Prof. Dr. Markus Zimmermann leads the Chair of Product Development and Lightweight Design at the Technical University of Munich (TUM). With a background in mechanical engineering from TU Berlin and the University of Michigan, and a doctorate from MIT on solid-state singularities, he bridges academic rigor with industrial application. His career spans 12 years at BMW focusing on vehicle development before transitioning to academia. Specializes in solution space engineering for robust design Expert in additive manufacturing and systems engineering Develops methodologies for managing design complexity and uncertainty His research focuses on multidisciplinary design optimization and lightweight structures , particularly in robotics and automotive systems . His team applies digital twin frameworks and attribute dependency graphs to enhance design processes. Recent publications emphasize topology optimization in robotic systems and thermal management for medical X-ray sources. Key trends in his 2024-2025 publications include: Topological optimization for additive manufacturing and robotics Application of solution spaces to manage design uncertainty Development of compact X-ray systems for medical therapy Integration of digital twin technologies in industrial contexts
Max Planck Institute for Intelligent SystemsGermany
Achim Menges is a Research Professor and Max Planck Fellow at the University of Stuttgart, where he directs the Institute for Computational Design and Construction (ICD). His work bridges architecture, engineering, and computational design, with a focus on developing innovative construction methods and materials. Menges leads the Cluster of Excellence IntCDC: Integrative Computational Design and Construction for Architecture, a major research initiative funded by the German Research Foundation. Menges' research centers on computational design, robotic construction, and biomimetic architecture, with particular emphasis on timber construction, adaptive building systems, and digital fabrication. His work integrates principles from bionics to create responsive, sustainable building systems that adapt to environmental conditions. Notable projects include the BUGA Wood Pavilion (2019), Urbach Tower, BUGA Fibre Pavilion, and the livMatS Biomimetic Shell, all demonstrating his commitment to material innovation and sustainable construction practices. His recent publications reveal a consistent focus on advancing timber construction techniques, developing bio-inspired responsive systems, and implementing robotic fabrication processes. The research shows a clear trajectory toward more sustainable, resource-efficient building methods that integrate digital design with physical construction processes. Menges' work increasingly addresses multi-story timber systems and circular construction principles. Bauwende Prize der Universität Stuttgart 2025 Menges leads numerous research initiatives through the Cluster of Excellence IntCDC, securing significant funding for projects exploring computational design and robotic construction. His work involves extensive collaboration with industry partners and interdisciplinary research teams. Menges directs the ICD research laboratory, which focuses on developing novel computational design methods, robotic fabrication processes, and innovative material systems for architecture. The institute maintains strong partnerships with industry leaders in construction technology and materials science, facilitating the translation of research into practical applications.
Prof. Dr.-Ing. Ahmad Osman is a Professor at the Saarland University of Applied Sciences (htw saar), specializing in Test Technologies and Test Methods within the Faculty of Engineering. He also holds an Adjunct Professor position at Laval University in Quebec, Canada, in the Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science. His research focuses on Artificial Intelligence applications in Signal and Image Processing for Non-destructive Testing (NDT) , with extensive work on Deep Learning , 3D Ultrasound Tomography , and Sensor Data Fusion in industrial contexts. Engineering Artificial Intelligence Signal Processing Image Processing Non-destructive Testing Quality Control Augmented Reality Osman leads the AutomaTiQ research group and serves as Head of the Algorithms/Signal and Data Processing Department at Fraunhofer IZFP . His recent publications (2017–2022) emphasize Deep Learning for defect detection in CFRP , Terahertz Imaging for artwork diagnostics, and Acoustic Sensors for agricultural quality control. He has organized international conferences on Structural Health Monitoring and contributed to Springer books on NDT technologies. His projects include ComforTex-AI (2024) and development of 3D positioners for ultrasound measurements. Collaborations span institutions in Germany, Canada, Italy, and Brazil, with advisory roles in the German Society for NDT and technical committees for conferences in Montreal and Egypt.
Chantal Pellegrini is a Lecturer and PhD student at the Chair of Computer Aided Medical Procedures (Prof. Navab) at Technical University of Munich (TUM). Her research focuses on Deep Learning applications in medical imaging, including explainable AI for radiology report generation and Vision-Language Models for clinical decision support. She actively contributes to the DHM, NARVIS Lab, and RobUSt research groups. Teaching responsibilities include courses such as 'Computer Aided Medical Procedures', 'Medical Augmented Reality', and 'Surgical Robotics'. She supervises student projects in medical AI and healthcare innovation, with recent projects involving multimodal report generation and graph pretraining for medical applications. Education: BSc/MSc Computer Science (TUM), current PhD student since 2022 Labs: DHM (German Heart Center), NARVIS Lab, RobUSt Robotics & Ultrasound Research Keywords: Medical Image Understanding, Radiology Reports, LLMs in Healthcare Her publications span surgical OR dataset development, reinforcement learning for clinical decisions, and explainable X-ray diagnosis systems. She mentors MA/BA students in medical AI and project management for healthcare applications.
Jan Knippers is a Professor and Institute Director at the University of Stuttgart's Faculty of Architecture and Urban Planning , leading the Institute of Building Structures and Structural Design (ITKE) . He co-founded Knippers Helbig Advanced Engineering and established Jan Knippers Ingenieure in 2018 to focus on innovative fiber composite and timber structures. Key roles: Deputy Executive Director of Cluster of Excellence IntCDC , former Vice-Rector for Research (2019-2021), and Dean of Faculty of Architecture (2021-2023) Technical focus: Hybrid FRP-Timber systems, computational design, and biomimetic principles His projects include the 2024 Hybrid Flax Pavilion , Urbach Tower (2024), and BUGA Fiber Pavilion (2019). He contributes to European standardization committees and serves as 2024 Leverhulme Visiting Professor at University College London.
Yuanbo Xiangli is a postdoctoral researcher at Cornell University , advised by Prof. Noah Snavely. Previously, he obtained his Ph.D. from the Multimedia Lab in the Department of Information Engineering at the Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) , supervised by Prof. Dahua Lin. His research focuses on 3D computer vision and deep generative modeling for urban scene reconstruction. 3D scene reconstruction from sparse images Neural rendering and Gaussian splatting Deep generative modeling for urban environments Multi-source geospatial data processing City-scale modeling and synthetic datasets His recent work includes advanced NeRF extensions (BungeeNeRF, GridNeRF), Gaussian splatting enhancements (GSDF, Scaffold-GS), and urban scene datasets (MatrixCity, OmniCity). A pioneer in combining classical vision techniques with modern deep learning approaches. ICLR 2020 Spotlight Award Collaborates with leading researchers in photorealistic rendering, including Noah Snavely and Dahua Lin. Develops systems enabling efficient 3D reconstruction from diverse data sources like satellite imagery and street-level panoramas.
Dr. Carolin Vollenberg serves as a Post-Doctoral Researcher at the Chair of Information Systems & Transformation Management within the Faculty of Computer Science at the University of Duisburg-Essen (UDE). Her academic journey includes a PhD from the University of Muenster (2021-2025), an M.Sc. in Technical Consulting and Management from Hochschule Hamm-Lippstadt (2018-2020), and a B.Eng. in Biomedical Technology from the same institution (2014-2018). Prior to her current position, she worked as a Research Assistant at South Westphalia University of Applied Sciences and gained industry experience at Zapp Systems GmbH. PhD in Business Informatics (2021-2025), University of Muenster M.Sc. Technical Consulting and Management (2018-2020), Hochschule Hamm-Lippstadt B.Eng. Biomedical Technology (2014-2018), Hochschule Hamm-Lippstadt Research Focus: Vollenberg specializes in the governance of lightweight IT systems, digital transformation in public and healthcare sectors, and process mining applications. Her work bridges technical implementation with organizational behavior, particularly examining resistance to automation in sensitive domains like healthcare. She investigates how organizations navigate unintended consequences of technology adoption, with emphasis on RPA (Robotic Process Automation), omnichannel transformation, and data-driven process optimization. Her research methodology combines ethnographic field studies with quantitative process analysis. Publication Trends: Analysis of her 16 publications (2020-2025) reveals strong focus on healthcare IT (45% of works), public sector digitalization (30%), and foundational process management (25%). Recent output shows increasing emphasis on ethical dimensions of process mining and sustainability applications. Her collaborative work spans multiple European institutions with consistent publication in top IS conferences (ICIS, ECIS, HICSS). Best Paper nomination at HICSS-55 (2022) Associate Editor for General Track at Internationale Tagung Wirtschaftsinformatik (WI) 2025 Professional Engagement: Vollenberg actively contributes to academic discourse through editorial roles and peer review. Her industry collaborations with healthcare providers and public sector entities demonstrate applied research impact. Current projects examine virtual nursing transformations and crisis-responsive RPA implementations, reflecting her commitment to solving real-world operational challenges through information systems innovation.
Christoph Gehlen is Professor and Chair of Materials and Materials Testing in Civil Engineering at the Technical University of Munich (TUM), based at Franz-Langinger-Str. 10 in Munich. His research group focuses on advanced concrete technologies, materials science, and digital construction methods, with significant contributions to additive manufacturing in civil engineering through the Collaborative Research Center TRR 277. His research spans concrete technology, durability assessment, and sustainable construction practices. Key interests include corrosion mechanisms in reinforced concrete, non-destructive testing methodologies, and additive manufacturing techniques like Selective Paste Intrusion (SPI). Recent work emphasizes 3D concrete printing for structural applications, life cycle assessment of printed elements, and fundamental studies on material behavior under environmental stressors including carbonation, chloride exposure, and freeze-thaw cycles. Analysis of his 15 most recent publications (2024-2025) reveals dominant research trajectories in digital fabrication of concrete structures, particularly SPI-based additive manufacturing. His work integrates materials science with structural engineering to develop functionally graded components, assess sustainability metrics, and solve reinforcement integration challenges. Significant interdisciplinary efforts address durability issues through electrochemical monitoring, coda wave interferometry, and advanced imaging techniques for concrete microstructure characterization. Gehlen leads the Chair of Materials and Materials Testing in Civil Engineering at TUM, which operates advanced laboratories for concrete characterization including confocal laser scanning microscopy and virtual testing environments. His team actively participates in TRR 277 (Additive Manufacturing in Construction), developing fabrication-aware design methods and experimental validation protocols for novel construction technologies.
Ruben Martins is an Assistant Professor at Carnegie Mellon University's School of Computer Science and serves as the program director of the Master of Science in Computer Science (MSCS) . His research focuses on the intersection of constraint programming, program synthesis, analysis, and verification, with recent work aiming to make formal methods tools more accessible through automated reasoning. Ruben earned his Ph.D. with honors from the Technical University of Lisbon, Portugal (2013) , followed by postdoctoral research at the University of Oxford (2014-2015) and UT Austin (2015-2017) . Research Interests : Ruben's work bridges constraint programming and program synthesis , with applications in software verification , optimization , and automated reasoning . He has developed award-winning tools like Open-WBO , a modular MaxSAT solver that has won gold medals in international competitions. His publications span top-tier venues such as POPL , PLDI , FSE , SAT , and CP , often addressing real-world challenges from program analysis to network security. Scientific Awards include: Distinguished Paper Award at PLDI 2018 Distinguished Paper Award at FSE 2021 Distinguished Paper Award at SAT 2022 Gold medals for Open-WBO in MaxSAT competitions Teaching & Advising : Ruben mentors Ph.D., Master’s, and undergraduate students in research projects related to program synthesis, formal methods, and constraint solving. He teaches courses such as Bug Catching: Automated Program Verification and Advanced Topics in Logic: Automated Reasoning and Satisfiability , emphasizing hands-on experience with tools like Why3. His advising spans topics from AI-driven program repair to network protocol verification , fostering collaboration across disciplines.
Prof. Dr.-Ing. Markus Stommel is the Head of the Department of Tailored Lightweight Composites at the Leibniz Institute for Polymer Research Dresden (IPF). His research focuses on developing sustainable, application-driven polymer materials through interdisciplinary approaches that integrate design, mechanical characterization, and computational modeling. The department emphasizes collaboration with academic and industrial partners to address real-world challenges in lightweight construction. Key Research Areas: Tailored lightweight composites Multi-material systems Structure-property relationships Mechanical and physicochemical characterization Sustainable polymer engineering Computational modeling of composite materials Collaborations: Partnerships in academia and industry for practical solutions.
Benjamin Klusemann is Professor of Materials Mechanics at the Institute for Production Engineering and Systems, Leuphana University of Lüneburg. He holds leadership positions including Chairman of the School of Management and Technology (2024), Chairman of the Masterprogramme, and Chairman of the Graduate School (since 2017), demonstrating his significant academic standing and administrative responsibilities within the university. His research spans multiple engineering disciplines with a strong focus on mechanics, process simulation, and material modeling. Professor Klusemann specializes in continuum mechanics and the finite element method, applying computational approaches to solve complex problems in materials science and manufacturing engineering. His work bridges theoretical modeling with practical applications in advanced manufacturing processes, particularly in friction-based joining techniques and material behavior analysis. Professor Klusemann's extensive publication record (224 publications) reveals a consistent research trajectory focused on advanced manufacturing techniques, particularly friction-based joining processes, material modeling, and simulation. His recent work emphasizes laser shock peening applications, intermetallic compound evolution in solid-state joining, and the mechanical behavior of nanocrystalline materials. His research demonstrates a strong interdisciplinary approach combining materials science, mechanical engineering, and computational modeling to address industrial challenges in lightweight materials processing. His notable scientific achievements include: Professor O.C.Zienkiewicz Award NUMIFORM 2023 Auszeichnung für herausragende Leistungen in der Forschung (Recognition for outstanding research achievements) ESAFORM Scientific Prize Professor Klusemann actively contributes to academic governance and the international research community. He has organized and participated in numerous conferences including ESAFORM, GAMM meetings, and specialized workshops on computational mechanics. His leadership extends to research projects focused on aluminum processing, material flow analysis, and data-driven design of recycled materials, demonstrating his commitment to both fundamental research and practical applications in manufacturing technology.
Nele Mentens is a full professor at both KU Leuven and Leiden University, where she leads cutting-edge research in applied cryptography, hardware security, and secure embedded systems. At KU Leuven, she is affiliated with the Faculty of Engineering Technology and the Electrical Engineering Department (ESAT), leading the Emerging Technologies, Systems & Security (ES&S) research group at the Diepenbeek campus. Simultaneously, she holds a full professorship at Leiden University’s Leiden Institute of Advanced Computer Science (LIACS), focusing on applied cryptography and security. She has been instrumental in numerous national and international research initiatives, including Horizon Europe and NWO-funded projects. Full Professor, KU Leuven (since 2023) Full Professor, Leiden University (since 2020) Associate Professor, KU Leuven (2014–2023) Post-doctoral Researcher & Lecturer, KHLim / KU Leuven (2007–2014) Ph.D. in Engineering Science, KU Leuven (2007) M.Sc. in Electrical Engineering, KU Leuven (2003) Her research focuses on secure and efficient hardware design, particularly for cryptographic applications on FPGAs, reconfigurable architectures, IoT security, and neuromorphic computing. She explores physical attack resistance, side-channel analysis protection, and trusted computing architectures, with applications in healthcare, industrial monitoring, and endpoint AI. Her work bridges theoretical cryptography with practical hardware implementations, emphasizing energy efficiency and real-time performance. The 15 most recent publications reflect a strong trend toward secure, energy-efficient, and intelligent embedded systems. Topics include neuromorphic AI accelerators, trusted IoT architectures, dynamic reconfiguration for side-channel protection, and secure medical data processing. These works span disciplines such as computer architecture, cybersecurity, digital design, and embedded systems, with a focus on hardware-software co-design and real-world deployment. Nele Mentens has received recognition for her contributions, including: Best Paper Award, DATE'16 Best Paper Nomination, AsianHOST'17 Best Paper Award, CHES'19 She has supervised over 15 Ph.D. students and post-docs, both current and former, and has served as principal investigator in approximately 25 funded research projects. Her work has attracted significant grants from Horizon Europe, NWO, FWO, and national innovation programs. She actively contributes to the academic community through editorial roles in top journals and leadership in major conferences. Nele Mentens leads the ES&S research group at KU Leuven and collaborates closely with LIACS at Leiden University. Her team includes Ph.D. students, post-docs, and research experts working on projects like NimbleAI, NeuroSoC, and TrustedIoT. She has also established secure electronics labs through infrastructure grants and maintains strong international ties with institutions such as EPFL, Ruhr University Bochum, and ETH Zurich.
Prof. Dr.-Ing. habil. Robert Böhm is a faculty member at the Faculty of Engineering , Leipzig University of Applied Sciences (HTWK Leipzig) , where he holds the Professorship for Lightweight Construction with Composite Materials . His research focuses on sustainable composite material applications, structural health monitoring, and additive manufacturing technologies. Key projects: EuReCOMP (circular economy for composites), SoKoROMed (soft robotics in medicine), and PRINTCAP (3D-printed structural supercapacitors). Active in EU clusters like Essence and Carbon Fibres & Advanced High Performance Composites . Leads the Composite Circularity Lab and Advanced Materials and Structures Lab , collaborating with institutions like York University and TU Dresden. His work bridges lightweight construction with applications in renewable energy, medical devices, and CO2-free mobility systems. He presented at the 2025 Intec Trade Fair in Leipzig, showcasing innovations like rotor blade-repurposed seating and noise-dampening 3D-printed components. The 15 most recent publications emphasize wind turbine blade recycling, structural supercapacitors, 3D-printed composites, and environmental impact assessments. Articles span 2022-2025, with keywords covering materials science, mechanical engineering, and renewable energy.
Prof. Dr.-Ing. Stephan Engelsmann is Professor of Structural Design and Structural Mechanics in the Department of Architecture at the State Academy of Fine Arts Stuttgart since 2002 and Deputy Chairman of the Architecture Study Commission. He also serves as President of the Baden-Württemberg Chamber of Engineers since 2014 and co-founded Engelsmann Peters GmbH Consulting Engineers in 2006. His career uniquely bridges academic excellence and professional engineering practice across multiple disciplines. His educational journey includes: Civil Engineering degree from Technical University of Munich (Dipl.-Ing., 1991) Research assistant at University of Stuttgart (1993-1998), earning Dr.-Ing. with dissertation on 'Integral concrete bridges' Architecture studies at University of Bath, UK (1998-1999), completing Master of Arts in Architectural Design with dissertation 'Rethinking the urban bridge as public space' Prof. Engelsmann's research focuses on the creative intersection of structural engineering and architectural design, where he emphasizes that 'constructive design is a controlled interaction between reason and emotion.' His work spans structural theory, innovative construction methods, and the integration of artistic expression with technical precision. He specializes in lightweight structures, bridge design, and the use of advanced materials including plastics, glass, and concrete, with particular emphasis on sustainable building practices and resource efficiency. His recent publications reveal a strong focus on innovative structural solutions for public infrastructure, particularly gridshell structures for shopping centers, elegant bridge designs, and sustainable construction methods. His work consistently explores the potential of unconventional materials and construction techniques, demonstrating how aesthetic considerations can be seamlessly integrated with structural efficiency in projects ranging from bus stations to cultural buildings. His numerous awards reflect excellence across engineering and architectural design disciplines: Multiple Hugo Häring Auszeichnungen (2020) for library and military facility projects Staatspreis Baukultur Baden-Württemberg (2020, 2016) German Design Gold Winner (2018) Preis des Deutschen Ingenieurbaus (2016) Iconic Design Award (2016) Red Dot Award (2015) Elias-Holl-Preis (1986) Throughout his career, Prof. Engelsmann has guided numerous student projects that bridge theory and practice, from the AKA seesaw (2011) to the UC°A Mobile climate adaptation project (2023). His teaching methodology emphasizes hands-on learning, with students developing and constructing innovative structures using materials ranging from traditional wood to advanced plastics. He has secured significant funding from organizations including the Baden-Württemberg Foundation to support research in sustainable construction and climate-adaptive architecture. Prof. Engelsmann leads the 'Class for Structural Design and Structural Engineering' at the State Academy of Fine Arts Stuttgart, where he and his team explore the boundaries between architecture and engineering. His consulting firm, Engelsmann Peters GmbH, works on sophisticated structural projects worldwide. Current research focuses include pneumatic structures for sun protection systems, experimental clay construction, and innovative approaches to urban climate adaptation through structural design, continuing his decades-long commitment to merging artistic expression with engineering precision.
Prof. Dr. Thomas Farrenkopf is a full-time Professor in the Department of Business Informatics at the Technische Hochschule Mittelhessen , serving as Dean of Studies . He leads the Business Informatics Bachelor program and specializes in digitalization, multi-agent systems, and AI-driven decision support. Expertise Areas : Industry 4.0, Smart Factory, Semantic Web, full-stack software development Contact : thomas.farrenkopf@mnd.thm.de Research Focus : His work bridges knowledge-based methods with practical applications in artificial intelligence, particularly through multi-agent systems for traffic modeling and business simulations. He developed AGADE Traffic (a knowledge-based traffic simulator) and ATHOS (a domain-specific language for multi-agent simulations), focusing on scalability and complexity reduction. Recent studies explore individual preferences' impact on traffic policies and agent-based feedback mechanisms in business contexts. Academic Contributions : With over 15 publications since 2013, his research spans agent-based modeling, semantic web applications, and smart manufacturing - notably improving throughput times in toolmaking by 90% through Industry 4.0 implementations. Teaching & Supervision : Actively supervises Bachelor's Practical Projects (BPP), providing guidance for internship-related academic work through structured evaluation processes and electronic reporting systems. Collaborations : Works with international researchers like Johannes Nguyen, Simon T. Powers, and Michael Guckert, publishing in venues such as SN Computer Science , Lecture Notes in Computer Science , and Journal of Artificial Societies and Social Simulation .
