Anna Levina is an Assistant Professor for Computational Neuroscience at the University of Tübingen , affiliated with the Department of Computer Science under the Faculty of Science. Her research focuses on the self-organization of neuronal activity, critical dynamics in neural networks, and the excitation/inhibition balance in cortical circuits. Current positions: Assistant Professor (since 2018), Group Leader (2017-2018), Equality Officer (Computer Science) Previous roles: IST Fellow (2015-2017), Associated Researcher (2011-2015), Postdoc/PI (2011-2015), Postdoc (2008-2011) Her research integrates mathematical modeling , statistical physics , and computational neuroscience to study criticality phenomena, neural avalanches, and adaptive network dynamics. Key interests include: Self-organized criticality in neural systems Excitation/Inhibition balance mechanisms Network topology and dynamics Timescale analysis in neural processing Stochastic modeling of neural activity Recent publications reveal trends in understanding critical dynamics across biological and artificial networks, with applications to memory systems, sensorimotor integration, and disease modeling. She has received recognition as an IST Fellow .
Alexey Bufetov is a Professor at Leipzig University, holding an ERC Starting Grant for his research in Integrable Probability (2022-2027). Previously, he served as a W2-Professor ("Bonn Junior Fellow") at the Hausdorff Center for Mathematics (2018-2021) and as a CLE Moore Instructor at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (2015-2018). His research centers on Probability Theory , with deep connections to Mathematical Physics and Combinatorics . Key areas include integrable probability, stochastic particle systems (ASEP/TASEP), random tilings, Schur generating functions, and representation-theoretic aspects of probability. His work often bridges abstract mathematical structures with physical models from statistical mechanics. Bufetov's recent publications reveal a strong focus on integrable systems and asymptotic analysis , particularly exploring connections between Mallows measures, vertex models, and random matrix theory. His 2025 work on Aztec diamond domino tilings exemplifies his signature approach combining combinatorial structures with probabilistic methods. His primary recognition is the ERC Starting Grant "Integrable Probability" (2022-2027), supporting his cutting-edge research program. Bufetov has maintained a prolific collaborative network, frequently publishing with leading researchers including Alexei Borodin, Vadim Gorin, Leonid Petrov, and Kailun Chen. His work appears in top journals such as Advances in Mathematics , Duke Mathematical Journal , and Communications in Mathematical Physics .
Ron Peled is a Full Professor in the School of Mathematical Sciences at Tel Aviv University , currently on leave to serve as the Brin Professor in the Department of Mathematics at the University of Maryland starting summer 2024. During 2022–2024 he was a Member at Princeton University and the Institute for Advanced Study . Education & Career: While explicit degrees are not listed, his trajectory shows appointments at NYU (2009–2010), UC Berkeley and Tel Aviv University as a teaching assistant, followed by faculty positions culminating in full professorship. Research Interests: His work lies at the intersection of probability theory, statistical physics, and combinatorics . Key themes include: Disordered systems and random environments (random-field Ising, spin glasses) First-passage percolation and random metrics Random surfaces and height functions Loop models and critical phenomena Random matrices and band matrices Geometric probability and allocation problems Publications & Impact: With over 70 papers in top journals such as Annals of Mathematics , Annals of Probability , Inventiones Mathematicae , and Communications in Mathematical Physics , his recent work explores minimal surfaces in random environments, localization in random band matrices, and quantitative disorder effects in low-dimensional spin systems. Grants & Awards: Research has been continuously funded by: Israel Science Foundation (grants 1048/11, 861/15, 1971/19, 2340/23) ERC Starting Grant LocalOrder ERC Consolidator Grant Transitions Marie Skłodowska-Curie International Reintegration Grant SPTRF Teaching & Mentoring: Prof. Peled has taught a broad spectrum of courses at Tel Aviv University (Brownian motion, probability, percolation, random matrices, stochastic calculus) and NYU (combinatorics, discrete mathematics). He has supervised 13 post-doctoral fellows and 8 graduate students (PhD & MSc) to date. Service & Outreach: He co-organizes the Joint Israeli Probability Seminar and has organized numerous international workshops and conferences including at Oberwolfach, Technion, and Tel Aviv University.
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).
Barbara Drossel is a Full Professor at the Institute of Solid State Physics within the Faculty of Physics at the Technical University of Darmstadt, where she has been conducting research since February 2002. Her work bridges theoretical physics, complex systems theory, and theoretical ecology, focusing on interdisciplinary approaches to understanding emergent phenomena in natural systems. She leads the AG Drossel research group that investigates the theoretical foundations of complex networks, ecological communities, and quantum systems. Professor Drossel's research spans multiple domains with emphasis on complex systems theory, where she has made significant contributions to understanding random Boolean networks, food web modeling, and the physics of ecological communities. Her work demonstrates how simple rules can lead to complex emergent behavior across different scales, from quantum systems to ecological networks. She investigates how top-down causation operates in complex systems and explores the relationship between microscopic dynamics and macroscopic patterns in diverse contexts. Analysis of her recent publications reveals a consistent focus on theoretical frameworks that connect physics with ecology. Her work shows increasing integration of quantum mechanics with ecological modeling, particularly in understanding emergence and time evolution in complex systems. She frequently employs network theory to analyze ecological communities and has developed innovative approaches to studying species interactions, mutualistic networks, and spatial dynamics in meta-communities. Minerva Fellowship Heisenberg Fellowship DFG Fellowship for research at MIT Professor Drossel has supervised numerous doctoral students whose work spans theoretical ecology, complex systems, and statistical physics. Her research group has secured funding for projects examining the stability of ecological networks, quantum decoherence, and the mathematical foundations of complex systems. She maintains active collaborations with researchers across Europe and has contributed to major theoretical advances in understanding how complexity emerges from simple interactions in diverse systems. The AG Drossel research group operates at the intersection of physics and theoretical biology, maintaining strong connections with both the physics and biology departments at TU Darmstadt. The group combines mathematical rigor with biological relevance, developing models that capture essential features of complex natural systems while remaining analytically tractable. Their work has influenced both theoretical physics and ecological theory, demonstrating the power of interdisciplinary approaches to complex systems.
Holger Dette is a Professor and Chair Holder of Stochastics (specializing in Statistics) at the Faculty of Mathematics, Ruhr University Bochum. He leads the prominent Group Dette within the Institute of Statistics, overseeing a team of researchers, doctoral students, and administrative staff including Birgit Tormöhlen as team assistant. His research group is deeply integrated within the university's mathematical ecosystem, collaborating with other research groups across algebra, analysis, numerics, and topology. Dette's research spans mathematical statistics with strong applications in real-world problems. His primary interests include optimal experimental design, time series analysis, functional data, change point problems, nonparametric regression, biostatistics, special functions, goodness-of-fit tests, and random matrices . His work bridges theoretical statistics with practical applications, particularly evident in his collaborations with pharmaceutical giants Novartis and Bayer AG in biostatistics, as well as Quasol, a spin-off company from his statistics institute. His recent publications (2024-2025) reveal a research program increasingly focused on high-dimensional and functional data analysis, privacy-preserving statistics, and novel methodological approaches to longstanding statistical problems. Dette's work shows strong interdisciplinary connections, particularly with biomechanics (analyzing joint angles during fatigue phases) and data science (addressing challenges in the era of big data). His research group is actively involved in multiple DFG-funded projects including the newly established 'Small Data' collaborative research center (Sonderforschungsbereich 1597) and the Spatio-temporal Statistics for the Transition of Energy and Transport (Transregio 391). Dette has received significant recognition including the prestigious Humboldt Research Award . His paper 'With Great Power Come Great Side Channels: Statistical Timing Side-Channel Analyses with Bounded Type-1 Errors' achieved second place at the CSAW'24 Applied Research Competition MENA. His research group has also secured multiple significant funding awards from the German Research Foundation (DFG). As an advisor, Dette supervises numerous doctoral and master's students including Pascal Quanz, Marius Kroll, and Carina Graw. His group offers statistical consulting services for scientists and students across bachelor's, master's, and doctoral phases. The group maintains strong industrial partnerships, particularly in biostatistics applications, demonstrating Dette's commitment to translating theoretical statistics into practical solutions for real-world challenges.
Riddhipratim Basu is an Associate Professor at the International Centre for Theoretical Sciences (ICTS-TIFR) in Bengaluru, India, since September 2017. Previously, he was a Szegö Assistant Professor of Mathematics at Stanford University (2015–2017) and a Ph.D. graduate in Statistics from UC Berkeley (2015), supervised by Allan Sly. Research focuses on Probability Theory, with emphasis on First/Last Passage Percolation, Interacting Particle Systems, Large Deviations, and Random Matrix Theory. Key collaborators include Allan Sly, Shirshendu Ganguly, Mahan Mj, and Manan Bhatia. Publications span journals like Communications on Pure and Applied Mathematics , Annals of Probability , and Comm. Math. Phys. His work explores geodesic structures in percolation models, scaling exponents in KPZ universality, and geometric properties of stochastic processes. Recent studies include Liouville Quantum Gravity and Airy process fluctuations.
Tobias Neckel is an Associate Professor at the Institute for Informatics at the Technical University of Munich (TUM), where he leads research projects and coordinates academic programs. He has been the project team leader of the IGGSE Project ExaNIML since 2018, main coordinator of the Ferienakademie since 2014, and Program Coordinator of the Bavarian Graduate School of Computational Engineering (BGCE) since 2009. Diploma in Technomathematik from TU München (2005) Dr. rer. nat. in Informatics from TU München (2009) Neckel's research focuses on Uncertainty Quantification, Random Differential Equations, and High Performance Computing. His work develops efficient numerical algorithms using hierarchic and adaptive methods such as octrees/spacetrees and sparse grids, with applications in fluid-structure interactions and incompressible fluid flow simulation. His research bridges theoretical mathematics with practical computational science, emphasizing robust and efficient implementations. His recent publications demonstrate a strong trajectory in multi-fidelity modeling, uncertainty quantification, and high-performance computing. Neckel has made significant contributions to scalable hierarchical approximation methods, dynamic resource management in HPC, and the application of machine learning techniques to computational science problems. His work spans diverse application domains including plasma physics, hydrology, and computational engineering. Lehrfonds prize of the TUM (2014) Ernst Otto Fischer prize of the TUM (2011) Promotionspreis des Bunds der Freunde der TU München (2009) Neckel has supervised numerous graduate students and has been actively involved in curriculum development and teaching innovation. His book "Bits and Bugs: A Scientific and Historical Review of Software Failures in Computational Science" (2019) represents a significant contribution to understanding software reliability in scientific computing. He has organized minisymposia at major conferences including SIAM CSE and SIAM UQ, and serves on program committees for various computational science conferences. As coordinator of the Ferienakademie and the BGCE, Neckel plays a central role in advanced computational engineering education in Bavaria. His research group develops software for exascale computing and contributes to the Transregional Collaborative Research Centre 89 on Invasive Computing. Neckel also maintains international collaborations, with research stays at institutions including the Australian National University and Tokyo Institute of Technology.
László Kozma is an Assistant Professor at the Theoretical Computer Science group of the Institute of Computer Science (Freie Universität Berlin). He obtained his PhD from Saarland University under Raimund Seidel, followed by postdoctoral positions at Tel Aviv University and TU Eindhoven. His research focuses on self-adjusting data structures , adaptive algorithms , and combinatorial optimization with applications to problems like the Traveling Salesman Problem, binary search trees, and geometric data structures. Academic Affiliation: Freie Universität Berlin (since 2018) Education: PhD in Computer Science (Saarland University, 2016); postdoc at Tel Aviv University and TU Eindhoven. His work explores the intersection of data structures, combinatorial algorithms, and geometric methods. He has made significant contributions to problems involving pattern-avoidance in inputs, saddlepoint detection , and self-adjusting heaps . Key areas include: Adaptive algorithms for pattern-avoiding inputs Optimal tree and heap structures Geometric and stochastic approaches to optimization Complexity analysis of classical algorithms Recent publications highlight efficient solutions for exponential cut problems (ESA 2025), balanced TSP partitioning (EuroCG 2025), and randomized saddlepoint algorithms (ESA 2024). His research often bridges theory and practice, exemplified by the smooth heap implementation and fun projects like Recursi and Cuckoo Hashing visualization.
Marie-Christine Düker is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Statistics and Data Science at Friedrich-Alexander University (Germany). Her research focuses on high-dimensional statistics, time series analysis, functional data analysis, and extreme value theory with applications in economics, psychology, chemistry, and ecology. Previously, she was a postdoctoral associate at Cornell University's Department of Statistics and Data Science under David Matteson. She earned her PhD in Mathematics from Ruhr-University Bochum under Herold Dehling and spent part of her doctoral studies at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with Vladas Pipiras. Current Position: Assistant Professor, Department of Statistics and Data Science, Friedrich-Alexander University Previous Academic Affiliation: Postdoctoral Associate, Cornell University Education: PhD in Mathematics, Ruhr-University Bochum; Part-time research at University of North Carolina Research Interests: Her work spans high-dimensional time series under long-range dependence and nonstationarity, discrete data modeling, nonlinear dynamics, dimension reduction, and change-point analysis. Applications include econometrics, neuroscience, chemical data analysis, and ecological forecasting. Recent Publications: Her 2025-2024 work covers Hilbert space-valued linear processes, kernel estimation for nonlinear dynamics, confidence interval approximations, and latent Gaussian count time series. Earlier papers address simultaneous diagonalization, long-run variance matrices, and transition rate estimation challenges. Contact: marie.dueker@fau.de
Matthias Meier is a Full Professor at the Institute of Biochemistry, University of Leipzig, and Principal Investigator at Helmholtz Pioneer Campus, Helmholtz Zentrum München. His research focuses on advancing microfluidic organ-on-chip technology for single-cell and whole-organ disease modeling. Education: PhD in Biophysics (University of Basel, 2006) Research Interests: Dr. Meier's work bridges bioengineering and metabolic disorders, using organ-on-chip platforms to study stem cell differentiation, pancreatic/adipose tissue interactions, and dynamic microenvironmental signals. His lab integrates microfluidics with hiPSC-derived organoids for obesity and diabetes research. Publication Trends: Recent studies emphasize organ-on-chip systems, single-cell analysis , and stem cell engineering , with applications in cardiovascular disease modeling, spatial transcriptomics, and bioelectronic monitoring. Scientific Awards: Feodor-Lynen Postdoctoral Fellowship (2008) Emmy-Noether Fellowship (2012-2018) ERC Consolidator Grant (2017) Advising & Grants: He has led independent research groups with major grants, focusing on energy imbalance mechanisms and patient-specific organoid models for metabolic disease therapies. Labs & Teams: The Matthias Meier Lab develops microfluidic platforms to control chemical, architectural, and mechanical cues for hiPSC differentiation, emphasizing spatial protein profiling and organoid assembly.
Oliver G. Ernst is a Professor of Numerical Analysis at Technische Universität Chemnitz . His research focuses on Numerical Analysis , Uncertainty Quantification , and Inverse Problems , with applications in Thermo-Hydro-Mechanical (THM) processes , Electromagnetics , and Stochastic Partial Differential Equations . He is associated with the Numerical Analysis group at TU Chemnitz. Key Research Areas : Efficient numerical methods for PDEs Krylov subspace techniques Stochastic finite element methods Multi-physics modeling Geoscientific applications Recent Publications (2025-2010): THM simulations under uncertainty Neural network PDE solvers Bayesian inversion frameworks Rational Krylov algorithms Deflated restarting strategies Collaborations : TU Bergakademie Freiberg University of Manchester Technical University of Munich University of Maryland University of Geneva Software Development : Contributor to OpenGeoSys platform Developer of FEMALY MATLAB library Academic Recognition : h-index 32, i10-index 66, with over 4423 citations since 2020.
Prof. Dr. Holger Kösters is affiliated with the Institute of Mathematics at the University of Rostock , where he focuses on probability theory and its intersections with mathematical physics and data science. His research spans random matrix theory, spectral distributions, and diffraction phenomena in stochastic systems. University: University of Rostock School: Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences Department: Institute of Mathematics Email: holger.koesters@uni-rostock.de Research Interests: Random matrices and their applications, limit theorems in high-dimensional statistics, mathematical diffraction theory, and probabilistic methods in data science. His work explores universal patterns in eigenvalue distributions, connections to number theory, and statistical mechanics. Publication Trends: Recent articles emphasize random matrix products, spectral asymptotics, and applications to diffraction theory. Areas include polynomial ensembles, free probability, and probabilistic models for point processes. Academic Role: As a professor, he contributes to research and teaching in probability and mathematical statistics, with co-authorships in journals like Annals of Probability and Communications in Mathematical Physics .
Ben Hayes is an Associate Professor in the Department of Mathematics at the University of Virginia since 2017. Previously, he served as an Assistant Professor (Postdoc) at Vanderbilt University (2014–2017). He holds a PhD from the University of California, Los Angeles (2014), under Dimitri Shlyakhtenko, and a bachelor's degree from the University of Washington (2009). His research focuses on the intersection of operator algebras and ergodic theory, including sofic entropy, microstates free entropy dimension, and applications to measured group theory and random matrices. Education: PhD in Mathematics, UCLA, 2014 (Advisor: Dimitri Shlyakhtenko) Bachelor's in Mathematics, University of Washington, 2009 (Senior Thesis Advisor: Doug Lind) Research emphasizes applying operator algebra techniques to ergodic theory and vice versa. Current projects include defining extended von Neumann dimension for group actions on L p -spaces and studying sofic groups. He actively engages in interdisciplinary work linking free probability, random matrices, and geometric group theory. Advising includes two PhD students (Felipe Flores, Aoran Wu), an undergraduate researcher (James Harbour), and a postdoc (Jacob Campbell). Past advisees include PhD graduate Mat Turnansky and undergraduate standout Yichen Ma. No scientific awards explicitly mentioned, though his work reflects sustained academic rigor. No specialized labs or teams are detailed in the provided information.
Michel Pain is a CNRS Researcher at the Toulouse Mathematics Institute (Université de Toulouse). Previously, he held a Courant Instructor position at NYU's Courant Institute of Mathematical Sciences (2019-2021) and completed his PhD in probability theory at Sorbonne Université under Zhan Shi, focusing on branching Brownian motion. His research spans log-correlated fields , including branching Brownian motion/random walks, Derrida-Retaux models, and β-ensembles. He studies extremal statistics , stochastic structures , and phase transitions in hierarchical systems. Michel has published extensively on branching processes , weighted trees , and log-correlated random matrices , with recent work on supercritical phase overlaps (2025) and height asymptotics for weighted trees (2024). His supervised students include PhD candidate Louis Chataignier and several Bachelor/Master thesis authors. He currently teaches the Master 2 course Branching Processes with Pascal Maillard, having previously taught advanced probability at Université Toulouse III, complex analysis at NYU, and integration theory at ENS Paris.
