memory safety, program synthesis, and the verification of low-level systems. His work often bridges theoretical foundations with practical applications, particularly through the development of verified systems using Coq and other proof assistants. Analysis of his recent publications reveals a strong focus on formal verification techniques, particularly using Interaction Trees and the Coq proof assistant. His research trajectory shows consistent evolution from foundational work on information-flow security toward increasingly sophisticated verification of complex systems including LLVM, quantum computing, and distributed systems. His work demonstrates a commitment to building practically useful verification tools while maintaining rigorous theoretical foundations. Distinguished Paper Award for Semantics for Noninterference with Interaction Trees (ECOOP 2023) Schlein Family President's Distinguished Professor (2021) Distinguished Paper Award for Interaction Trees (POPL 2020) Christian R. and Mary F. Lindback Foundation Award for Distinguished Teaching (2018) IEEE MICRO top picks (2013) Alfred P. Sloan Fellow (2009-2010) NSF CAREER award (2004) Zdancewic has advised numerous PhD students who have gone on to successful careers in academia and industry. His research has been supported by significant grants from NSF, including the NSF Expedition on the Science of Deep Specification. He is actively involved in multiple major research projects including Vellvm (verified LLVM), DeepSpec, and quantum programming verification. Zdancewic also co-organizes Penn's PL Club programming languages research group with Benjamin Pierce and Stephanie Weirich.
Professor Jana Zaumseil is a distinguished academic at Heidelberg University, holding the position of Professor for Applied Physical Chemistry at the Faculty of Chemistry and Earth Sciences since 2014. She also maintains a co-opted position with the Faculty of Physics and Astronomy since 2016. Currently serving as Executive Director of the Institute for Physical Chemistry and Spokesperson for the DFG Research Training Group GRK 2948, she leads the Zaumseil research group (also known as the Nanomaterials for Optoelectronics group) at Heidelberg University's Institute for Physical Chemistry. Her educational background includes a PhD in Physics from the University of Cambridge (2003-2007) with a Gates Cambridge Trust Scholarship, and a Diplom (equivalent to M.Sc.) in Chemistry from the University of Leipzig (1997-2022). Prior to her position at Heidelberg, she served as Professor for Nanoelectronics at Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (2009-2014), and completed postdoctoral work at Argonne National Laboratory (2007-2009) following an internship at Bell Laboratories (2002-2003). Zaumseil's research program focuses on the optical and electronic properties of carbon-based nanomaterials, particularly single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) and organic semiconductors. Her group specializes in processing, functionalization, characterization and application of these unconventional semiconductors for optoelectronic devices and sensors. They investigate charge transport and light-matter interaction using a wide range of experimental techniques including synthesis, optical spectroscopy, atomic force microscopy, device fabrication, and electrical/optical device characterization. Their work bridges fundamental understanding with potential applications in sensing, imaging, circuits, and energy conversion. Analysis of her recent publications reveals a strong trend toward defect engineering in carbon nanotubes, particularly creating and optimizing luminescent sp 3 defects for near-infrared applications. Her research increasingly integrates fundamental studies of charge transport with practical device applications, especially in neuromorphic computing, biosensors, and thermoelectrics. The interdisciplinary nature of her work is evident in the combination of chemistry, physics, and materials science approaches across her publication record. Dan Maydan Prize for Nanoscience and Nanotechnology (2024) Jahrespreis der Universität Heidelberg (2023) ERC Consolidator Grant (2019) ERC Starting Grant (2012) Alfried-Krupp-Award for Young University Professors (2010) Professor Zaumseil has secured substantial research funding including multiple ERC grants and leads several major collaborative projects such as the ERC Advanced Grant SCALE-NT, Collaborative Research Center SFB 1249, Cluster of Excellence 3D Matter Made to Order, and Research Training Group GRK 2948. She has mentored numerous doctoral and master's students, with her group recently receiving recognition including a Student Poster Presentation Award for Niklas Herrmann. As Dean of the Faculty of Chemistry and Earth Science (2019-2021) and current Vice Dean (2021-), she has played significant leadership roles within the university structure. The Zaumseil research group operates within Heidelberg University's Institute for Physical Chemistry, utilizing advanced facilities for nanomaterial synthesis, optical spectroscopy, and device characterization. The group participates in several major collaborative initiatives including the Cluster of Excellence 3D Matter Made to Order and the Collaborative Research Center SFB 1249, reflecting its integration within Heidelberg's broader research ecosystem focused on molecular systems and materials science.
Professor Lisa Regazzoni serves as Professor of Theory of History at Bielefeld University within the Faculty of History, Philosophy and Theology. She directs the Center for Theories in Historical Research and is a member of the Executive Board of the Bielefeld Graduate School in History and Sociology. Her academic leadership extends to multiple roles including Speaker for History: Politics - Image - Art and membership in Historical Cultures research groups. Regazzoni completed her academic education with a Magister Artium in Philosophy from the University of Bologna (1998), followed by doctoral studies in Philosophy at the University of Potsdam (2006), and habilitation in Modern History at Goethe University (2020). Her educational background spans philosophy and modern history across Italian and German institutions, reflecting her transnational scholarly perspective. Her research focuses on the intersection of history, temporality, and materiality, developing what she terms a 'critique of historical materiality.' Regazzoni explores how scholars construct knowledge through material and immaterial sources, particularly examining 18th and 19th century French historical research. Her concept of 'unwritten pasts' addresses methodological limitations in historical reconstruction, while her work on 'monument episteme' investigates how objects function as historical testimony. She has pioneered research on the Reinhart Koselleck Figure Collection, examining how material objects contribute to historical understanding beyond textual sources. Regazzoni's publication trajectory reveals a sophisticated evolution from literary catalog studies to contemporary investigations of historical materiality. Her recent work demonstrates increasing engagement with object-oriented ontology and the epistemic potential of material culture in historical research. The recurring themes across her publications include the relationship between visual evidence and historical knowledge, the transformation of historical methodology, and the theoretical implications of material objects in historical practice. Momentum funding from Volkswagen Foundation (2025) for 'Towards a Material-Oriented Theory of History' (€935,000 over 48 months) Nominated for the 1822 university prize for excellence in teaching at Goethe University (2014) As academic coordinator of the International Graduate School on Political Communication and director of the Center for Theories in Historical Research, Regazzoni has secured significant research funding and fostered interdisciplinary collaboration. She co-founded the Theory-Oriented Object Laboratory (TOOL) with Lara Keuck, creating innovative spaces for material-based historical inquiry. Her leadership extends to the 'Denkraum Theorie' study group, which facilitates theoretical exchange among humanities scholars. Regazzoni directs the Reinhart Koselleck Figure Collection at Bielefeld University, transforming the historian's personal artifact collection into a research laboratory for historical materiality. Through the Theory-Oriented Object Laboratory (TOOL), she has created interdisciplinary spaces where material objects become catalysts for theoretical reflection on history and medical knowledge. Her leadership in the 'Denkraum Theorie' study group fosters theoretical exchange across disciplines, while her digital humanities work maintains the online platform for Goethe University collections.
Dr. Marion Schrumpf is a Group Leader in the Soil Biogeochemistry research group at the Max Planck Institute for Biogeochemistry, affiliated with the Department of Biogeochemical Processes. Her work focuses on soil carbon dynamics, mineral-organic matter interactions, and climate change impacts on soil systems. Research areas: Soil biogeochemistry, carbon cycling, mineral-soil interactions, nutrient stoichiometry, microbial ecology, and climate modeling. Email: mschrumpf@... Phone: +49 3641 57-6182 Office: B2.015 Her recent publications address themes like mineral control over soil carbon stabilization, drought effects on soil processes, microbial stoichiometric adaptation, and the Jena Soil Model's role in simulating carbon-nutrient interactions. She leads efforts to disentangle the complex relationships between land use, mineralogy, and soil organic matter turnover across diverse ecosystems.
Insa Feinkohl is a Professor at the Chair of Medical Biometry and Epidemiology within the Faculty of Health at the University of Witten/Herdecke . Her research focuses on risk factors for cognitive dysfunction and mental health in older adults, particularly post-surgery, with emphasis on metabolic and cognitive risk factors. Bachelor of Science (BSc) in Psychology (1 st class honors) – University of Dundee (2006-2009) Master of Science (MSc) in Psychology of Individual Differences (with distinction) – University of Edinburgh (2009-2010) PhD in Community Health Sciences – University of Edinburgh (2010-2014) Post Doc in Knowledge Construction Group – Leibniz Institute for Knowledge Media, Tübingen (2014-2015) Postdoc in Molecular Epidemiology Group – Max Delbrück Center, Berlin (2015-2022) Habilitation in Molecular Epidemiology – Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin (2021) Her research integrates medical biometry and epidemiology to study postoperative cognitive dysfunction (POCD), delirium, and aging-related cognitive decline. Key areas include biomarker validation (e.g., leptin, interleukins), brain connectivity (dopaminergic networks, thalamus), and metabolic risk factors (diabetes, obesity). She contributed to the BioCog project , an EU-funded initiative for personalized risk prediction of postoperative cognitive impairment. Her recent publications highlight trends in perioperative neuroscience, including brain mineralization, cytokine associations with neurocognitive disorders, and structural/functional imaging in delirium. Articles also explore metabolic syndrome, cognitive reserve, and delirium prediction models using machine learning. Insa Feinkohl is affiliated with major academic societies, including the German Society for Epidemiology , German Society for Medical Informatics, Biometry and Epidemiology , and the German University Association .
Prof. Dr. Johannes Kinder is a Professor and Chair of Programming Languages and Artificial Intelligence at the Institute of Informatics , Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich. His research focuses on software security through program analysis and machine learning, particularly targeting malware detection , vulnerability analysis , and reverse engineering . He has held faculty positions at Royal Holloway, University of London, and Bundeswehr University Munich. Research Interests include: Securing software systems via program and machine learning techniques Detection of software vulnerabilities and malware Preventing exploitation through binary analysis Applications of formal methods in systems security Recent Publications highlight advancements in binary function embedding , malware detection in npm , and speculative execution attack modeling . His work appears in top venues like USENIX Security and IEEE S&P . Education : Diplom from TU Munich (2005), Doctorate from TU Darmstadt (2010). Professional Roles : General Chair, ACM CCS 2019 Doctoral Symposium Chair, ESSoS 2016 Program Committee member for NDSS 2026, IEEE S&P 2022-2025
Dr. Leif Langsdorf is a Researcher at the Department of Psychology within the Faculty of Philosophy I at Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg. His work focuses on cognitive processes related to multitasking, motivation, and cognitive control, utilizing both behavioral methods and electrophysiological techniques including EEG. Langsdorf's research interests center on understanding how motivation affects multitasking abilities, particularly examining how reward processing influences cognitive control in dual-task situations. His work investigates whether motivated individuals show faster reaction times in simple response tasks and explores the underlying cognitive processes that enable this enhanced performance. His research employs a range of methodologies from cognitive psychology and EEG to examine the physiological processes during multitasking. His publication record shows a consistent focus on reward effects in dual-task paradigms, with recent work examining the neural correlates of task switching, temporal dynamics of reward utilization, and the application of neuromodulation techniques like tDCS to influence task coordination. His research has appeared in journals including Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience, Attention Perception & Psychophysics, and Acta Psychologica. Langsdorf actively supervises thesis work on multitasking and motivation, guiding students through research on how motivation impacts multitasking capabilities. His work has been presented at multiple conferences including TeaP (Experimental Psychology conference) and HexKop. He collaborates extensively with Prof. Torsten Schubert and other researchers at the university, including Sebastian Kübler, Daniel Darnstaedt, and Maryam Talarposhti, forming part of a research group focused on cognitive control and task switching phenomena.
Dr. Julia Mierau is a researcher at the Institute of Movement and Neuroscience, German Sport University Cologne. She is actively involved in projects related to digitalization in sports teacher education, cognitive performance, and exercise neuroscience. Her work bridges pedagogy and neuroscience, with a strong focus on EEG, motor performance, and digital learning tools. Institution: German Sport University Cologne Department: Institute of Movement and Neuroscience Email: j.mierau@dshs-koeln.de Phone: +49 221 4982-8613 Her research interests include electroencephalography, cognitive performance, exercise psychology, sports pedagogy, and digital media in education. She investigates how physical activity influences brain function and learning, particularly in educational contexts. The recent publications reflect a strong trend in digital innovation in sports education, EEG-based monitoring of exercise effects, and cognitive performance in athletes and children. Her work combines experimental neuroscience with practical pedagogical applications. Scientific Awards: ECSS Young Investigators Award (2011) Fellowship for Digital Higher Education Innovation (2019) Graduiertenstipendium (2007) Reisestipendium (2011, 2014) Dr. Mierau has been principal or co-investigator in multiple externally funded projects, including ComeSport, ComeIn, and S.P.O.R.T.S., focusing on digital competence development in teacher training. She also served as co-editor of the Journal for Study and Teaching in Sports Science in 2021 and 2022, demonstrating academic leadership. She collaborates extensively with researchers such as Jens Kleinert, Heiko Strüder, and Andreas Mierau, contributing to a robust network in sports neuroscience and pedagogy.
Prof. Mike Barth is a Professor for Networked Secure Automation Technology at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), affiliated with the Department of Electrical Engineering and Information Technology (ETIT) and the Institute for Control Systems (IRS). His academic background includes a doctorate from Helmut Schmidt University (2011) and a master's degree from Pforzheim University (2008). He previously held roles as a researcher at ABB and as a professor at Pforzheim University, focusing on blended learning and Industry 4.0 integration. Education: PhD in Automation Technology, Helmut Schmidt University (2011) M.Sc. in Product Development, Pforzheim University (2008) Diploma in Mechanical Engineering, Pforzheim University (2006) Research Interests: Automation technology, control systems, Industry 4.0, cyber-physical systems, digital twin engineering, cybersecurity, and IoT protocols. Teaching: Courses include System Modeling, Cyber Physical Production Systems, and Digital Twin Engineering. His research emphasizes secure automation architectures, decentralized systems, and model-based engineering. He chairs multiple committees including IFAC TC3.1 and the VDI/VDE Society for Measurement and Automation. Over 50+ publications span topics like simulation models, industrial security, and robotic integration. Labs/Teams: Leads the IRS Automation Technology team, focusing on innovation in control systems and digital twin applications.
Felix Naumann is a Professor at the Hasso Plattner Institute in Potsdam, Germany, specializing in data management and database systems. His research focuses on data quality, data profiling, entity resolution, functional dependencies, and database optimization. He has authored over 300 publications in top-tier conferences and journals, including VLDB, SIGMOD, and ICDE. His work bridges theoretical foundations with practical systems, such as TASHEEH for data cleaning and PRISMA for privacy-preserving schema matching. He serves as an editor for the ACM Journal of Data and Information Quality and has led initiatives on hybrid conference formats and inclusive computing. Key contributions include: Data Quality: Pioneered studies on data quality's impact on machine learning and developed tools like AutoTSAD for anomaly detection. Data Dependency Discovery: Advanced functional and inclusion dependency mining algorithms, including Hitting Set Enumeration methods. Schema Matching & Integration: Created systems like BrewER and Frost for entity resolution and schema alignment. Educational Impact: Led massive open courses in data engineering with over 10,000 participants. His work emphasizes practical applications in cultural heritage data (ReCLAIM), Wikipedia table analysis, and cross-platform data systems (RHEEMix). He collaborates extensively with industry and academia, addressing challenges in dynamic datasets and data governance.
Benjamin Lucien Kaminski is a Professor at Saarland University and a Lecturer at University College London . He specializes in quantitative aspects of formal program verification , with a focus on probabilistic and quantum programs , incorrectness logic , and non-classical computation models . His research includes semantics , probabilistic program verification , expected runtimes , and explainable verification . He leads the Examination Board for B.Sc. Computer Science (English) and actively mentors PhD, Master’s, and Bachelor’s students in logic and verification. 2025 : A Taxonomy of Hoare-Like Logics (POPL), Partial Incorrectness Logic (TPSA) 2024 : Quantitative Weakest Hyper Pre (OOPSLA), Caesar: A Verifier for Probabilistic Programs (Dafny), Hoare-Like Triples (Incorrectness-track) 2023 : A Deductive Verification Infrastructure (OOPSLA), Lower Bounds (OOPSLA), A Calculus for Amortized Expected Runtimes (POPL) He has received notable awards including the Ackermann Award (2020), Best Paper at LOPSTR 2020 , and EATCS Best Paper Award at ETAPS 2016 . He has also served on program committees for leading conferences like CAV , POPL , and LICS , and reviewed for prestigious journals such as Journal of the ACM and TOCL .
