Ulman Lindenberger is a Professor of Psychology and Managing Director of the Max Planck Institute for Human Development . He also serves as Director of the Research Center for Lifespan Psychology and Co-Director of the Max Planck UCL Centre for Computational Psychiatry and Ageing Research . Education : Dipl.-Psych. (1985), Dr. phil. (1990), Habilitation in Psychology (1998), Qualification for Psychology Professorships (France, 1999) Research Interests focus on behavioral and neural plasticity across the lifespan , brain-behavior relations , lifespan developmental theory , and formal models of behavioral change . His work integrates multivariate developmental methodology to study cognitive aging, neuromodulation, and social cognition. Scientific Awards include: Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz Prize (2010) Fellowships from the Association for Psychological Science, American Psychological Association, and Gerontological Society of America Membership in the German National Academy of Sciences Leopoldina and Royal Society Supervision : Principal advisor for 28 completed doctoral dissertations (1998–2013). Grants : Led 7 DFG-funded and 12 Max Planck Society/Federal Ministry-funded projects (1993–2013). Labs : Directs the Research Center for Lifespan Psychology and co-directs the Max Planck UCL Centre for Computational Psychiatry and Ageing Research.
Omid Reza Abbasi is a Research Fellow in Geoinformatics at the University of Salzburg , specializing in the integration of Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, and Geographic Information Systems (GIS) to address complex spatial challenges. His work spans diverse domains including spatio-temporal modeling, human mobility prediction, and semantic similarity measures in geospatial contexts. Projects : Collaborated on 'RegioWoodTrain,' a project focusing on sustainable regional wood transport through cooperative supply chain management using simulation and AI technologies. Research Interests : Omid's research emphasizes the application of AI and GIS in urban planning, transportation systems, and social media analysis. Key areas include: Large Language Models (LLMs) for geographical representation Semantic similarity assessment in geospatial data Human mobility pattern prediction using social networks Accessibility in WebGIS via audio interfaces Recommender systems for tourism and retail Spatio-temporal analysis of public services and environmental impacts Publications : His recent work explores the use of LLMs in GIS, novel semantic similarity metrics, and spatio-temporal modeling for urban governance. Articles from 2018-2025 highlight trends in AI-driven spatial analysis, collective mobility prediction, and georeferencing of semi-structured data. Contact : Email: omidreza.abbasi@plus.ac.at
Erich Schröger is a Professor for Cognitive and Biological Psychology at the University of Leipzig , with a career spanning over three decades. His research intersects psychophysiology and cognitive neuroscience , focusing on attention, perception, memory, and auditory processing. Bakkalaureat in Philosophy (Hochschule für Philosophie München, 1982) Diplom in Psychology (LMU Munich, 1986) Dr. phil. in Psychology (LMU Munich, 1991) Habilitation in Psychology (LMU Munich, 1996) His research explores auditory cognitive neuroscience , including predictive processing, neural oscillations, and event-related brain potentials. He has pioneered studies on auditory scene analysis and the neural mechanisms underlying attentional control and memory encoding. Scientific awards include the Werner Heisenberg Medal (2022) and the Distinguished Scientific Award for an Early Career Contribution to Psychophysiology (1996) . He has also received the Reinhart-Koselleck Grant (DFG, 2009) and held leadership roles in the German Research Foundation (DFG) and the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation. Erich Schröger has served as an editor for Psychophysiology , International Journal of Psychophysiology , and Brain Research , advising over 70 journals and 38 scientific organizations. His work has been cited >24,000 times (Google Scholar h-index: 57).
Professor Peter Jonas is a leading neuroscientist at IST Austria, specializing in synaptic transmission mechanisms and their role in neural circuits. He holds the Magdalena Walz Professorship for Life Sciences and leads the Jonas Group, focusing on nanophysiological studies of synapses using advanced techniques like optogenetics and flash-and-freeze electron microscopy. His research bridges biophysical mechanisms with network functions in the hippocampus and cortex. Education & Career: MD, University of Giessen (1987) Professorships at University of Freiburg (1995–2010), Technical University of Munich (1994–1995), and currently at IST Austria since 2010 Research Interests: Synaptic signaling and plasticity at glutamatergic/GABAergic synapses Role of presynaptic calcium channels and vesicle dynamics Neural coding in hippocampal circuits Mechanisms of gamma oscillations via inhibitory interneurons Awards & Honors: ERC Advanced Grants (2010, 2016), Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz Award (2006) Member of EMBO, Leopoldina Academy, and Academia Europaea Lab & Team: Jonas Group at IST Austria includes postdocs, PhD students, and technical staff Current projects: Mossy fiber synapse plasticity, synaptic ultrastructure, and in vivo network modeling
Anja Ischebeck is a Professor of General Psychology at the Institute of Psychology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Karl-Franzens-University Graz. She is a member of the university's "Complexity of Life" profile area and participates in the "Brain and behavior" research network. ORCID: 0000-0002-3493-2848 Research Interests: Her work focuses on cognitive architecture, blending number and language processing with higher cognitive functions. Key areas include executive functions, attention, memory, learning processes, and brain imaging techniques (fMRI, EEG). Recent Research Trends: Publications emphasize visual search dynamics, numerical cognition, and neural correlates of attention and memory. Sub-fields span from perceptual judgment to experimental psychology and brain imaging. Grants: She has led projects funded by the Austrian Science Fund (FWF), exploring arithmetic strategies (2010–2014) and visual search (2015–2020).
Carlos Fiolhais is a distinguished Full Professor of Physics at the Department of Physics, University of Coimbra, where he has served since achieving this rank in 2000 after progressing through Associate and Assistant Professor positions at the same institution. Born in Lisbon in 1956, he graduated in Physics from the University of Coimbra in 1978 and earned his PhD in Theoretical Physics from Goethe University in Frankfurt/Main, Germany in 1982. His academic career includes sabbatical leaves at Tulane University in New Orleans (1991 and 1997) and professorships in the United States and Brazil. Fiolhais's research interests span three primary areas: Computational Condensed Matter Physics, History of Science, and Physics Education. As founder and director of the Center for Computational Physics at the University of Coimbra, he championed the installation of Portugal's largest computer for scientific computing. His work extends to science communication and public engagement through his direction of the 'Rómulo - Ciência Viva Center of the University of Coimbra' and regular contributions to the national newspaper 'Público.' Analysis of his publication record reveals a diverse scholarly output with significant contributions across multiple domains. His work demonstrates a consistent pattern of bridging theoretical physics with historical context and educational applications. The articles reflect strong interdisciplinary connections between computational methods, historical analysis, and pedagogical innovation, with increasing emphasis on digital approaches to physics education in recent years. Major Awards and Honors: Latin Union Prize for scientific translation (1994) União Latina - JNICT Prize for scientific translation (2005) Gold Globe of Merit and Excellence in Science (SIC TV channel) (2005) Order of Henry the Navigator (2005) Rómulo de Carvalho Prize (University of Évora) (2006) Innovation Prize by Third Millennium Forum (2006) BBVA Prize for the best article in teaching Physics in the Ibero-American space (2012) Innovation Prize Manuel Pinto de Azevedo Júnior (2012) Throughout his career, Fiolhais has demonstrated exceptional leadership in academic administration, having served as Director of the Computer Center of the University of Coimbra, Chairman of the Interdisciplinary Research Institute, Director of the General Library, and member of the Scientific Board of the Foundation for Science and Technology. His supervisory work includes mentoring numerous M.Sc. and Ph.D. students, though specific names aren't documented in the available sources. He has also coordinated multiple research projects and contributed significantly to science policy through his involvement with the Francisco Manuel dos Santos Foundation, where he created the GPS - Global Portuguese Scientists network. Fiolhais has established several notable institutional structures including the Center for Computational Physics, the Rómulo - Ciência Viva Center, and the Integrated Library Service of the University of Coimbra (SIBUC), along with digital repositories 'Estudo Geral' and 'Almamater.' His entrepreneurial spirit is evident in co-founding Coimbra Genomics and maintaining the blog 'De Rerum Natura.'
Wim Vanduffel is a Full Professor at the Faculty of Medicine, KU Leuven, Belgium, and maintains visiting appointments at Harvard Medical School and Massachusetts General Hospital. His research bridges neuroscience and radiology, focusing on advanced imaging techniques in nonhuman primates and humans. Education: 1990 M.S. in Biology, Zoology (Physiology) from KU Leuven 1997 Ph.D. in Medical Sciences from KU Leuven Research interests include functional imaging at sub-millimeter resolution, anatomical and functional connectivity , optogenetics , and cognitive neuroscience . He pioneered awake nonhuman primate fMRI, enabling evolutionary comparisons of cortical areas relevant to human diseases like autism and schizophrenia. Scientific awards include the Laureate Jan Kets, Zoo Antwerp (1986) Queen Elisabeth Medical Foundation Prize Janine and Jacques Delruelle (2011) He has led significant grants such as a €3.5 million IUAP project and the HuMoLogous grant within the Human Brain Project. Vanduffel co-organized international workshops (e.g., INCF Antwerp 2013) and symposia, and serves on scientific advisory boards for Oxford Imaging Group, BioMacs, European Neuroscience Institute Göttingen, and Neurospin Paris.
Univ.-Prof. Mag.rer.nat. Dr.phil. Martin Arendasy serves as a Professor at the Institute of Psychology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Graz. His research focuses on applied psychometrics, innovations in psychological test design, intelligence and personality diagnostics, and methodological advancements in multivariate analysis and machine learning applications. 2021-2023: Deputy Director of the Institute 2019-2021: Director of the Institute 2012-present: Expert group MedAT-H/MedAT-Z admission procedure 2020-present: Member of CUKO Doctoral Studies in Natural Sciences His research networks include Brain and Behavior and Dimensions of Europe , with significant contributions to automated item generation and medical school admissions testing. He received the 2011 Specialist Group award for computer-assisted diagnostics. Recent publications analyze automated test generation, measurement fairness, cognitive underpinnings of computational thinking, and pandemic impacts on education. His work combines psychometric rigor with technological innovations in testing frameworks.
Martin Weichbold is an Associate Professor of Sociology and Empirical Social Research at the University of Salzburg, Austria. He serves as Vice Rector of Academic Affairs and holds leadership roles in international academic networks, including General Secretary of ISA RC 33 (Logic and Methodology of Sociology). His work bridges sociological theory with methodological innovation, focusing on data quality and cross-cultural research challenges. Studied sociology, political science, and psychology Expertise in empirical research methods and digital data analysis His research explores data quality in surveys, cross-cultural methodology, and social inequalities. Recent publications address Big Data classification, nursing home populations, and migrant sampling frameworks. He has contributed to interdisciplinary fields including healthcare, cultural studies, and historical social research. Notable roles include past presidency of the Austrian Sociological Association (2017-2019) and leadership in designing methodological solutions for hard-to-reach populations. He collaborates internationally through the International Sociological Association.
Roswitha Enzelberger is a Research Associate at the University of Applied Sciences Wiener Neustadt, affiliated with the Faculty of Economics and Department of Food Science . Her work focuses on sensory evaluation, consumer testing, and methodological advancements in food science. Research Areas: Sensory evaluation of exotic organic spices, herbs, teas, and olive leaves; development of rapid sensory methods (CATA, napping); innovation in meat and chocolate products; consumer behavior studies. Awards: BNE Auszeichnung 2023 for sustainability contributions Collaborations: Active in projects involving interdisciplinary teams, including EIP-AGRI initiatives and DLG Lebensmitteltag conferences. Publications: 25 publications across sensory methodology, organic food acceptance, and climate-friendly formulations, with a focus on practical applications for SMEs.
Dr. Manuel Mühlbacher is a University Assistant at the Department of Romance Studies within the Faculty of Philological and Cultural Studies at the University of Vienna. His academic profile reflects deep expertise in Romance Philology and Comparative Literature, with particular focus on narrative theory and early modern literature. His recent habilitation at LMU Munich (awarded May 7, 2025) on 'The Wound as a Principle of Narrative: Ariosto, Cervantes, and the Transformation of Adventure in the Early Modern Period' represents a significant scholarly achievement. His research interests span narrative theory, particularly adventure narratives across historical periods; 18th century French philosophy (with emphasis on Condillac and Diderot); memory studies in relation to narrative structure; and the intersection of violence and storytelling. His work demonstrates how literary wounds function as narrative structural elements that both propel and conclude adventure stories. His research output reveals a consistent exploration of how adventure narratives balance contingency and providence, with particular attention to Ariosto's Orlando furioso and Cervantes' Don Quixote . His habilitation thesis argues that wounds in adventure narratives have the 'miraculous property of healing without a trace' and that there is 'an inherent affinity between wounding and narrative.' Venia Legendi for Romance Philology and General and Comparative Literature at LMU Munich (2025) Mühlbacher's teaching portfolio at the University of Vienna includes courses on Italian literary landmarks, French cinema comedy, narrative beginnings in French novels, and the fragmentation of self in Svevo and Pirandello. His academic journey includes a B.A. in Comparative Literature and Literary Theory from LMU Munich (2011), an M.St. in Modern Languages from Oxford University (2013), and a Ph.D. from LMU Munich (2017).
Nicole Hirschmann is affiliated with the Faculty of Psychology and the Department of Developmental and Educational Psychology . Her research focuses on cognitive development, learning disorders, and diagnostic methodologies in child and adolescent populations. She actively contributes to clinical and educational psychology through peer-reviewed publications and professional talks. Her research interests include the Flynn Effect, spatial-cognitive functions, and the application of diagnostic tools for learning and developmental disorders. Recent work addresses problematic media use in youth, ICD-11 guidelines for learning disorder diagnostics, and culturally sensitive assessments of social-emotional competencies. Dr. Hirschmann has presented at multiple academic events on topics like learning disorder diagnostics and therapeutic interventions. She has authored/co-authored 13 publications across peer-reviewed journals and edited volumes, with a focus on practical applications in clinical and educational settings.
Peter Pagin is a Professor of Theoretical Philosophy at Stockholm University's Department of Philosophy. He holds a PhD from Stockholm University (1987) under the supervision of Dag Prawitz. His academic career includes roles such as Lecturer (1994–2001), Researcher (1991–1993), and Post-doctoral Fellow (1987–1991) at Stockholm University. He has been a Visiting Professor at the University of Barcelona (2008) and EHESS/IEA-Paris (2010). Research Focus: Philosophy of Language, Formal Semantics, Vagueness, Pragmatics, and Epistemology. Key Projects: Led or participated in over a dozen research initiatives, including those funded by The Swedish Research Council and The Bank of Sweden Tercentenary Foundation. Research Interests: Pagin’s work centers on compositionality, pragmatic enrichment, the semantics of vague predicates, and the philosophy of assertion. Notable contributions include theories on coherence-driven enrichment and critiques of structured propositions. Awards & Honors: Member of the Rolf Schock Prize Committee for Logic and Philosophy (2009). Associate member of LOGOS (Barcelona) and CeLL (University of London). Advising: Supervised five PhD students, including Mikael Janvid and Arvid Båve, focusing on epistemology, truth predicates, and vagueness. Labs/Teams: Collaborated with international networks like EURO-XPRAG and PETAF, exploring experimental pragmatics and language training.
Cecilia Poletto is a Professor of Linguistics at Goethe University Frankfurt (since 2011) and holds a part-time professorship at the University of Padua (since 2016). Her research focuses on Germanic and Romance syntax, microvariation, and historical morphosyntax. She has held a permanent research position at the Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (CNR) in Padua from 1995 to 2005 and served as an Associate Professor at the University of Venice (2005–2011). Her work bridges formal syntax with diachronic and dialectological perspectives, particularly examining quantifier placement, complementizer phrase structure, and null subject phenomena in Old Italian. She has contributed influential studies on remnant movement, smuggling operations in interrogatives, and multilingual competence effects in Italian-German bilinguals. Awarded Fellow of the CNR since 2017, she also served on Italy’s national professor evaluation committee (2016–2018). Her research has been published in top journals like Glossa and Frontiers in Psychology , alongside monographs on Old Italian word order and Northern Italian dialect syntax.
Gilberto Fisone serves as Professor and Chair of the Department of Neuroscience at Karolinska Institutet since 2018, holding concurrent roles as Scientific Director of the Animal Behavior Core Facility and member of multiple international advisory boards including the Neuroscience Institute Cavaliere Ottolenghi in Turin. His academic lineage includes professorships at The Rockefeller University and leadership of Sweden's National Network in Neuroscience. His research focuses on Parkinson's disease mechanisms with emphasis on dopamine signaling, neurotransmission, and neurodegenerative processes. Key investigations explore L-DOPA-induced dyskinesia, non-motor symptoms like anxiety and sleep disruption, and innovative approaches including phage-based neural stimulation. His experimental work integrates molecular neuroscience with behavioral phenotyping using advanced Parkinson's disease models. Analysis of his recent publications reveals strong concentration on translational Parkinson's research, particularly dopaminergic pathways, neural circuit dysfunction, and therapeutic interventions targeting motor and non-motor symptoms. The work spans molecular mechanisms to behavioral outcomes with significant international collaborations. Fisone actively contributes to scientific governance through editorial roles at PLoS One and Frontiers journals, plus extensive peer review for major funding bodies including ERC and EU neurodegenerative disease programs. He directs multiple major research initiatives including EU Horizon2020 projects on Parkinson's comorbidities and Lundbeck Foundation research on brainstem locomotor circuits. His laboratory maintains strong focus on doctoral training with 8 PhD students supervised to completion plus ongoing mentorship.
