Prof. Christian Göbel is a Professor of Contemporary Chinese Studies at the University of Vienna, Austria. His research focuses on the political economy of innovation in authoritarian regimes, rural reforms in China, and corruption governance in Taiwan. He holds a Ph.D. from the University of Duisburg-Essen (2008) and has held academic positions at institutions including the University of Tübingen and Heidelberg University. Education: Bachelor's in Political Science and Modern China Studies (Erlangen, 1993–1995) Studies in Taipei (1995–1997) Master's in Political Science (Heidelberg, 2002) Ph.D. in Political Science (Duisburg-Essen, 2008) Current Projects: EU-funded analysis of anti-corruption policies in Taiwan (2013–present) Study on electoral reform impacts on local factions in Taiwan (published 2012) His publications include The Politics of Rural Reform in China (2010) and The Politics of Community Building in Urban China (2011, co-authored). His work examines institutional resilience in authoritarian contexts and electoral dynamics in transitioning systems.
Dr. Raphaela Veit is a Research Fellow in the Department of Classics at Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin's Faculty of Language, Literature and Humanities. Her academic career includes leadership roles in several DFG-funded projects, such as 'Averroes as a Physician' (2017-2024) and 'Studies on the Sources of Avicenna's Canon of Medicine' (2006-2010). She has held research positions at prestigious institutions including the University of Cologne's Thomas-Institute and the University of Tübingen's Department of Medieval Studies. Education: PhD in Medieval History/Islamic Studies (University of Tübingen, 2001) M.A./Maîtrise in History and Islamic Studies (University of Tübingen and Aix-Marseille I, 1996) Research Interests: Dr. Veit specializes in the transmission of Arabic medical knowledge to medieval Europe, focusing on key figures like Averroes and Avicenna. She examines how Islamicate medical texts were translated, adapted, and integrated into Latin and Hebrew scholarship, particularly in al-Andalus and Italy. Her work also explores manuscript studies, including calligraphic practices and textual provenance, as well as the interplay between religious doctrines and medical education in pre-modern contexts. Recent projects analyze the Canon of Medicine 's reception across cultures and the role of translational medicine in political and intellectual networks. Publications Trends: Her recent articles reveal sustained engagement with Avicenna’s Canon and its Latin adaptations, medieval medical translation networks (e.g., Andrea Alpago), and the textual layers connecting Greek, Arabic, and Latin medical traditions. She emphasizes the materiality of manuscripts and their role in transmitting knowledge, often collaborating with institutions like the Linden-Museum Stuttgart and the Thomas-Institute Cologne. Advising & Grants: Dr. Veit has extensive grant leadership experience, including DFG projects since 2006. Though no formal advisees are listed, her multi-institutional collaborations suggest mentorship roles in interdisciplinary teams. Grants supported her work on digitization (e.g., Digital Averroes Research Environment) and international workshops on Galen and Averroes' medical thought. Labs & Teams: She is part of the DFG-funded team for Galen's Commentary on the Hippocratic Aphorisms and previously led the Averroes as a Physician project. Her work intersects with the Institut für Klassische Philologie (HU Berlin), the Thomas-Institute (Cologne), and the Heidelberg Academy of Sciences and Humanities. She also engages with the 'Marburger Gespräche zur Alten Heilkunde' and the 'Digital Averroes Research Environment' (DARE) project, which digitized manuscripts and texts.
Prof. Dr. Jeong Seop Rhee is a Professor at the Max Planck Institute for Multidisciplinary Sciences and the University of Göttingen, Germany. His primary affiliation is with the Neurophysiology Group at MPI. He holds a Ph.D. from Kyushu University (1997) and has held academic positions at Baylor College of Medicine (USA), Kyushu University (Japan), and the Max Planck Institute for Experimental Medicine (Germany). Education: M.S. in Biology, Sogang University (1992) Ph.D., Kyushu University School of Medicine (1997) His research focuses on synaptic plasticity mechanisms , particularly the molecular underpinnings of neurotransmitter release and synaptic vesicle recycling. Techniques include electrophysiology, mouse genetics, and viral protein perturbation. Current projects investigate presynaptic proteins (e.g., Munc13, Munc18) and their roles in synaptic vesicle priming. Recent publications (2016–2017) emphasize structural-functional relationships in synaptic components, including ELKS1 localization, oxytocin signaling effects on hippocampal neurons, and complexin isoform roles in retinal circuits. His work bridges molecular mechanisms with circuit-level neurophysiology. Labs/Teams: Neurophysiology Group (MPI), affiliated with the Göttingen Graduate School for Neurosciences and Molecular Biosciences (GGNB).
Prof. Stefan Hell is a renowned physicist and director at the Max Planck Institute for Multidisciplinary Sciences, leading the Department of NanoBiophotonics. He holds positions as Hon. Prof. at the University of Göttingen's Faculty of Physics and has directed multiple research departments since 2002. His work pioneered breakthroughs in super-resolution microscopy, including STED, RESOLFT, and MINFLUX nanoscopy, enabling nanometer-scale imaging in biology and materials science. Education: He earned a Physics Diploma (1987) and Doctorate (1990, summa cum laude) from Heidelberg University, followed by postdoctoral work at EMBL (1991–1993). He habilitated in Physics at Heidelberg in 1996. Research focuses on developing fluorescence nanoscopy techniques that surpass the diffraction limit, with applications in cellular and molecular imaging. His group's innovations have revolutionized biological research by enabling visualization of sub-cellular structures at unprecedented resolutions. Key awards include the Nobel Prize in Chemistry (2014) and the Kavli Prize in Nanoscience (2014). His work has been published in top journals like Science, Nature, and Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. He advises researchers in his lab and collaborates internationally. His research groups are affiliated with the Max Planck Institutes in Göttingen and Heidelberg, focusing on advancing optical nanoscopy and its biomedical applications. Labs/Teams: Head of the NanoBiophotonics department and Optical Nanoscopy division, advancing MINFLUX-based technologies and stochastic single-molecule imaging.
Thomas Pütterich is a research associate at the Max Planck Institute for Plasma Physics (IPP) and a private lecturer (PD) at the Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich (LMU), Faculty of Physics, where he has been teaching since 2015. His academic work spans plasma physics and atomic physics, with a focus on fusion-relevant plasmas. Research Interests: His research centers on plasma edge phenomena, including edge-localized modes (ELMs), impurity transport, radial electric fields, and the stability of steep pressure profiles. He also works on improving atomic data for high-Z elements used in plasma modeling, in collaboration with the ADAS project. He contributes to key educational programs at LMU, co-teaching Introduction to Plasma Physics (Winter Semester) and Nuclear Fusion Research (Summer Semester). His work supports reactor-relevant discharge scenarios and contamination control in high-confinement plasmas. Scientific Affiliations: Max Planck Institute for Plasma Physics (IPP), Garching Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich (LMU) ADAS Collaboration (Atomic Data and Analysis Structure) Advising and Grants: While specific students or grant details are not mentioned, his long-term research role at IPP and lecturing position at LMU indicate sustained engagement in academic mentoring and research funding activities. Laboratories and Teams: He is embedded in the fusion research team at IPP Garching, contributing to experimental and theoretical aspects of tokamak plasma physics, particularly in support of ITER and reactor-relevant scenarios.
Ulrich Stroth is a Professor and head of the Chair of Plasma Edge and Divertor Physics (E28) at the Department of Physics, Technical University of Munich (TUM), a position he has held since 2011. He is also a Scientific Member and Division Head at the Max Planck Institute for Plasma Physics (IPP) in Garching, reflecting his dual affiliation with two of Germany’s leading research institutions in plasma and fusion science. His research focuses on high-temperature plasmas for nuclear fusion, particularly investigating nonlinear plasma dynamics, turbulence, transport processes, and plasma-wall interactions. His experimental work is primarily conducted on the ASDEX Upgrade tokamak, with additional contributions to international projects including Wendelstein 7-X. He employs advanced diagnostics such as optical spectroscopy and electrical probes, complemented by numerical simulations to interpret experimental data. The recent publications highlight a strong trend in understanding edge and divertor physics in tokamaks, including ELMs, H-mode transitions, scrape-off layer behavior, and power exhaust strategies—critical challenges for ITER and future fusion reactors like DEMO. His team’s work on gyrokinetic validation and turbulence modeling demonstrates a deep integration of theory, simulation, and experiment. Prof. Stroth teaches core plasma physics courses at TUM, including Plasma Physics I and II, and supervises laboratory internships on topics such as scanning electron microscopy and plasma waves. He has published extensively in top-tier journals such as Nuclear Fusion , Nature Physics , and Plasma Physics and Controlled Fusion , contributing significantly to the scientific foundation of magnetic confinement fusion.
Prof. Dr. Jörg Hoffmann is a Professor at Saarland University, where he heads the Foundations of Artificial Intelligence (FAI) Group. He is also an Affiliate Professor at DFKI, located on the Saarland Informatics Campus. His primary academic affiliation is with the Informatics Department within the Faculty for Mathematics and Informatics. He earned his PhD from the University of Freiburg in 2002, receiving the EurAI Dissertation Award for his thesis. His postdoctoral career included positions at the Max Planck Institute for Computer Science, Cornell University, the University of Innsbruck, and SAP Research, before he became a Directeur de Recherche at INRIA in 2009. He joined Saarland University as a Professor in 2012. His research focuses on AI action-decision problems, with a current emphasis on methods to build trust in learned action policies. His group explores techniques for explaining, verifying, testing, and visualizing policy behavior, with connections to SAT/CP, verification, and natural language generation. He is a world-renowned expert in automated planning, having developed seminal systems like FF, which set a new standard for planner performance after winning IPC'00. The 15 most recent articles highlight a deep, sustained investigation into the theoretical and empirical foundations of heuristic search in planning. His work spans from the creation of the highly influential FF system to a rigorous analysis of search space topology and the conditions under which heuristic methods like ignoring delete lists are effective. His publications show a consistent trend of bridging practical system development with profound theoretical insights, primarily within the domains of automated planning and heuristic search. Fellow of AAAI (2021) Fellow of EurAI (2021) EurAI Dissertation Award (2002) Wolfgang-Gentner Nachwuchsfoerderpreis (2003) Best Paper Award at ICAPS'12, SPIN'18, and IV'22 Outstanding Paper Award at AAAI'22 Best Student Paper Award at SOCS'21 ICAPS Influential Paper Award (Honorable Mention) in 2008, 2013, and 2017 Best Senior Program Committee Member Award at ICAPS'19 Chaire d'Excellence project grant from ANR Prof. Hoffmann has been a central figure in the planning community, serving as a mentor to numerous students and collaborators. His leadership extends to the organization of major conferences, having served as Program Co-Chair for AAAI'12 and Conference Co-Chair for ICAPS'10 and ICAPS'20, among many other senior PC and area chair roles. His extensive reviewing and editorial service, including as an Associate Editor for Artificial Intelligence and JAIR , demonstrates a strong commitment to the advancement of the field. His work on the Fast Downward planning platform has provided a critical foundation for research in optimal planning. He leads the Foundations of Artificial Intelligence Group at Saarland University, a prominent research team in the field. His group has been instrumental in developing key systems like FF and TorchLight, and continues to push the boundaries of research in explainable and trustworthy AI planning. His leadership roles, including Head of the Informatics Department and Vice-Dean of the Faculty for Mathematics and Informatics from 2020 to 2022, highlight his significant contribution to the academic structure of his institution.
Laurent Gizon is Director of the Department of Solar and Stellar Interiors at the Max Planck Institute for Solar System Research and Full Professor at the Institute for Astrophysics, University of Göttingen. He has held leadership and research positions at these institutions since 2005 and 2009, respectively, and is a Scientific Member of the Max Planck Society. PhD in Physics, Stanford University (2003) M.Sc. in Astrophysics, Université Paul Sabatier, Toulouse Ingénieur SUPAERO, Ecole nationale supérieure de l'aéronautique et de l'espace, France Laurent Gizon specializes in helioseismology and asteroseismology, focusing on probing the internal structure, rotation, and dynamics of the Sun and solar-like stars. His research leverages data from space missions like SDO, Kepler, and Solar Orbiter to investigate solar convection, sunspots, supergranulation, and stellar oscillations. He develops advanced inversion techniques and numerical models to interpret seismic travel times and infer subsurface flows and magnetic fields. His recent publications (2014–2015) reflect a strong focus on asteroseismology, solar rotation, wave propagation in magnetized plasmas, and data analysis techniques. Topics include differential rotation in Kepler stars, seismic sounding of convection, magnetic flux transport, and 3D simulations of wave interactions with stellar spots. His work integrates observational data with theoretical modeling to refine our understanding of stellar interiors. Notable scientific awards include: Karen Harvey Prize (2009) ERC Starting Grant (2007) ERC Synergy Grant (2018) NASA Group Achievement Award (2012) JOSO Prize (2005) Scientific Member, Max Planck Society (2011) Gizon has served as coinvestigator on the Solar Orbiter's PHI instrument, board member of the PLATO Mission Consortium, and editorial board member of Solar Physics . He has advised numerous PhD students and postdoctoral researchers and has led major collaborative projects such as HELAS. He has also edited significant scientific volumes on helioseismology and MHD connections. His leadership in international consortia and space missions underscores his role in shaping the future of solar and stellar physics. He leads research teams at the Max Planck Institute and collaborates with institutions worldwide, including Stanford University, New York University Abu Dhabi, and various European space agencies. His group develops computational tools for helioseismic inversions and contributes to data analysis pipelines for current and upcoming solar and stellar missions.
Johanna Hoerning is a Professor of Spatial Sociology at the Technical University of Berlin (since May 2023), affiliated with Faculty VI - Planning, Building, Environment. She holds a doctorate from Goethe University Frankfurt and has held academic roles including Acting Professor for Urban and Regional Sociology at HCU Hamburg (2021-2023) and Visiting Professor for Social Inequality at TU Berlin (2014-2019). Her research focuses on urban and spatial theory, postcolonial approaches, housing policy, and social movements. Educations: PhD in Sociology, Goethe University Frankfurt (2012) Research Associate (PostDoc), TU Berlin (2014-2019, including parental leave in 2014) Lecturer positions at Goethe University Frankfurt, Darmstadt, and Rhein-Main University of Applied Sciences Research Interests: Her work explores spatial binaries (e.g., Global North/South), urban-rural dynamics, decolonial methodologies, and the interplay of housing/asylum policies with socio-spatial restructuring. She critiques spatial epistemologies in social sciences and emphasizes material spatiality in theorizing global inequalities. Publications: She co-edited Considering Space: A Critical Concept for the Social Sciences (Routledge, 2023) and authored 'Megacities' between concept and reality (2016). Her articles critically analyze spatial politics, urban theory, and NGO roles in socio-spatial policy. Labs/Teams: Leads the Spatial Sociology team at TU Berlin, focusing on interdisciplinary urban studies and global spatial dynamics.
Aslı Unan is an Assistant Professor in European Political Economy at the University of Amsterdam's Faculty of Humanities. She is affiliated with the Amsterdam Centre for European Studies (ACES) and previously served as a Postdoctoral Research Fellow in Political Behavior at Humboldt University of Berlin. Unan holds a PhD in Political Economy from King's College London. Education PhD in Political Economy, King's College London Postdoctoral Research Fellowship, Humboldt University of Berlin Research Interests Unan's research focuses on political behavior and political economy, particularly preference formation, policy reversals, and transboundary crises. She employs experimental methods and survey data to analyze how policymakers and citizens respond to crises, including the impact of communicative interventions and media exposure on public opinion. Her work bridges political science with economics and law, addressing topics like immigration attitudes, vaccine rollouts, and refugee policy decisions. Research Trends Her articles emphasize crisis-driven policy analysis, with a focus on EU integration challenges, post-pandemic fiscal preferences, and the paradoxical effects of positive news on institutional trust. Methodologically, her work combines quasi-experimental designs with large-scale data analysis to explore causal relationships in public opinion dynamics. Awards & Grants Unan leads the UvA-funded 'Breaking news, breaking barriers?' project (€40k) and co-leads the ENLENS-funded 'Understanding the Just Transition' project (€45k). She has also contributed to major initiatives like the Volkswagenstiftung-funded COVIDEU project analyzing EU crisis coordination. Advising & Collaborations Principal Investigator: Media perceptions of immigrant skills (with Media Studies & Anthropology) Co-Investigator: Energy transition and social justice (Law & Political Philosophy) Collaborator on global projects spanning 8 countries Labs & Teams Key affiliations include ACES, the Humboldt-Governance Lab, and interdisciplinary networks across Europe and North America.
Julia Teschlade is a Research Fellow at the Humboldt University of Berlin's Institute of Social Sciences, specifically within the Department of Sociology of Work and Gender Relations. She holds a doctoral degree from the Free University of Berlin and has held research positions at institutions including the University of Hamburg, University of Duisburg-Essen, and the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. Her work focuses on gender studies, queer kinship, reproductive technologies, and the sociology of human rights, with a particular emphasis on LGBTQ+ family formation and legal recognition. Her research projects include the DFG-funded 'Ambivalent Recognition Orders: Doing Reproduction and Doing Family Beyond the Heterosexual Normal Family' (2018–2021) and her doctoral work on 'Human Rights and Reproduction - Gay Parenthood and Surrogacy in Israel and Germany' (2014–2017). She has presented at international conferences such as the German Sociological Association and the European Association of Social Anthropology, addressing topics like queer kinship, surrogacy, and anti-gender discourse. Key research interests include the intersection of law, reproduction, and kinship, with a focus on how LGBTQ+ families navigate heteronormative frameworks. Her publications analyze surrogacy practices, queer family dynamics, and the sociopolitical dimensions of parenthood. She has contributed to edited volumes and journals like The Sociological Review and Sexualities , and her work often bridges theory and practice through public engagement. Teschlade's interdisciplinary approach integrates qualitative methods, examining global reproductive economies and the social construction of parenthood. She has been involved in policy discussions on family law reform and LGBTQ+ rights, reflecting her commitment to both academic rigor and societal impact.
Prof. Dr. Yupeng Jiang is a faculty member at Leibniz University Hannover, holding the position of Professor in the Department of Structural Mechanics and Computational Mechanics within the Faculty of Civil Engineering and Geodesy. His research focuses on computational mechanics, geotechnical engineering, granular dynamics, and fracture mechanics, with notable contributions to numerical simulation techniques and their applications in soil mechanics, particle fragmentation, and environmental engineering. He is affiliated with the Institute of Structural Mechanics and Computational Mechanics and can be contacted at yupeng.jiang@ibnm.uni-hannover.de . His recent work emphasizes hybrid numerical methods (e.g., MP-DEM, coupled material-point approaches) for simulating granular flows, soil-structure interactions, and fracture mechanisms. Key investigations include erosion dynamics in geophysical flows, the role of forests in mitigating flow mobility, and microseismic signal processing for subsurface fracture analysis. His studies often bridge experimental and numerical approaches to address challenges in geotechnical and environmental systems. No scientific awards or notable grants are explicitly mentioned in the provided texts. His advising record is currently unspecified. Prof. Jiang’s laboratory and team are part of the Institute of Structural Mechanics and Computational Mechanics, focusing on advancing computational tools for complex material behavior and geotechnical applications.
Hamza Alkhatib is a Senior Researcher at the Geodetic Institute within the Faculty of Civil Engineering and Geodetic Science at Leibniz University Hannover. His research focuses on advanced computational methods in geodetic data analysis, including Bayesian modeling, Monte Carlo simulations, uncertainty quantification, and filtering techniques for multi-sensor systems. He leads projects funded by DFG, BfG, and BMVI, addressing topics like hydrographic monitoring, cooperative sensor networks, and machine learning applications in geodesy. Alkhatib holds a PhD from the University of Bonn (2007) and a Habilitation from Leibniz University Hannover (2020). Education & Career : PhD (2007): University of Bonn, Dissertation on Monte Carlo methods for satellite gravity missions Habilitation (2020): Leibniz University Hannover, Advanced methods in geodetic data analysis Senior Research Staff since 2019 Research Interests : Bayesian inference and robust statistical methods Filtering algorithms (Kalman, Particle Filters) for dynamic systems Machine learning for geodetic point cloud analysis and damage detection Sensor fusion and multi-sensor positioning systems Hydrographic monitoring and marine infrastructure assessment Key Projects : DFG-funded adaptive robust adjustment of geodetic measurement processes Research Training Group GRK 2159 on dynamic sensor networks WaMUT project for hydrographic water change zone monitoring 3D HydroMapper for port infrastructure inspection Awards : DAAD Award for Outstanding Achievements (2000) Syrian Ministry of Academic Education Award (1998) Teaching : Teaches courses on geodetic data analysis, recursive state estimation, and machine learning applications at both bachelor and master levels.
Thorsten Raasch is a Professor of Numerical Mathematics at the Institute of Mathematics, Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Germany. He is affiliated with the Department of Physics, Mathematics, and Computer Science, and leads research in numerical analysis, particularly adaptive methods for PDEs and inverse problems. Research Interests: His work focuses on adaptive discretization methods for partial differential equations and inverse problems, non-smooth numerical optimization , wavelet systems , multilevel frames , and GPGPU computing . These interests are deeply rooted in applied and computational mathematics, with applications in scientific computing and engineering. The most recent articles show a strong trend in developing adaptive wavelet-based numerical schemes for solving inverse and stochastic PDEs, with a particular emphasis on sparsity, convergence analysis, and preconditioning. His publications span high-impact journals in numerical analysis and inverse problems, indicating sustained scholarly activity. Teaching: He has taught a variety of courses including Fundamentals of Numerics, Convex Optimization, Numerical PDEs, Spectral Methods, and advanced seminars on topics like semi-smooth Newton methods and reduced basis methods. Thorsten Raasch earned his doctorate in 2007 from Philipps University of Marburg and has held academic positions at JGU Mainz, the University of Siegen, and the University of Rostock. He was appointed W2 Professor at JGU Mainz in 2015 and previously held a junior professorship there. No scientific awards are mentioned in the provided texts. Advising and Grants: While no students or grants are explicitly listed, his role as a professor and active researcher suggests involvement in supervising graduate students and participating in research projects, possibly within the 'Mathematics of Computation' research network. Labs and Teams: He is part of the Numerical Mathematics Working Group at JGU Mainz and contributes to the 'Mathematics of Computation' research network, indicating collaboration within a structured research environment.
Tobias Werron is a Professor of Sociological Theory and General Sociology at the Faculty of Sociology, University of Bielefeld. He has held this position since 2016 and is affiliated with the Department of Sociological Theory, the Institute for World Society, and leads a research group focused on sociological theory. He is also a project leader in the DFG-funded Collaborative Research Center SFB 1288 'Practices of Comparison. Ordering and Changing the World'. Professor of Sociological Theory, University of Bielefeld (since 2016) Project Leader, SFB 1288, Project Area F Member of the Board, Institute for World Society Member, Faculty Conference (deputy representative) Werron’s research spans sociological theory, globalization, competition, rankings, and violent conflict. He critically examines the 'methodological nationalism' in classical sociology and integrates insights from global history to rethink modern social dynamics. His work explores how electric telecommunication enabled global simultaneity and publics, and how competition manifests across social fields — from science to sports to politics. His recent publications reflect a strong focus on the sociology of rankings, the historical development of global competition, and the paradoxes of non-violence norms in international politics. He collaborates with scholars like Jelena Brankovic, Leopold Ringel, and Teresa Koloma Beck, particularly on the concept of 'violent conflictions' — where local conflicts compete for global legitimacy and attention. Werron has received recognition for his work, including the 2nd Prize of the Fritz Thyssen Foundation in 2013. He teaches core modules in sociological theory and supervises advanced students in foundational and historical sociology. 2nd Prize, Fritz Thyssen Foundation (2013) As a leading figure in the sociology of competition and global comparison practices, Werron bridges theoretical depth with empirical analysis. His leadership in major research projects and interdisciplinary collaboration underscores his significant role in contemporary sociological discourse.
