Irena Okhrin is a Junior Professor at the European University Viadrina Frankfurt (Oder) in the Department of Economics and Business Administration. Her primary focus is on Information & Operations Management, with particular emphasis on logistics and mobile business applications. Dr. Okhrin's research interests center around several key areas: Modeling of Logistic Processes in M-Business Transport Problems with Real-Time Information Exchange Use of Mobile Technologies in Supply Chain Management Her scholarly work demonstrates a consistent focus on the intersection of logistics, mobile technologies, and supply chain management. Over the period 2005-2009, she has published numerous papers examining vehicle routing problems with real-time constraints, inventory management in mobile business environments, and various aspects of supply chain management enhanced by mobile technologies. Her research often employs optimization techniques and explores practical implementations of mobile business concepts in logistics companies. Dr. Okhrin has received recognition for her contributions to the field through publications in reputable journals and conference proceedings, though specific awards are not mentioned in the available information. She has collaborated extensively with K. Richter on many research projects, indicating a productive academic partnership. While specific information about her teaching responsibilities and graduate students is not provided in the available materials, her position as Junior Professor suggests involvement in both undergraduate and graduate education.
Jochen Arthkamp is Professor of Energy Systems Engineering and Fluid Power Machines at Georg Agricola University of Applied Sciences (THGA) since 2014, previously serving as Vice President for Studies and Teaching (2016-2019). His academic career includes professorship at FHM Tec Rheinland (2013-2014) and extensive industry experience in energy systems. Education: Mechanical Engineering Diploma (Dipl.-Ing.) from Ruhr University Bochum (1984-1989) Doctorate (Dr.-Ing. summa cum laude) from Ruhr University Bochum Department of Energy Systems Engineering (1989-1994) Research Focus: Specializes in energy conversion systems with emphasis on piston/turbine engines, power plant technology, and fluid dynamics. His work bridges fundamental combustion science and industrial applications, particularly in natural gas utilization for CHP systems, gas heat pumps, and emission reduction technologies. Current research centers on sustainable energy transitions through gas-powered solutions in industrial and residential contexts. Publication Trends: Career-spanning publications reveal evolution from fundamental combustion research (1990s N 2 O reduction in coal flames) to applied engineering solutions (2000s-2010s CHP systems and gas heat pumps). Recent work addresses Germany's nuclear phase-out through integrated gas technologies, demonstrating consistent focus on practical energy system optimization. Awards: Dr. Heinrich Kost Prize (1995, Bochum) Heinrich Mandel Prize from VGB Power Plant Operators Association (1994, The Hague) Leadership & Projects: Heads THGA's mechanical laboratory with comprehensive test facilities. Managed international projects across Romania (CHP implementation), Japan (gas heat pump commercialization), USA (aircraft de-icing), Greece (power plant reporting), and China (climate change studies), demonstrating extensive cross-border research collaboration and industry partnership development.
Professor Florian Toepfl holds the Chair of Political Communication with a Focus on Eastern Europe and the Post-Soviet Region at the University of Passau since 2020. As Principal Investigator of the ERC Consolidator Project RUSINFORM , he investigates Russia’s digital informational influence abroad through computational methods. Current research: Russian informational influence in Germany Historical focus: Media-authoritarianism relations in post-Soviet states Key methodological approaches: Qualitative, quantitative, computational social science His 15 most recent publications (2011-2025) analyze: Digital propaganda via Yandex and VK Comment section dynamics in authoritarian systems Pandemic-related conspiracy theories Transnational news environment negotiations Political astroturfing mechanisms Recognized with prestigious ERC Consolidator and Emmy Noether grants, his work bridges comparative media systems, digital authoritarianism, and computational communication research.
Prof. Dr.-Ing. Achim Kampker is a faculty member at RWTH Aachen University , serving as the Chair of Production Engineering of E-Mobility Components and Head of Battery Technology & Life Cycle . He is affiliated with the Production Engineering Laboratory (PEM) at Bohr 12, Aachen (52072). Kampker specializes in production engineering, battery technology, and electric mobility, with a focus on sustainable manufacturing systems, fuel cell applications, and life cycle assessment of energy storage solutions. His work integrates Industry 4.0 principles into factory planning and production data science. His research themes include: Battery manufacturing optimization, recycling, and supply chain resilience Electric motor design and thermal management systems Simulation-based process control and defect detection in production Data-driven approaches to second-life battery applications Recent publications analyze fuel cell truck economics, solid-state battery modeling, sodium-ion recycling challenges, and AI applications in battery production. He has contributed to standardization efforts in battery manufacturing and explores dynamic capability frameworks for electric mobility solutions. Contact: a.kampker@pem.rwth-aachen.de
Dr. Anas Abdelrazeq serves as Chief Engineer at the Chair of Intelligence in Quality Sensing , RWTH Aachen University. His work focuses on AI integration in manufacturing, machine vision technologies, and quality management innovation. Current research spans generative AI , reinforcement learning , and data quality optimization Key projects include AI-driven product development and MetaVision industrial metaverse studies Recent publications address: Smart measurement strategies through machine learning Generative AI for non-destructive testing Curiosity-driven AI for job shop scheduling Machine vision applications in SMEs He contributes to the Cluster of Excellence Internet of Production and leads initiatives in 3D metrology and AI in Manufacturing as part of RWTH AI Week. The chair actively engages in developing digital process platforms for future construction sites and industrial applications.
Dr. Lea Beilkin is an Associate Professor at Tel Aviv University's Iby and Aladar Fleischman Faculty of Engineering, where she leads the School of Mechanical Engineering's Active Wave Control Lab. Her research focuses on actively-controlled metastructures for autonomous and reprogrammable guiding of acoustic and mechanical waves, with significant contributions to the field of quantum-inspired wave phenomena. Dr. Beilkin's research program spans multiple disciplines at the intersection of physics and engineering: Actively-controlled acoustic and mechanical metamaterials Waveguiding inspired by quantum-mechanical phenomena Non-Hermitian systems and their applications in wave control Real-time wave absorbers and acoustic cloaking technologies Artificial acoustic fields and space-time manipulation Feedback-based control of wave propagation Her recent publications demonstrate a consistent focus on non-Hermitian systems and their applications in controlling wave phenomena. The research shows how classical systems can mimic quantum behaviors, particularly in wave tunneling and propagation. Her lab has made significant contributions to understanding how active control can be used to manipulate wave behavior in unprecedented ways, with applications ranging from acoustic cloaking to gravitational lensing analogies in phononic systems. Dr. Beilkin has received several prestigious grants supporting her research: Israel Innovation Authority (Nofar) grant for 2025-26 UK Acoustics Network (UKAN+) Pilot grant PAZY Foundation grant for 2024-27 Israel Science Foundation (ISF) grant for 2024-27 Dr. Beilkin actively mentors graduate students and postdoctoral researchers in her lab. She has successfully guided numerous students through their theses and research projects, including PhD candidates Sayan Jana and Many Manda. Her lab collaborates extensively with international institutions including the University of Southampton, Imperial College London, and others, demonstrating the global impact of her research. The Active Wave Control Lab at Tel Aviv University is at the forefront of research on active metamaterials. The lab combines expertise in Control Theory, Acoustics, Vibrations, Condensed Matter Physics and Electronics to develop innovative solutions for wave manipulation. Current research directions include real-time controlled acoustic cloaking, non-Hermitian wave systems, and quantum-inspired wave phenomena, with potential applications in noise control, vibration isolation, and novel wave-based technologies.
Désirée Brucks is a scientific collaborator at the Albrecht Daniel Thaer Institute of Agricultural and Horticultural Sciences within Humboldt University’s Faculty of Life Sciences. Her research focuses on animal behavior and cognition , specializing in prosociality , self-control , inequity aversion , and social learning across species like parrots, dogs, wolves, horses, and pigs. She employs comparative approaches to understand evolutionary and domestication influences on cognitive traits. Research Themes : Prosocial behavior in birds and mammals Delay of gratification in domesticated and wild species Impact of social context on decision-making Methodological critiques in cognitive testing Publications exhibit trends in animal cognition , with emphasis on social dynamics , reward processing , and experimental paradigms . Notably, she explores species-specific differences in cooperation and emotional responses to inequity.
Dr. Dennis Dannehl serves as a Visiting Professor at the Department of Biosystems Engineering within the Faculty of Life Sciences at Humboldt University, Berlin. His research focuses on sustainable agricultural systems, particularly in hydroponics, greenhouse technology, and nutrient management. Research Interests Hydroponic crop production Secondary metabolites optimization Climate-controlled greenhouse systems Urban farming sustainability Organic waste utilization LED lighting applications in horticulture Collaborations Dr. Dannehl collaborates with researchers including Grigorij Devadze, Annika Nerlich, Uwe Schmidt, and Stefan Streif on projects related to sustainable plant production systems.
Prof. Dr. Uwe Schmidt is a Director at the Albrecht Daniel Thaer Institute of Agricultural and Horticultural Sciences within the Faculty of Life Sciences at Humboldt University , specializing in Biosystems Engineering . His work focuses on optimizing controlled environment agriculture systems through advanced climate modeling and resource-efficient practices. Research Highlights: Hydroponic/aquaponic systems, nutrient optimization, greenhouse climate control, and urban agriculture sustainability Technological Innovations: Electrolytic disinfection, LED lighting efficiency, and nutrient mixing algorithms Global Impact: Studies on urban farming in Berlin and Mexico City Scientific Trends: Recent publications emphasize circular agriculture systems, resource recovery from plant residues, and sensor-driven optimization of plant-climate interactions. His work bridges agricultural engineering with environmental sustainability through interdisciplinary approaches.
Michael Eichelbeck is a PhD candidate at the Technical University of Munich , affiliated with the Cyber Physical Systems group under Prof. Matthias Althoff. He joined in October 2021 after completing his Master’s degree at Imperial College London with a thesis on non-cooperative decentralized optimization. Research Interests : Safe control for power systems Merging reinforcement learning with formal validation Optimal power flow optimization Wind power forecasting Electric vehicle charging behavior prediction Deep learning for residential load profiles Selected Publications explore formal verification of graph neural networks, safe reinforcement learning frameworks, and action masking techniques. His teaching contributions include courses on Machine Learning for Power Systems and Verification of Cyber-Physical Systems .
Sigrid Hirbodian is a Professor and Director of the Institute for Historical Regional Studies and Historical Auxiliary Sciences at the University of Tübingen's Faculty of Humanities (Department of History). Previously, she was Professor of Medieval History at the University of Trier (2006–2011) and held research positions at the University of Mainz. She earned her PhD (1992) and Habilitation (2002) from Mainz, specializing in History and German Studies. Her research explores medieval and early modern socio-religious dynamics, with emphases on: Gender and power in monastic communities (nuns, beguines) Rural/urban legal systems and territorial governance Nobility, economic structures, and regional identity in southwest Germany Her recent publications (2020–2024) cluster around religious women's agency, monastic reforms, and regional socioeconomic transformations. She frequently employs comparative frameworks to analyze gender, power, and institutional adaptation in transitional historical periods. Hirbodian oversees doctoral and master's students (lists available via institutional links) and directs interdisciplinary projects on topics like Oberschwaben's economic history. She co-edits 8 academic book series, including Medieval Countryside (Brepols) and Schriften zur südwestdeutschen Landeskunde .
Mathias Denecke is a Postdoctoral Researcher at the Institute for Media Studies at Ruhr University Bochum since March 2022 and an associated member of the Collaborative Research Center 'Virtual Lifeworlds' since February 2024. His academic trajectory includes doctoral research at Leuphana University Lüneburg's Centre for Digital Cultures (2014-2018) and prior work as a Research Associate on media streaming cultures at the University of Hamburg (2018-2022). His educational background features a completed doctorate in 2021 with the project 'Electricity metaphors in digital cultures,' an MA in Literature, Art and Media Studies from the University of Konstanz (2011-2014), and a BA in the same field with a minor in Political Science (2008-2011), including an Erasmus semester in Vilnius. Denecke's research centers on the intersection of digital cultures and material infrastructures, with particular focus on metaphors in theory formation, logistical systems, digitally mediated work, and age-appropriate assistance technologies. His work critically examines how conceptual frameworks like 'flow' and 'circulation' shape our understanding of digital phenomena while investigating the hidden labor within platform economies and care infrastructures. He approaches these topics through media theory, cultural studies, and political economy perspectives, often employing historical and comparative methods. His publications reveal a consistent trajectory exploring the metaphors that structure digital culture, evolving from early work on streaming and data flows to more recent investigations of logistical capitalism, care work in technical environments, and the material conditions of digital labor. Denecke frequently collaborates with other scholars while maintaining a distinctive focus on the epistemological dimensions of digital infrastructure and the social implications of emerging technologies. Denecke teaches courses including 'Data Bodies. People in Computing Environments,' 'Digital Media and Health,' 'Care Work' (at MA level), and 'Artificial Intelligence and Human Work' (at BA level), reflecting his research interests in the relationship between humans and computational systems. His teaching appears to integrate theoretical frameworks with contemporary case studies from platform economies and assistive technologies. As part of the Collaborative Research Center 'Virtual Lifeworlds,' Denecke contributes to interdisciplinary research examining the evolving relationship between digital technologies and human experience, particularly investigating how infrastructures shape everyday life and social relations in increasingly digitized environments.
Prof. Dr. Rita Triebskorn is a Full Professor of Animal Physiological Ecology at the University of Tübingen since October 2024, following her role as Extraordinary Professor from 2006-2024. She serves as Group Leader at the Institute for Evolution and Ecology, Animal Physiological Ecology Section, and heads the Steinbeis-Transfer Center for Ecotoxicology and Ecophysiology in Rottenburg. Her research focuses on contaminant effects in freshwater ecosystems, particularly examining how pollutants impact fish and invertebrate health across biological levels from cellular to ecosystem scales. Her educational background includes: PhD in Zoology from the University of Heidelberg (1990) State examination in Biology and German Literature from the University of Heidelberg (1987) Habilitation from the University of Tübingen (1999) Research Scientist positions at University of Tübingen, University of Hohenheim, and LONZA Ltd, Basle and Visp, Switzerland Prof. Triebskorn's research spans aquatic and terrestrial ecotoxicology with expertise in contaminant and stress effects in biota using biotests and biomarkers. Her work examines the effects of metals, organic pollutants, pesticides, microplastics, and pharmaceuticals on fish, molluscs, and other invertebrates. She employs histology, histopathology, enzymology, and behavioral analysis to assess contaminant impacts. Her laboratory investigates the mode of action of molluscicides and optimization of wastewater treatment plants to improve aquatic ecosystem health. She has pioneered research on combined stressor effects, particularly interactions between microplastics and pharmaceuticals in freshwater systems. Analysis of her publication record reveals a consistent trajectory from organotin compound research in the 1990s to contemporary investigations of emerging contaminants including microplastics, antidepressants, metformin, and glyphosate. Her work demonstrates how these contaminants affect fish physiology, behavior, and development across multiple life stages, often examining complex interactions between multiple stressors. She has made significant contributions to understanding how wastewater treatment plant upgrades can improve aquatic ecosystem health, particularly through activated carbon filtration. Her scientific recognition includes: Appointed member of the Expert board for the assessment of micropollutants of the Federal Ministry of the Environment (BMU) since 2020 Member of the EU Working group Chemicals for derivation of UQN since 2020 Appointed member of the KBwS Commission for the assessment of pollutants hazardous to water since 2019 Member of RiSKWa Toxicology committee since 2013 Member of the steering committee of the BMBF funding framework Risk management of emerging pollutants since 2012 Member of standardization committees VDI/DIN Effects of environmental pollutants on wildlife animals – fish since 2009 Prof. Triebskorn has coordinated numerous major research projects including Glymic (2020-2023) on glyphosate effects in brown trout, Success control for the expansion of the Tübingen wastewater treatment plant (2018-2023), MiWa: Microplastics in the Water Cycle (2016-2019), Effect-Net (2015-2020), and several others dating back to 1995. She has served as coordinator for multi-partner consortia, including the RiSKWa consortium SchussenAktivplus with 21 partners (2012-2015). Her work has received substantial funding from BMBF, Ministry of the Environment of Baden-Württemberg, and UBA, reflecting the policy relevance of her research on water quality and contaminant effects. Her laboratory at the University of Tübingen employs a multi-level approach from molecular biomarkers to whole organism responses, with particular expertise in fish and invertebrate models. Current work emphasizes complex interactions between multiple stressors in aquatic environments and developing practical solutions for water quality improvement. The research has direct implications for environmental policy and water management practices in Germany and beyond.
Utz Schäffer is a Full Professor at WHU – Otto Beisheim School of Management, where he serves as Chair/Director of the Institute of Management Accounting and Control (IMC). Born in 1966, he is actively engaged in research and teaching in the field of controlling and corporate management. His work spans both theoretical and practical aspects of management accounting, with a particular focus on German and international contexts. Professor Schäffer's primary research interests encompass controlling and corporate management, implementation and use of management accounting systems, the roles of CFOs and controllers, accounting history, comparative management accounting, and CFO-related research. His work demonstrates a strong commitment to bridging the gap between academic theory and practical application in the field of controlling. He has made significant contributions to understanding how budgeting practices evolve during economic crises, the fairness perceptions in bonus systems, and the role of management control systems in complex institutional environments. The analysis of Professor Schäffer's recent publications reveals a consistent focus on the evolving role of controllers and management accounting systems in contemporary organizations. His research shows a progression from traditional budgeting and performance measurement topics toward more complex issues of institutional complexity, professional identity of controllers, and international comparative studies. A distinctive feature of his work is the historical perspective applied to understanding the development of controlling as a discipline, particularly in German-speaking countries. Professor Schäffer has made substantial editorial contributions to the field through special issues of Controlling & Management Review on topics such as Young Controllers, Controlling & IT, Budgeting and Planning, Big Data, Financial Functions 2020, Communication, Investment Controlling, Procurement, Public Institutions, Healthcare, and Controlling Organization. His advising activities and research grants are not explicitly detailed in the available information, but his extensive publication record, editorial work, and leadership of the Institute of Management Accounting and Control suggest significant involvement in guiding doctoral research and securing research funding. Professor Schäffer's work appears to be conducted within a collaborative research environment that connects academic inquiry with practical controller challenges in various industries and sectors.
Michael Koß is a Professor of the Political System of the Federal Republic of Germany and the EU at the Institute of Political Science, Leuphana University Lüneburg. His research focuses on comparative politics, legislative democracy, party systems, and democracy studies, with a particular emphasis on German and European political dynamics. Current Role: Chair of Political System of the Federal Republic of Germany and the EU Key Expertise: Democracy studies, party funding regulation, legislative processes Recent Work: Analysis of far-right politics, parliamentary reform, and democratic stability His scholarly contributions include a habilitation at Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich and a doctorate from Georg-August University Göttingen. He has held visiting positions at Harvard, University College London, and Sciences Po Paris, and his media appearances include articles in Die Zeit and contributions to Deutschlandfunk . Koß’s awards include the Schumpeter Fellowship (2012) and the Brandenburg Junior Researcher Prize (2011).
