Prof. Niki Kilbertus is an Assistant Professor at the Technical University of Munich (TUM) in the Department of Informatics, and Group Leader at Helmholtz AI. His research focuses on causal machine learning, ethical AI systems, and applications in healthcare, climate science, and dynamical systems. He earned his PhD from the University of Cambridge (2020) and has held positions at DeepMind, Google, and Amazon during his studies. His research interests include causal discovery, fairness in AI, counterfactual reasoning, and integrating physics-based constraints into neural networks. Key contributions include foundational work on fair machine learning (e.g., avoiding discrimination through causal models) and developing methods for causal inference in complex systems like healthcare and climate modeling. Recent work emphasizes generative models for causal interventions, robust treatment effect estimation, and physically consistent neural differential equations. He leads a large interdisciplinary group with over 20 students and postdocs working on projects funded by Helmholtz Association, ERC, and industry collaborations. Notable awards include the Leopoldina Prize for Young Scientists (2024) and membership in the Junge Akademie. His lab maintains active partnerships with ELLIS, MCML, and the Zuse Institute Berlin.
Prof. Dr. André Bardow is a Full Professor in Energy and Process Systems Engineering at ETH Zurich , leading research at the intersection of thermodynamics, machine learning, and sustainable energy systems. Previously, he held professorships at RWTH Aachen University (2010-2020) and TU Delft (2007-2010). He also served as part-time director at Forschungszentrum Jülich (2017-2022) and visiting professor at UC Santa Barbara (2015/16). His work focuses on energy systems optimization , computer-aided molecular design , and CO2 capture & utilization . PhD from RWTH Aachen University Current ETH Zurich affiliation Former roles at RWTH Aachen, TU Delft, Jülich Research Center His research integrates machine learning with thermodynamic modeling to optimize processes like crystallization and electrochemical cooling . Recent publications demonstrate advancements in solvent design, CO2 transport LCA, and ORC working fluid optimization. He chairs the VDI Technical Committee for Thermodynamics (2016-2024) and has received multiple awards including the Covestro Science Award and Arnold-Eucken-Award . Current projects address carbon circular economies , electrified chemical production , and AI-driven process optimization . His lab at ETH Zurich develops cutting-edge technologies like ML-CAMPD frameworks for sustainable separation processes and photoacid-based CO2 capture systems. Funding from the H2020 Systemic Expansion of Circular Ecosystems (grant 101036854) supports these initiatives. 2024 Clarivate Highly Cited Researcher 2022 Inaugural Lecture: "To sustainability and beyond: A computer-animated story on energy & chemicals" Recipient of multiple teaching and research excellence awards
Peter Benner is a Professor and Director at the Max Planck Institute for Dynamics of Complex Technical Systems in Magdeburg, where he leads the Computational Methods in Systems and Control Theory group. He also holds an Honorarprofessor position for Mathematics at Otto-von-Guericke Universität Magdeburg since 2011. Benner has previously served as Managing Director of the Max Planck Institute during multiple periods (2013-2014, 2021-2022, and 2025-2026), demonstrating his leadership in the field. Benner's research focuses on Scientific Machine Learning, Numerical Linear and Multilinear Algebra, Model Order Reduction and Reduced-order Modeling, Numerical Methods in Systems and Control Theory, PDE Constrained Optimization, High-performance and Power-aware Computing, and Mathematical Software development. His work bridges theoretical mathematics with practical engineering applications, particularly addressing challenges in large-scale dynamical systems. Analysis of his recent publications reveals a strong emphasis on developing efficient computational methods for complex systems. Benner has pioneered approaches combining model order reduction with tensor methods to tackle high-dimensional problems in uncertainty quantification and PDE-constrained optimization. His work shows a consistent trend toward integrating data-driven techniques with traditional model-based approaches, particularly for nonlinear and parametric systems. Throughout his career, Benner has actively mentored students and collaborated with researchers worldwide, delivering numerous invited talks at prestigious institutions and conferences across Europe, North America, and Asia. His research has received significant funding, supporting the development of mathematical software and computational methods for industrial applications. Benner leads the Computational Methods in Systems and Control Theory department at the Max Planck Institute, which focuses on developing and implementing advanced numerical methods for large-scale dynamical systems. The group maintains strong connections with both theoretical mathematics and practical engineering applications, particularly in fluid dynamics, energy systems, and control theory.
Prof. Dr. Michael Ulbrich is a full professor and Chair of Mathematical Optimization at the Technical University of Munich (TUM), within the School of Computation, Information and Technology. He has held this position since 2006 and previously served as Dean of Studies (2007–2010) and Vice Dean of the Faculty of Mathematics (2012–2015). His research focuses on nonlinear optimization, optimal control, and numerical analysis, with applications in fluid dynamics, shape optimization, and PDE-constrained systems. He leads projects in the DFG SPP 1962 and IGDK 1754, and has received prestigious awards including the Howard Rosenbrock Prize (2015) and the Doctoral Award from the TUM Association of Friends (1996). Ulbrich is Editor-in-Chief of Optimization and Engineering and contributes to multiple journals. His work bridges theoretical foundations and practical applications, including CO2 sequestration, fluid-structure interaction, and distributed optimization algorithms. Education: PhD (1996), Habilitation (2002) in Mathematics at TUM. Research stays at Rice University (USA) under DFG funding. Research Areas: Semismooth Newton methods, PDE-constrained optimization, optimal control of Navier-Stokes equations, and distributed parameter systems. Awards: Rosenbrock Prize, Teaching Excellence Awards, and recognition for doctoral work. Leadership Roles: Department Head of Mathematics (2022–), Member of TUM Senate (2019–2022), and Co-Chair of GAMM 2018. Ulbrich has authored influential textbooks like Semismooth Newton Methods for Variational Inequalities and Nichtlineare Optimierung . His recent projects include OptiGeoS (2024–2026) and collaborations on nonsmooth optimization and stochastic algorithms. His academic contributions span over 100 publications, emphasizing both algorithmic innovation and rigorous mathematical analysis.
Prof. Dr. Christian Breitsamter is a Professor at the Technische Universität München (TUM), leading the Chair of Aerodynamics and Fluid Mechanics within the TUM School of Engineering and Design. He has held this position since 2007 and has been a member of key committees such as the ICAS Programme Committee and STAB-Programmleitung. His research focuses on aerodynamics of aircraft and rotorcraft configurations, including vortex dynamics, aeroelasticity, and fluid-structure interaction. Education: PhD in Aerodynamics (1997) Master’s in Aerospace Engineering (1989) Research Interests: Prof. Breitsamter’s work spans experimental and numerical studies of high-agility aircraft, helicopter aerodynamics, and advanced wing designs. Key areas include leading-edge vortices, gust load mitigation using flexible wings, and flow control techniques. His group investigates cutting-edge topics like deep learning for buffet prediction and hybrid neural networks for aerodynamic modeling. Awards: Willy Messerschmitt Preis (1999) AIAA Associate Fellow (2007) Advising & Grants: While specific student names are not listed, his research involves collaborative projects with industry partners (e.g., RACER Compound Helicopter) and EU initiatives like the FURADO program. His team contributes to the NFDI4ING infrastructure for engineering data. Labs/Teams: Active in the Aerodynamics Wind Tunnel facilities (Windkanäle A/B/C) and leads the SAGITTA flying wing demonstrator project. His group also explores membrane wings and elasto-flexible morphing technologies.
Vladimir Spokoiny is a Professor at the Departments of Mathematics and Economics of the Humboldt University of Berlin and Head of the Research Group "Stochastic Algorithms and Nonparametric Statistics" at the Weierstrass Institute for Applied Analysis and Stochastics (WIAS) in Berlin, Germany. His research spans multiple areas of statistics, machine learning, and financial mathematics, with significant contributions to nonparametric statistics, high-dimensional data analysis, and statistical methods in finance. Spokoiny received his M.Sc. in applied mathematics from the Moscow Institute of Railway Engineering in 1981 and his Ph.D. in mathematics from Lomonosov Moscow State University in 1988. He completed his Habilitation at Humboldt University in 1996. His academic career includes positions at the All-Union Institute of Railway Transport in Moscow, the Institute for Information Transmission Problems in Moscow, and the Institute for Applied Analysis and Statistics in Berlin before joining the Weierstrass Institute and Humboldt University where he has been a professor since 2002. Spokoiny's research focuses on adaptive nonparametric smoothing and hypothesis testing, high dimensional data analysis, statistical methods in finance, image analysis with applications to medicine, classification, and nonlinear time series. His work often addresses the challenges of nonstationarity in time series data and develops innovative methods for volatility estimation and risk management. He has made significant contributions to the development of adaptive weights smoothing procedures, which have applications in image processing, community detection, and manifold learning. His recent work has expanded into high-dimensional statistics, Bayesian inference, and optimization methods for machine learning, with publications demonstrating novel approaches to Gaussian approximation, Laplace methods, and statistical inference in non-Euclidean spaces. Spokoiny has supervised numerous PhD students including Oliver Reiss, Danilo Mercurio, Ying Chen, Elmar Diederichs, and Mstislav Elagin, whose research has focused on mathematical finance, time series analysis, and statistical methods. He serves as an Associate Editor for The Annals of Statistics (since 2004) and Statistics and Decisions (since 2002), and has previously served on the editorial board of the Journal of Statistical Planning and Inference. His professional activities include reviewing for major statistical journals including Annals of Statistics, Bernoulli, Econometrica, and Journal of American Statistical Association, as well as reviewing grant proposals for the National Science Foundation (USA), German Research Foundation, and Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research. Spokoiny is a member of several professional societies including the International Statistical Institute, American Statistical Association, Institute of Mathematical Statistics, and Bernoulli Society. He is fluent in Russian (mother tongue), English, and German, and has good knowledge of French. His research group at WIAS focuses on developing novel statistical methodologies with applications across various scientific domains, particularly emphasizing adaptivity and robustness in complex data environments. The group's work has significant implications for financial risk management, medical imaging, and machine learning applications, with recent publications addressing fundamental questions in high-dimensional statistics and nonparametric inference.
Michael Muehlebach leads the independent Learning and Dynamical Systems research group at the Max Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems in Tuebingen, Germany. His interdisciplinary work bridges machine learning, dynamical systems theory, and control engineering to develop algorithms for cyber-physical systems with theoretical guarantees and practical implementations. Dr. Muehlebach received his B.Sc. and M.Sc. in Mechanical Engineering from ETH Zurich in 2010 and 2013, specializing in robotics and control systems. He completed his Ph.D. at ETH's Institute for Dynamic Systems and Control under Prof. R. D'Andrea in 2018, followed by postdoctoral research with Prof. Michael I. Jordan at UC Berkeley. His research focuses on constrained optimization, reinforcement learning, and control theory with applications in robotics. He pioneered approaches that express constraints in terms of velocities rather than positions, enabling more efficient optimization algorithms. His work spans theoretical foundations to physical implementations, including the One-Wheel Cubli balancing robot and electromagnetic navigation systems. Recent publications reveal a strong trend toward physics-informed machine learning, particularly for robotics applications requiring real-time performance and safety guarantees. Dr. Muehlebach has received numerous prestigious awards: Outstanding D-MAVT Bachelor Award Willi-Studer prize for best Master's degree ETH Medal and HILTI prize for doctoral thesis Branco Weiss Fellowship (2018) Emmy Noether Fellowship (2020) Amazon Fellowship (2024) He actively mentors doctoral researchers including Hao Ma, Melis Ilayda Bal, and Onno Eberhard, with research supported by multiple grants. His group maintains strong collaborations with Bernhard Schölkopf's Empirical Inference group at the Max Planck Institute. The Learning and Dynamical Systems group develops innovative hardware and software platforms, including Floaty (a wind-harnessing flying robot), advanced electromagnetic navigation systems, and data-efficient learning methods for robotic table tennis. Their approach combines rigorous theoretical analysis with practical validation on physical systems, emphasizing the integration of known physical structure into machine learning algorithms to improve sample efficiency and ensure generalization.
Michael Mühlebach is a Research Group Leader at the Max Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems in Tübingen, Germany, leading the independent Learning and Dynamical Systems group. His academic journey began at ETH Zurich where he earned his B.Sc. (2010) and M.Sc. (2013) in mechanical engineering, specializing in robotics, systems, and control. He completed his Ph.D. at ETH Zurich in 2018 under Prof. R. D'Andrea, followed by postdoctoral research at UC Berkeley with Prof. Michael I. Jordan. Dr. Mühlebach's research spans machine learning, dynamical systems, control theory, and optimization . His work bridges theoretical foundations with practical applications in robotics, developing methods that incorporate physical constraints and system dynamics into learning frameworks. His group focuses on online learning, physics-informed machine learning, and large-scale optimization for cyber-physical systems, with applications in electromagnetic navigation, robotic table tennis, and energy-efficient flight systems like the shape-changing robot Floaty . His publication record shows a strong focus on constrained optimization, with recent work exploring decision-dependent stochastic optimization, nonlinear feedback, and the theoretical foundations of reinforcement learning. His research integrates perspectives from control theory, dynamical systems, and optimization to develop algorithms with strong theoretical guarantees and practical performance. Outstanding D-MAVT Bachelor Award Willi-Studer prize for best Master's degree ETH Medal and HILTI prize for doctoral thesis Branco Weiss Fellow (2018) Emmy Noether Fellowship (2020) Amazon Fellowship (2024) Dr. Mühlebach actively mentors doctoral researchers and is seeking talented students for PhD and Master's projects. His research group has received funding from multiple prestigious fellowships and maintains collaborations across institutions including ETH Zurich, UC Berkeley, and various Max Planck research units. The group's work spans theoretical developments to practical implementations on robotic systems, demonstrating strong connections between mathematical theory and physical realization.
Prof. Dr. Stefan Luther is a Max Planck Research Group leader (W2, tenured since 2013) at the Max Planck Institute for Dynamics and Self-Organization, Göttingen, and an Honorarprofessor at the Faculty of Physics, University of Göttingen. He holds adjunct roles as Adjunct Associate Professor at Cornell University (2009–2012) and Northeastern University (2016–2018), and serves as DZHK-Professor at the Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University Medical Center Göttingen. His research focuses on nonlinear spatiotemporal dynamics in excitable biological media, particularly cardiac arrhythmias. He pioneered 4D imaging of heart function and developed algorithms for optogenetic and electrical control of arrhythmias. Translational efforts span basic research to preclinical and clinical studies. Education includes a Diplom in Physics (1997) and PhD (2000) from Georg-August-University, Göttingen. Postdoctoral training followed at the University of Twente (2001–2004) and Cornell University’s LASSP (2004–2006). His lab, the Biomedical Physics group, explores electromechanical coupling in cardiac systems and develops novel therapeutic approaches. Collaborations include work on computational modeling, uncertainty quantification in dynamical systems, and fluid dynamics of multiphase flows.
Prof. Dr. Hendrik Weber is a Professor of Mathematics at the University of Münster, leading the Workgroup for Stochastic Analysis. He holds the Bridging the Gaps Professorship and is affiliated with the Faculty of Mathematics and Computer Science. His expertise lies in stochastic analysis, particularly stochastic partial differential equations (SPDEs) and their applications in mathematical physics and statistical mechanics. Weber's research focuses on regularity structures, singular SPDEs, and the interplay between stochastic processes and nonlinear dynamics. Education and Career: Weber earned his PhD from the University of Bonn (2010) and held positions at the University of Warwick (2010–2018) and the University of Bath (2018–2022) before joining Münster in 2022. He has been recognized with awards including the ERC Consolidator Grant (2022), Philip Leverhulme Prize (2017), and Rollo Davidson Prize (2016). Research Interests: Weber's work addresses theoretical challenges in SPDEs, including invariant measures, phase transitions, and scaling limits. His projects span topics like singularities in PDEs, field theory randomness, and deep learning surrogate methods. Recent studies include the dynamic Φ⁴ model, stochastic quantization in non-commutative spaces, and a priori bounds for quasilinear SPDEs. Publications: Over 60 peer-reviewed articles, including high-impact contributions to Annals of Probability , Communications in Mathematical Physics , and Archive for Rational Mechanics and Analysis . His work emphasizes rigorous mathematical analysis of stochastic systems and their physical implications. Awards and Grants: ERC Consolidator Grant (2022), Royal Society Fellowship (2016), and multiple collaborative projects funded by the EPSRC and DFG. His research also bridges theoretical developments with applications in machine learning and feature engineering using regularity structures. Labs/Teams: Leads a dynamic research group comprising PhD students (e.g., Sophie Mildenberger) and postdoctoral researchers. Collaborations with global institutions like the University of Warwick and the University of Bath drive interdisciplinary advancements in stochastic analysis.
Özüm Asirim is a Researcher at the Technical University of Munich (TUM) under the Associate Professorship of Computational Photonics led by Prof. Christian Jirauschek. Her work focuses on computational photonics , quantum optics , and nonlinear optical phenomena , particularly in micro-resonators and semiconductor devices. Education: Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering from Middle East Technical University (Ankara, Turkey). Research spans optical parametric amplification , Fourier domain mode-locked lasers , self-phase modulation , and machine learning applications in photonics . Her studies include optimizing gain factors, enhancing harmonic generation, and modeling supercontinuum sources via carrier injection. Recent publications (2019–2023) highlight interdisciplinary approaches, merging photonics with computational finance and nonlinear dynamics . She contributes to EU Project QOMBS and teaches courses like Python for Engineering Data Analysis and Quantum Engineering and Machine Learning seminars. Collaborations include Prof. Christian Jirauschek (TUM), Prof. Mustafa Kuzuoğlu (Middle East Technical University), and teams in computational photonics and quantum optics. Her work impacts semiconductor physics , laser technology , and adaptive optical systems .
Prof. Dr.-Ing. Gerhard Müller is a Full Professor at the Chair of Structural Mechanics within the TUM School of Engineering and Design at Technical University of Munich (TUM). Since 2004, he has held this distinguished position, and since 2014, he has served as Executive Vice President for Academic and Student Affairs at TUM. His research focuses on structural dynamics and vibroacoustics, with specific expertise in dynamic soil-structure interaction, sound radiation analysis, and seismic risk assessment. Professorship: Structural Mechanics University: Technical University of Munich School: TUM School of Engineering and Design Department: Chair of Structural Mechanics in Civil Engineering Prof. Müller's research spans multiple domains, including: Structural Dynamics : Examining building and vehicle vibrations, seismic soil-structure interaction, and advanced model order reduction techniques Vibroacoustics : Investigating sound radiation from vibrating structures and developing acoustic metamaterials for noise control Computational Methods : Pioneering hybrid deterministic-statistical approaches, Wave Based Methods (WBM) for saturated elastodynamic structures, and parametric model order reduction His recent publications demonstrate expertise in: Wave propagation analysis in poroelastic media Bayesian parameter updating for structural models Acoustic metamaterials for vibration control Advanced numerical methods for seismic risk assessment Hybrid ITM-FEM approaches for soil-structure interaction Energy flow analysis in timber structures Awarded the Spindler Prize in 1984 , Prof. Müller also holds significant academic leadership roles: President of European Association for Structural Dynamics (EASD) Chairman of Bavarian-French University Center (BayFrance) Active member of ASIIN accreditation agency and Bavarian Chamber of Engineers Previously served as Dean of Civil Engineering and Surveying at TUM (2010-2014) He leads the Structural Dynamic Lab (formerly Vibroacoustics Lab) and has developed interactive web apps for engineering education. His work bridges theoretical advancements with practical applications in construction acoustics, transportation noise control, and geothermal energy infrastructure analysis.
Prof. Dr. Martin Burger is a leading scientist at DESY and a Full Professor in the Department of Mathematics at Universität Hamburg, where he leads the Computational Imaging Group. His research bridges applied mathematics, imaging sciences, and machine learning, with a focus on inverse problems, mathematical modeling, and partial differential equations. He has held professorial positions at Universität Münster and FAU Erlangen-Nürnberg prior to his current dual appointment. Full Professor, Universität Hamburg (2023–present) Leading Scientist, DESY, Hamburg (2023–present) Full Professor, FAU Erlangen-Nürnberg (2018–2023) Full Professor, Universität Münster (2006–2018) His research interests include inverse problems, variational regularization, optimal transport, kinetic models, and mathematical modeling in biology and social sciences. He has made significant contributions to imaging reconstruction, sparse neural networks, and the analysis of transformer architectures. His work often integrates theoretical analysis with computational methods, influencing both pure and applied mathematics. The most recent articles reflect a strong trend toward interdisciplinary applications, combining deep learning with PDE-based modeling, analyzing social and biological systems via kinetic and mean-field models, and advancing mathematical imaging through graph-based and optimal transport methods. His publications span high-impact venues in applied mathematics and computational science. Calderon Prize, Inverse Problems International Association (IPIA) ERC Consolidator Grant (2014) Invited speaker at ECM (2021), ICM (2022), and ICIAM (2023) Editor-in-Chief, European Journal of Applied Mathematics (since 2017) Prof. Burger has supervised numerous PhD students and postdoctoral researchers, many of whom appear as co-authors in his publications. His research is supported by major grants, including funding from the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF). He is actively involved in collaborative projects across mathematics, physics, and engineering disciplines. He leads the Computational Imaging Group at DESY, fostering a collaborative environment for developing novel mathematical tools in imaging science. The group works on both theoretical foundations and practical implementations, contributing to advancements in tomography, machine learning, and data analysis.
Prof. Felix Krahmer is a TUM Tenure Track Assistant Professor of Optimization and Data Analysis at the Department of Mathematics, Technische Universität München (TUM), part of the School of Computation, Information and Technology. Previously, he held a Junior Professorship (W1) for Mathematical Data Analysis at the University of Göttingen (2012–2015). His research focuses on mathematical foundations of data science, including compressed sensing, signal quantization, uncertainty quantification, and optimization algorithms. He has led an Emmy Noether research group and contributed to the ZeMat interdisciplinary project. Education : PhD in Mathematics (2009), New York University, advisors: Percy Deift & Sinan Güntürk MSc in Mathematics (2007), New York University BSc in Mathematics (2004), Jacobs University Bremen Research Interests : Krahmer’s work bridges theoretical mathematics and applied data science. Key areas include compressed sensing algorithms, high-dimensional signal reconstruction, quantization theory for analog-to-digital conversion, and optimization methods for inverse problems. He also explores applications in imaging (e.g., MRI reconstruction) and stochastic processes. Key Contributions : His research on phase retrieval, sigma-delta quantization, and compressed sensing recovery has advanced signal processing techniques. Recent efforts focus on uncertainty quantification for high-dimensional inverse problems and the mathematical analysis of consensus-based optimization. Grants & Awards : Emmy Noether Research Group Grant (DFG) Funding from BMBF (ZeMat project) Teaching & Outreach : Krahmer has taught advanced courses on compressed sensing, functional analysis, and random matrix theory. He co-organized workshops on probabilistic techniques and clinical risk prediction, emphasizing interdisciplinary collaboration. Labs/Teams : Member of the TUM Data Science Research Group, focusing on optimization, imaging, and uncertainty quantification. Active in the Munich Center for Quantum Science and Technology (MCQST).
Prof. Dr. Holger Kantz serves as Head of the research unit "Nonlinear Dynamics and Time Series analysis" at the Max Planck Institute for the Physics of Complex Systems in Dresden, Germany. He also holds an Adjunct Professorship (Honorprofessor) in Statistical Physics at the Institute of Theoretical Physics within the Department of Physics at the Technical University Dresden. Dr. Kantz's research spans multiple disciplines within nonlinear dynamics and statistical physics. His work focuses on time series analysis, nonlinear dynamics, stochastic processes, and complex systems. He has made significant contributions to understanding anomalous diffusion, extreme events prediction, and the statistical properties of chaotic systems. His research has applications in atmospheric science, climate modeling, power grid dynamics, and biological systems. Analysis of Dr. Kantz's recent publications reveals a strong interdisciplinary approach connecting statistical physics with climate science, energy systems, and scientometrics. His work demonstrates sophisticated applications of stochastic modeling to real-world complex systems, with particular attention to anomalous diffusion processes, extreme events, and predictability limits in chaotic systems. The publications show increasing methodological sophistication in handling nonstationary time series and developing predictive models for rare events. Dr. Kantz leads a research group focused on nonlinear dynamics and time series analysis at the Max Planck Institute. His work has significant implications for understanding and predicting complex phenomena across multiple scientific domains, from climate dynamics to power grid stability, with practical applications in risk assessment and system reliability.
