Christian Engwer is a full Professor at the University of Muenster in the Institute for Applied Mathematics, specializing in Analysis and Numerics. He leads the Engwer Group focused on Applications of Partial Differential Equations and is actively involved in the Cells in Motion initiative as a supervisor in the CiM-IMPRS Graduate Programme. His research centers on developing numerical methods for partial differential equations, particularly addressing challenges in complex geometries and multi-physics applications. He specializes in Unfitted Discontinuous Galerkin methods, which allow simulations on complex geometries without requiring domain-fitted meshes. His work spans porous media modeling, biological systems, and bioelectromagnetism applications, with significant contributions to EEG/MEG forward modeling in neuroscience. Analysis of his recent publications reveals a strong focus on model order reduction techniques, stabilized numerical schemes for cut-cell meshes, and applications in bioelectromagnetism. His work demonstrates a consistent trajectory toward developing robust, efficient numerical methods applicable to real-world problems in medical imaging and biological modeling, with increasing emphasis on high-performance computing implementations. Professor Engwer actively supervises doctoral students, with recent completions including Lukas Renelt (2025), Michael Wenske (2021), and Maria Carla Piastra (2019), among others working on topics related to numerical methods and biomedical applications. He leads several major research projects including BrainStorm: Highly Extensible Software for Advanced Electrophysiology and MEG/EEG Imaging (NIH-funded since 2019), multiple EXC 2044 Cluster of Excellence projects through 2025, and the InterKI interdisciplinary teaching program on machine learning and artificial intelligence. His group develops several important software packages including DUNE (Distributed and Unified Numerics Environment), duneuro (for bioelectromagnetism applications), and TPMC (Topology Preserving Marching Cubes). These tools support research in numerical methods and their applications to complex scientific problems.
Rainald Loehner is a Distinguished Professor of Fluid Dynamics at George Mason University's Center for Computational Fluid Dynamics. Since 2003, he has led the Center for Computational Fluid Dynamics at George Mason University. He is currently a Hans Fischer Senior Fellow at the Technical University of Munich's Institute for Advanced Study (TUM-IAS) for 2023, hosted by Professors Kai-Uwe Bletzinger and Roland Wüchner in the 'Adjoint-Based System Identification of Large-Scale Structures' Focus Group. Loehner received his Diplom Ingenieur (Maschinenbau) degree from the Technical University of Braunschweig, and his PhD and a DSc in civil engineering from the University College of Swansea, Wales. After teaching at Swansea for a year, he worked at the Naval Research Laboratory in Washington, DC, followed by a research professorship at George Washington University. He joined George Mason University as an associate professor and was promoted to full professor in 1995 and distinguished professor in 2004. With over 35 years of experience, Professor Loehner's research spans the complete pipeline of numerical solvers and simulation tools. His expertise includes pre-processing, grid generation, numerical methods, field solvers, parallel computing, adaptive mesh refinement, fluid-structure interaction, shape optimization, system identification, and computational crowd dynamics. His current work focuses on developing advanced field solvers for compressible and incompressible flows, acoustics, electromagnetic wave propagation, heat and mass transfer, structural mechanics, and fluid-structure interaction. Key application areas include blast mitigation, ship hydrodynamics, blood flow, contaminant transport, and pedestrian safety. Loehner's recent research output (2020-2024) shows a strong trend toward digital twin technology and adjoint-based methods for structural analysis and optimization. His publications focus on high-fidelity digital twins for detecting structural weaknesses, risk assessment in engineering systems, and optimization of sensor placement. His work bridges computational mechanics with machine learning approaches, particularly in system identification and inverse problems, demonstrating how computational methods can solve complex real-world engineering challenges. 2020: Ranked #15119 in the Stanford List of Most Influential Scientists of the World; #8 in Aerospace and Aeronautics 2010: Distinguished International Career Award, Argentine Association of Computational Mechanics 2008: Fellow, International Association for Computational Mechanics 2006: Associate Fellow, AIAA 2005: Honorary Professor, University of Wales Swansea 2005: Advisory Professor, Shanghai Jiao Tong University 2004: Distinguished Professor of Fluid Dynamics, George Mason University 1999: Computational Mechanics Achievements Award, Japan Society of Mechanical Engineering 1993: Doctor of Science in Civil Engineering, University College of Swansea 1979-1983: Studienstiftung des Deutschen Volkes (Top 1% of German Students) Professor Loehner has mentored numerous students through his work at George Mason University and has supervised research in computational fluid dynamics, structural mechanics, and related fields. His research has been supported by various grants from government agencies and industry partners, enabling the development of advanced simulation tools applied in aerodynamics, hydrodynamics, shock-structure interaction, and medical applications. His codes and methods have been widely adopted in industry and academia for applications ranging from aircraft and ship design to medical simulations and urban pathogen transmission modeling. Loehner leads the Center for Computational Fluid Dynamics at George Mason University, which focuses on developing cutting-edge computational methods for fluid dynamics and related multiphysics problems. The center works on strategic application areas including blast mitigation, ship hydrodynamics, blood flow simulation, and pedestrian movement modeling. As a TUM-IAS Fellow, he collaborates with the Chair of Computational Modeling and Simulation at TUM on adjoint-based system identification of large-scale structures, bringing together expertise in computational mechanics and digital twin technology to address complex engineering challenges.
Prof. Dr.-Ing. Jana Bochert is a faculty member at the Faculty of Sustainable Infrastructure at Technische Hochschule Ingolstadt , specializing in Construction Informatics , Construction Mechanics , and Foundations of Civil Engineering . She focuses on seismic analysis, soil-structure interaction, and structural dynamics, particularly for critical infrastructure like nuclear power plants. Email: Jana.Bochert@thi.de Phone: +49 841 9348-2393 Office: Room CN115 Research Interests Her research centers on: Seismic soil-structure interaction Wave propagation in soil under dynamic loads Development of computational methods for structural analysis Dynamic response of nuclear power plant foundations Impact of transportation and demolition on soil vibrations Finite element modeling of civil structures Publications & Research Trends Her work spans 2008–2021 , with a focus on: Seismic safety protocols for nuclear infrastructure Time-domain modeling of soil dynamics Comparison of simulation methods (2D vs 3D) Acoustic and vibration analysis in urban environments Integration of soil nonlinearities into structural design Dynamic load effects from trains and demolition
Prof. Dr.-Ing. H. Siegfried Stiehl is a retired Senior Professor (until Sept 2021) at the Department of Informatics, University of Hamburg. He previously held roles including Dean of the Faculty of Mathematics, Computer Science, and Natural Sciences (2001–2006), Vice President for Research (2007–2013), and Head of the Image Processing Research Group. His academic journey includes a PhD from TU Berlin (1980) and a Habilitation in Computer Vision (1987). Education: 1973: Ing. Degree in Ingenieur-Informatik, Fachhochschule Furtwangen 1976: Diploma in Computer Science, TU Berlin 1980: Dr.-Ing. Dissertation on medical image processing, TU Berlin Research focuses on Computer Vision , Computational Neuroscience , and Cognitive Science , with contributions to medical image registration, 3D landmark detection, and biomechanical modeling. Key projects include the EU-funded 'COVIRA' consortium (1989–1995) and leadership in the SFB 950 'Manuscript Cultures' project (2015–2019). His 110+ publications span biomedical image registration, elastic deformation algorithms, and real-time signal processing. Notable collaborations include work with institutions like the University of Pennsylvania, University of Birmingham, and Philips Research. Leadership roles include organizing scientific events, serving on editorial boards (e.g., Biological Cybernetics), and founding the Interdisciplinary Nanoscience Center Hamburg (INCH) in 2001. His research has addressed challenges in neurosurgical interventions, VLSI implementation of neural networks, and interdisciplinary education.
Max Wardetzky is a Professor at the Institute for Numerical and Applied Mathematics within the Faculty of Mathematics and Computer Science at the University of Göttingen, Germany. His office is located at Lotzestraße 16-18, 37083 Göttingen, and he can be reached via email at wardetzky@math.uni-goettingen.de or by phone at +49 551 39 26778. Professor Wardetzky leads the Discrete Differential Geometry Lab at the University of Göttingen, where he conducts research at the intersection of mathematics, computer science, and geometry processing. His work bridges theoretical foundations with practical applications in computer graphics and scientific computing. His primary research interests include: Applied Geometry Discrete Differential Geometry Numerical Analysis Geometry Processing Physical Simulation Computer Graphics Professor Wardetzky's extensive publication record demonstrates significant contributions to the field of discrete differential geometry and its applications. His work shows a consistent focus on developing mathematically rigorous yet computationally efficient methods for geometric problems. Key trends in his research include the development of discrete analogues of smooth geometric objects, the study of convergence properties between discrete and continuous models, and the application of these methods to problems in computer graphics and physical simulation. Professor Wardetzky has made substantial contributions to the theoretical foundations of discrete differential geometry while maintaining strong connections to practical applications. His work on discrete Laplacians, curvature approximations, and geometric flows has influenced both theoretical mathematics and practical geometry processing algorithms.
Dr. Magdalena Schreter-Fleischhacker works at the Technical University of Munich within the Professorship of Simulation for Additive Manufacturing . Her research focuses on physics-based computational modeling of coupled liquid-powder-gas dynamics in metal additive manufacturing, including melt pool dynamics and powder-gas interactions . She specializes in multi-phase flow modeling using cut-element and diffuse interface methods with continuous/discontinuous Galerkin schemes . She also develops constitutive models for quasi-brittle materials like 3D printed concrete and rock, incorporating anisotropy , gradient-enhanced damage mechanics , and micropolar continua . Her computational work leverages matrix-free algorithms and parallel computing , with significant contributions to the deal.II finite element library . Research Interests Physics-based computational modeling of coupled liquid-powder-gas dynamics in additive manufacturing Multi-phase flow simulation using sharp/diffuse interface methods Advanced constitutive modeling for quasi-brittle materials (rock, soils, 3D printed concrete) High-performance computing and matrix-free algorithms Notable Contributions Development of consistent diffuse-interface models for melt-vapor dynamics Improvements to continuum surface flux models in additive manufacturing Formulation of gradient-enhanced damage-plasticity models for geological materials Principal contributor to the deal.II library (version 9.6) Supervised Student Projects Johannes Resch (2024): DG-based thermo-hydrodynamic melt pool simulations Julian Brotz (2024): DEM-FEM coupling for fluid-powder interaction Andreas Ritthaler (2024): Matrix-free cutDG formulation for complex flows Tinh Vo (2023): Laser modeling for melt pool simulations Scientific Awards ERC Starting Grant recipient
Dr. Stephan Rave is a Researcher in the Institute for Analysis and Numerics at the University of Münster. He is affiliated with the Applied Mathematics Münster cluster and serves as an Investigator in Mathematics Münster. His work focuses on numerical analysis, scientific computing, and machine learning, with a strong emphasis on model reduction techniques for complex systems. Education : PhD in Mathematics (2012), University of Münster, thesis on finitely summable K-homology. Master's and Bachelor's degrees in Mathematics from the University of Münster. Research Interests : Dr. Rave specializes in model order reduction (MOR) methods, including reduced basis techniques, localized orthogonal decomposition (LOD), and nonlinear approximation strategies. His work addresses challenges in multiscale modeling, domain decomposition, and parametrized partial differential equations. He also develops open-source software tools like pyMOR for MOR and contributes to initiatives like the MaRDI (Mathematical Research Data Initiative) to enhance interoperability in scientific computing. Projects : Key initiatives include the MaRDI project (2021–2026), EXC 2044 Cluster of Excellence (Geometry-based modeling), and MULTIBAT (lithium-ion battery simulation). His research bridges theoretical developments with practical applications in battery modeling, electrochemistry, and computational fluid dynamics. Grants & Awards : Funded by DFG, the German Federal Ministry of Research, and internal university grants, his work addresses strategic areas like sustainable research software and energy storage systems. He leads projects on distributed model reduction and communication-avoiding algorithms. Teaching : Dr. Rave teaches advanced numerical methods courses, including Model Order Reduction, Numerical Methods for PDEs, and Python-based computational labs. He co-organizes seminars and workshops on MOR and scientific software engineering.
Jens von Wolfersdorf is a Professor at the University of Stuttgart's Faculty of Engineering, Department of Mechanical Engineering. His research focuses on advanced thermal management systems for high-speed aerospace applications, particularly in the areas of heat transfer, fluid dynamics, and combustion. He specializes in experimental and numerical methods for analyzing complex flows in rotating and stationary cooling channels, transpiration cooling for rocket engines, and turbulence modeling. His work integrates cutting-edge techniques such as thermochromic liquid crystal (TLC) measurements, particle image velocimetry (PIV), and computational fluid dynamics (CFD) to validate novel cooling configurations. Key projects include the COOREFLEX-Turbo initiative and contributions to the European ATLLAS-II program for high-speed vehicle materials. Recent studies emphasize rotational heat transfer effects in two-pass cooling channels, additive manufacturing of ribbed cooling structures, and validation of coupled FEM-CFD frameworks. His research addresses challenges in aerospace thermal protection, turbine blade cooling, and scramjet combustor efficiency. Publications span over 15 years, with a focus on transient heat transfer, flow visualization, and material characterization for transpiration-cooled systems. Collaborations involve experimental facilities for high-speed flows and advanced thermal measurement systems.
Dr. Constantin Christof is a Lecturer (Akademischer Rat auf Zeit) at the Department of Mathematics , Technische Universität München , with prior roles as a W2 Stand-in Professor at Universität Augsburg and Research Associate at TUM and TU Dortmund. His research focuses on Optimal Control of PDEs , Variational Inequalities , and Nonsmooth Optimization , with applications in Non-Newtonian Fluids and Neural Networks . May 2015 - July 2018: Dr. rer. nat. in Mathematics, TU Dortmund Oct. 2013 - July 2014: MAST (Part III of Mathematical Tripos), University of Cambridge Oct. 2009 - Sept. 2012: B.Sc. in Technomathematics and Mathematics, TU Dortmund Christof's work bridges Finite Element Error Analysis , Sensitivity Analysis , and Physics-Guided Machine Learning , particularly in problems involving Contact Mechanics and Parabolic PDE Constraints . His recent publications address challenges in Semilinear Elliptic PDEs , Obstacle Problems , and Nonsmooth Superposition Operators , with a focus on theoretical and numerical advancements. Scientific awards include the Dissertation Award and Best Graduate Award from TU Dortmund, and the Award for Academic Excellence by the Minister President of North Rhine-Westphalia. He has supervised 11 theses at the Master's and Bachelor's levels, covering topics from Neural Network Surrogate Models to Bingham Fluid Simulations .
Prof. Dr. Irwin Yousept is a Full Professor of Mathematics at Universität Duisburg-Essen, leading the research group AG Optimal Control of Partial Differential Equations. His work focuses on the mathematical analysis and numerical solutions of electromagnetic problems, particularly in superconductivity and inverse problems. He holds a PhD from TU Berlin (2008) and has held academic positions at TU Darmstadt and TU Berlin. His research includes PDE-constrained optimization, numerical analysis, and applications in high-temperature superconductivity and electromagnetic shielding. Affiliations: Universität Duisburg-Essen, Fakultät für Mathematik Education: Diplom (2005), PhD (2008) in Mathematics from TU Berlin Research interests span Maxwell's equations, numerical methods for PDEs, and optimal control, with applications in superconductivity, electromagnetic shielding, and induction heating. He has authored over 40 publications and received awards including the Richard-von-Mises-Preis GAMM (2014). Current grants include DFG-funded projects on inverse problems and superconductivity.
Prof. Boris Vexler, born in 1977 in Moscow, Russia, is a Professor of Optimal Control at the TUM Department of Mathematics under the TUM School of Computation, Information and Technology . He has served as Dean of Studies since 2015 and as speaker of the International Research Training Group IGDK 1754 since 2012. Education: Diploma (2000) and Ph.D. (2004) in Mathematics from the University of Heidelberg; Habilitation (2008) from the University of Graz. His research focuses on numerical analysis of partial differential equations (PDEs) , particularly finite element methods for optimal control problems governed by parabolic, elliptic, and hyperbolic PDEs. Key contributions include error estimates , adaptive discretization , and handling state constraints and measure-valued controls . Recent publications emphasize transient Stokes equations , Navier-Stokes control , and sparsity-constrained optimization . His work often integrates scientific computing and uncertainty quantification . Scientific Awards: Award for best supervisor of the elite degree program TopMath (2018) Finalist, ECCOMAS Prize for best dissertation (2005) Leslie Fox Prize in Numerical Analysis, 2nd place (2004)
Prof. Dr. Lubomir Banas is a full-time Professor at the Faculty of Mathematics , University of Bielefeld. His research focuses on numerical analysis of stochastic partial differential equations (SPDEs) , particularly in micromagnetism, phase field models, and stochastic games. He leads Subproject B03 in the SFB 1283 project 'Taming Uncertainty and Profiting from Randomness and Low Regularity in Analysis, Stochastics and Their Applications.' Research Interests: Numerical methods for SPDEs and singular-degenerate PDEs Adaptive finite element techniques and a posteriori estimates Phase field models (Cahn-Hilliard, obstacle potentials) Stochastic games with asymmetric information Computational micromagnetism and magnetostriction Self-organized criticality and nonlinear stochastic flows Recent work includes: 2025: Numerical approximation of biharmonic wave maps and stochastic games 2024: Sharp interface limits for stochastic Cahn-Hilliard equations 2023: Singular-degenerate SPDEs and a posteriori estimates 2022: Stochastic total variation flow and Hamilton-Jacobi-Bellman equations 2021: Nematic electrolytes and homogenization of two-phase flows He serves on examination boards for Bachelor's and Master's programs in Mathematics and Mathematical Physics, and supervises graduate students within the Bielefeld Graduate School in Theoretical Sciences . His publications (over 30) address convergence analysis, error estimation, and computational modeling in applied mathematics.
Jakob Wagner is a Research Fellow at the Technical University of Munich (TUM), affiliated with the School of Computation, Information and Technology and the Department of Mathematics. He works within the Chair of Optimal Control under Prof. Boris Vexler and serves as an Invited Lecturer at Kutaisi International University in Georgia since 2022. His educational background includes a Master's degree in Mathematics from TUM (2019-2020, grade 1.0) and a Bachelor's degree in Mathematics from TUM (2014-2018, grade 1.2). Wagner's research focuses on Optimal Control of fluid dynamics equations, particularly the Navier-Stokes and Stokes systems. He specializes in Finite Element Methods and rigorous Error Estimates for discretizations of partial differential equations. His work addresses time-dependent problems, state constraints, and boundary control mechanisms in computational fluid dynamics, with significant contributions to stream-function formulations and pressure boundary conditions. Analysis of his publication record reveals a concentrated research trajectory in numerical analysis of incompressible flow control. His work consistently advances theoretical foundations for finite element discretizations, emphasizing fully discrete error analysis and pointwise constraints across Stokes and Navier-Stokes frameworks. Key innovations include novel approaches to blood flow modeling and ocean current reconstruction through coupled ODE systems. Wagner actively mentors students, supervising Master's theses by Alexandro Jedaidi (2025, ocean current reconstruction), Chenhong Lin (2025, Stokes equations), and Hendrik Bruhse (2023, parabolic problems), plus Noah An der Lan's Bachelor thesis (2025, Bayesian experiment design). His teaching portfolio spans Analysis, Optimization, and Numerical Methods courses at TUM and Kutaisi International University. He operates within TUM's Chair of Optimal Control research ecosystem, contributing to international collaborations through conference presentations at GAMM Annual Meetings and specialized symposia, while maintaining active involvement in computational mathematics projects including robotic swarm applications for radio imaging.
Boris Kaus is a Full Professor and Chair of Geophysics and Geodynamics at the Institute of Geosciences, Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Germany. His research focuses on understanding geological processes from grain scale to planetary scale using mathematical and numerical models. Funded by the German Research Foundation, European Research Council, and BMBF, his work spans lithospheric deformation, melt migration, fold-and-thrust belts, and high-performance computing applications in geosciences. His research interests center on geodynamic modeling of lithospheric processes, including subduction zones, mantle convection, and crustal deformation. Kaus develops novel numerical approaches to simulate complex geological phenomena, with emphasis on coupling between erosion, lithosphere dynamics, and mantle flow. His group creates specialized software for high-performance computing systems to tackle multi-scale geophysical problems. His scientific awards include the Paul Niggli Medal, EGU Arne Richter Award, multiple ERC grants (Starting, Proof-of-Concept, Consolidator), and the Carl Friedrich Gauss Lecturer honor. He has received recognition for editorial contributions including G-Cubed's Excellence in Refereeing award. ERC Consolidator Grant MAGMA (2018-2023) ERC Proof of Concept Grant SALTED (2016-2017) ERC Starting Grant MODEL (2010-2015) John von Neumann Excellence Project for HPC ETH Medal for Ph.D. thesis Kaus actively supervises graduate students and leads research projects funded by major European and German agencies. His group develops open-source software like GeophysicalModelGenerator.jl and maintains strong collaborations with international institutions including ETH Zürich and USC. Current projects focus on magma dynamics, lithospheric shear localization, and the development of advanced numerical methods for geodynamic simulations. The research group operates within the Geodynamics & Geophysics team at JGU Mainz, utilizing high-performance computing resources and collaborating with multiple European research initiatives including IMPRS and FORTHEM networks. Their laboratory specializes in numerical modeling of Earth systems with applications to tectonics, volcanology, and crustal evolution.
Max Planck Institute for Dynamics of Complex Technical SystemsGermany
Tony Stillfjord is an Associate Professor at the Centre for Mathematical Sciences, Lund University, Sweden. He previously held postdoctoral positions at the Max Planck Institute for Dynamics of Complex Technical Systems and Chalmers/University of Gothenburg. Ph.D. and MSc in Numerical Analysis from Lund University Funded by WASP (Wallenberg AI, Autonomous Systems and Software Program) Research Interests : Numerical methods for partial differential equations, splitting schemes, stochastic optimization, and large-scale differential Riccati equations. His work focuses on developing low-rank approximations and robust optimization algorithms. Recent Publications highlight advancements in Lie/Strang splitting for operator-valued Riccati equations, stochastic descent methods, and GPU-accelerated splitting schemes. Software Contributions : Developed DREsplit (MATLAB package for differential Riccati equations) and BST20_CODE for stochastic optimization experiments. Contact : Office at MH:562E, Lund University. Email: tony.stillfjord@math.lth.se . URL: tonystillfjord.net
