Jennifer Marston William is a Professor of German at Purdue University and currently serves as Head of the School of Languages and Cultures. Her academic work bridges German literature, historical film analysis, and interdisciplinary humanistic approaches. Education PhD in German Literature, Ohio State University (2002) Her research focuses on temporal structures in modernist German fiction, cognitive frameworks for analyzing historical cinema, and restoring humanistic perspectives to literary and performance studies. She has co-edited critical editions of Anna Seghers' works and authored three monographs. Her publications reflect a thematic emphasis on sociopolitical contexts in 20th-century German literature, gender representation in European writing, and the intersection of cognitive science with cinematic interpretation. Key trends include application of psychological theories to cultural artifacts and re-evaluation of historical narratives in media.
Jutta Billino serves as Associate Professor in the Department of General Psychology at the Faculty of Psychology and Sports Science, Justus Liebig University Giessen, where she has held academic positions since 2008. Her research examines interindividual differences in visual perception and sensorimotor control across the adult lifespan, with particular focus on how sensory, motor, cognitive, and motivational processes interact in healthy aging and neurological conditions. Her academic background includes a Diploma in Psychology from Justus Liebig University Giessen and University of Utah (1992-1998), state certification as Psychological Psychotherapist (1999-2002), Clinical Neuropsychology certification (1999-2005), and PhD (Dr. rer. nat.) from JLU Giessen in 2009. Her doctoral work investigated motion processing pathways in humans under Prof. Karl Gegenfurtner. Professor Billino's research program explores visual perception and sensorimotor control through behavioral experiments with healthy adults and neurological patients. Her work reveals how aging affects visual confidence, tactile suppression during movement, and multisensory integration, demonstrating that cognitive control capacities mediate age-related differences. Current projects examine memory for unexpected objects in real-world scenes and cross-modal metacognition, highlighting preserved abilities in older adults through compensatory mechanisms. Recent publications (2018-2023) show consistent focus on aging and perception, with key contributions in visual confidence mechanisms, sensorimotor predictions, and multisensory integration. Her work spans experimental psychology, cognitive neuroscience, and clinical neuropsychology, frequently employing eye-tracking, behavioral paradigms, and patient studies to uncover lifespan trajectories in perceptual processing. Her scientific recognition includes: DFG Graduate College Fellowship (2004-2008) in 'Neuronal Representation and Action Control' As academic supervisor, she guides PhD candidates in perceptual aging research and secures third-party funding for her laboratory investigations. Her teaching integrates clinical neuropsychology with experimental methods, reflecting her dual expertise in research and clinical practice. She maintains active collaborations across European institutions, particularly in motion perception and aging research networks. Professor Billino leads a research group within the Department of General Psychology focused on visual perception across the lifespan. Her team employs behavioral testing, eye-tracking, and patient studies to investigate how sensory, motor, and cognitive processes interact during aging. Current projects examine confidence calibration in multisensory tasks and neural mechanisms underlying preserved perceptual abilities in older adults, with implications for healthy aging interventions.
Dr. Filipp Schmidt is a Post-Doctoral Research Fellow at the Department of General Psychology within the College of Psychology and Sports Science at Justus Liebig University Giessen. His research focuses on visual perception, cognitive psychology, and psychophysics, particularly in material perception, shape processing, and perceptual organization. Education: PhD in Psychology (2014, Technische Universität Kaiserslautern), Diploma in Psychology (2009, Justus Liebig University Giessen) Current research explores core dimensions of material perception, shape transformations, and visual aftereffects. His work spans cognitive neuroscience, computational modeling, and interdisciplinary collaborations with vision science and computer vision. Recent publications address topics like material fingerprinting, animacy perception, and statistical features in shape encoding. Collaborative efforts include teams at Giessen University, University of York, and institutions studying visual cognition and human-computer interaction.
Dr. Ke Li is a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Hamburg, working within the Human-Computer Interaction group at the Department of Informatics. She is currently leading the development of intelligent virtual human technologies as part of the European Union-funded project PRESENCE. Her work bridges computer science, human-computer interaction, and physics applications, focusing on creating immersive experiences for complex operational environments. Dr. Li received her Bachelor's of Science degree in Physics from Centre College (USA) in May 2018 and her Master's degree in Optics and Photonics from the Friedrich Schiller University Jena (Germany) in April 2021. She completed her PhD as a fellow of the Helmholtz Graduate School for the Structure of Matter (DASHH) in October 2024, successfully defending her dissertation entitled "Towards a Particle Accelerator Metaverse: Mixed Reality Interfaces for Operations of Complex Physics Facilities" under the supervision of Prof. Frank Steinicke, Dr. Reinhard Bacher, and Prof. Wim Leemans. Dr. Li has a strong technical background in mixed and augmented reality, with research interests spanning immersive head-mounted displays, computer graphics and vision (particularly Neural Radiance Fields and 3D Gaussian Splatting), intelligent virtual agents, and human-robot interaction. Her work often combines theoretical computer science with practical applications in scientific environments, particularly focusing on how immersive technologies can improve workflows in complex and hazardous conditions like particle accelerator facilities. Analysis of Dr. Li's publications reveals a clear progression from foundational work in mixed reality display technologies (2022-2023) toward increasingly sophisticated applications of neural rendering techniques and intelligent virtual agents (2024-2025). Her research consistently bridges the gap between theoretical computer graphics and practical applications in scientific environments, with particular emphasis on real-time performance, user experience, and seamless integration of virtual and physical elements. A notable trend is her growing focus on multimodal interaction frameworks that enable more natural communication between humans and intelligent virtual agents. Scientific Awards: Honorable Mention Award for the Best Design at the Student Competition at IEEE International Symposium on Mixed and Augmented Reality (ISMAR), 2023 Dr. Li serves as a reviewer for various international XR conferences and journals, including IEEE ISMAR, ACM VRST, IEEE TVCG Journal, IEEE VR, and ACM SIGCHI. She has received special recognition for outstanding review work for TVCG journal and paper reviews. Her research is supported by the European Union-funded PRESENCE project and previously by the Helmholtz Graduate School for the Structure of Matter (DASHH) with Grant-No. HIDSS-0002, and the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF). Dr. Li is actively involved in the XR Lab at the University of Hamburg and has collaborated with researchers at the German Electron Synchrotron (DESY), the Cyber Interface Lab at the University of Tokyo, and the ARTANIM foundation. Her technical expertise spans Unity development, neural rendering implementation, sensor fusion techniques, and real-time system optimization for immersive applications.
Christine Sutter serves as a University Professor at the German Police University, specifically within Department II, Subject Area II.4 of the Department of Internal Security. Her academic career spans over 15 years with continuous research output demonstrating expertise at the intersection of cognitive psychology and practical police applications. Professor Sutter's research interests center on traffic psychology , cognitive aspects of police work , and human-machine interaction . Her work bridges theoretical cognitive science with practical applications in law enforcement, particularly focusing on how sensory processing affects decision-making in high-stakes situations like traffic enforcement and tactical operations. She has made significant contributions to understanding how automation impacts road safety and how police officers process information in complex environments. Analysis of her publication trends reveals a consistent focus on applying cognitive psychology to real-world police contexts, with recent work emphasizing predictive policing, traffic safety analytics, and the psychological aspects of human-automation interaction. Her research portfolio shows a clear evolution from basic cognitive mechanisms to applied police contexts, particularly in traffic safety applications. Professor Sutter has been actively involved in numerous research projects related to road traffic safety, police decision-making, and human factors in law enforcement. She has organized multiple academic symposia and delivered numerous invited presentations to both academic and law enforcement audiences. Her laboratory work focuses on applying cognitive psychology methods to police training scenarios, particularly examining visual attention, decision-making under pressure, and the impact of technological tools on police performance. Current research directions appear to be exploring the integration of mindfulness techniques in high-reliability police organizations and the psychological implications of automated vehicle technology on traffic safety.
Natalie Fischer is a lecturer at the Heidelberg University of Education and a researcher at the House of Astronomy (HdA) in Heidelberg. Her work bridges astronomy and education, focusing on developing innovative materials for children and training educators. Education: Physics studies at Universities of Bonn, Aachen, and Heidelberg (1988–1994) Leadership: Vice Chair of the Astronomy School e.V. since 2008, Chair since 2023 Research Interests: Fischer specializes in early science education, particularly astronomy outreach. Her work includes hybrid learning models, hands-on experiments, and materials for primary schools and kindergartens. She emphasizes connecting cosmic phenomena to everyday experiences. Publication Trends: Articles focus on astronomy education, with themes like observational techniques, creative workshops, and digital learning tools. Her work often targets children and educators, blending historical insights with modern pedagogical methods. Projects: Fischer coordinates the UNAWE program in Germany and contributes to Space Scoops. She has led science workshops for the BASF Education Initiative and developed content for planetarium events and educational journals.
Dr. Shiau-Chuen Chiou is a Scientific Researcher at Bielefeld University's Faculty of Psychology and Sport Science (Department of Sport Science, Research Area II - Neurocognition and Movement - Biomechanics) since 2015, and currently involved in the EU Project "Performance in robots' interaction via mental imagery" (PRIMI) since 2024. His research focuses on action observation, motor skill learning, and human-machine interaction dynamics. PhD in Psychology and Sports Science (2023, CITEC) M.Sc. in Cognitive Neuroscience (2015, National Central University, Taiwan) BBA in Finance (2006, National Taiwan University) Pursuing MA in Dance Pedagogy (expected 2026, Palucca University of Dance Dresden) Research interests span action observation mechanisms , visual working memory for movements , and perception-action-cognition coupling , with applications in dance, music, and cognitive robotics. Recent work examines spatiotemporal memory representations and augmented feedback modalities for motor learning. While no students or awards are listed, his involvement in EU-funded PRIMI project (since 2024) and previous Junior Fellowship at ZiF (2020-2021) highlight his interdisciplinary contributions. Key publication themes include: Spatial-temporal working memory for whole-body movements Information processing during action observation Situation model perspectives in human-machine interaction Neurocognitive implications of movement continuity His academic background bridges finance (2006-2009 industry experience) with cognitive neuroscience (2015 onwards), culminating in current roles at Bielefeld University's Center for Cognitive Interaction Technology (CITEC) and Faculty of Psychology and Sport Science.
Karin Lahoda is a Lecturer at the Department of Comparative Cultural Studies, University of Regensburg, since 2017. Her academic career includes roles as a research assistant (2009-2010), special lecturer (2010-2017), and doctoral researcher in Comparative Cultural Studies (2015). She holds a Magistra Artium degree in Comparative Cultural Studies and American Studies from the University of Regensburg (2008). Education: Master's in Comparative Cultural Studies & American Studies, University of Regensburg (2008) Additional training in Business Administration (Fernuniversität Hagen, 2006-2007) German as a Foreign Language (University of Regensburg, 2009-2012) Higher Education Didactics Certificate (University of Regensburg, 2010-2012) Her research explores intersections of work cultures, interculturality, and the negotiation of cultural norms. Key themes include labor dynamics in inclusive workplaces, transcultural identity formation, and the socio-cultural implications of time perception and animal-human relationships. Her publications focus on disability inclusion, cultural dichotomies (norm vs. deviation), and visual/performative aspects of interculturality. Recent publications highlight trends in cultural studies, such as temporal sociology in labor contexts (2019) and ethical frameworks of human-animal interactions (2012). These works reflect her interdisciplinary approach to analyzing everyday cultural practices and institutional norms. Scientific Awards & Commitment: Mentoring Program for Female Researchers, University of Regensburg Deputy Equal Opportunities Officer (2020-present) Board Member, German Society for Empirical Cultural Studies (DGEKW, 2017-2021) Organizer, 9th DGEKW Doctoral Conference (2014) Dr. Lahoda has taught over 100 courses at undergraduate and graduate levels, including foundational courses on cultural methods and seminars on topics like labor time, visuality in interculturality, and everyday cultural standards. She actively contributes to academic networks such as SIEF and the Regensburg Society for Folklore.
Vladimir Glomb is a Professor of Korean Studies at the Institute for Korean Studies within the Department of History and Cultural Studies at Freie Universität Berlin. Since 2021, he has held the professorship for Korean Studies at this prestigious German institution, contributing significantly to European scholarship on Korea. Born in 1979 Habilitation completed in 2021 at Freie Universität Berlin PhD received in 2010 from Charles University, Prague Extensive academic background in Korean philosophy and language Professor Glomb's research centers on Korean philosophy, particularly Confucianism, and pre-modern Korean language and history. His scholarly work demonstrates deep engagement with Chosŏn Dynasty thought, Neo-Confucian debates, and the transmission of philosophical ideas in pre-modern Korea. His publications reveal a particular interest in the works of key Korean philosophers like Yi I (Yulgok) and Yi Hwang (Toegye), as well as the institutional framework of Confucian academies in Korea. Analysis of his recent publications shows a consistent focus on Confucian intellectual history, particularly examining how Korean scholars engaged with Chinese philosophical traditions while developing distinct Korean interpretations. His work spans multiple languages and crosses disciplinary boundaries between philosophy, history, and religious studies, reflecting the interdisciplinary nature of Korean Studies. Research fellow at SFB 980 'Episteme in Bewegung' since 2016 Recipient of multiple Academy of Korean Studies research grants Chiang Ching-kuo Foundation research grant recipient Visiting research fellow at Ruhr-Universität Bochum Professor Glomb has been actively involved in research projects examining the movement of knowledge across East Asia, with particular attention to how Korean scholars adapted and transformed Confucian thought. His work has been supported by significant research funding from both European and Korean institutions, reflecting the international recognition of his scholarly contributions. His ongoing publication projects continue to expand our understanding of Korean intellectual history and its connections to broader East Asian traditions.
Dr. Nadine Mai is a researcher at the University of Göttingen’s Institute for Historical Regional Studies, specialising in medieval art history, iconography, and the cultural history of sacred space. Education: M.A. Art History, Italian, and Management of Museums, Universities of Leipzig, Pisa, and Hamburg (2008) Ph.D. Art History, University of Hamburg (2018) – dissertation on Jerusalem transformations in late-medieval Europe Research interests span iconography and materiality of medieval altarpieces, noble residences and memoria, cult images and reliquaries, visualisations of Christ’s Passion, pilgrimage culture, late-medieval perceptions of Jerusalem, 18th–19th-century portraiture, and art around 1900. Her recent project, “Die Rittergüter der Calenberg-Göttingen-Grubenhagenschen Ritterschaft” , continues her investigation into regional noble heritage. She has curated exhibitions on Art-Nouveau and on medieval pilgrimage in Northern Germany and has collaborated in international projects such as “Spectrum: visual translations of Jerusalem” .
Eva Noller is a DFG-funded researcher at the Philologisches Seminar, Faculty of Humanities, Eberhard Karls Universität Tübingen, focusing on Latin literature and classical philology. She has held academic positions at Heidelberg, Tübingen, Basel, and Frankfurt, including roles as a research assistant and project leader. Staatsexamen in Latin Philology and German Studies (2012, Heidelberg) Promotion (PhD) in Latin Philology (2016, Heidelberg) Her research explores the aesthetics of scale in Pliny the Elder’s Naturalis Historia , didactic poetry (especially Lucretius), Epicureanism, ekphrasis, and the epistemology of classical philology. She leads the DFG project ' Die Ästhetik der Größe ' and contributes to the Fondazione Lorenzo Valla commentary on Lucretius’ De Rerum Natura . Her recent publications and lectures examine the interplay of materialism, rhetoric, and cultural theory in Roman texts. She participates in international workshops and conferences, including trilateral DFG research meetings on Pliny and classical evidence.
Stina Klein is a Scientific Associate at the Chair of Human-Centered Artificial Intelligence within the Institute of Computer Science at the University of Augsburg 's Faculty of Applied Computer Science . Her research focuses center on Human-Computer Interaction , Human-Robot Interaction , and Cobot Error Management in Industry , with applications in social robotics, affective computing, and multimodal systems. Research Interests Human-Computer Interaction Human-Robot Interaction Cobot Error Management in Industry Affective Computing Sign Language Recognition Media Memorability Teaching Lecture: Human-Computer Interaction (Summer 2025) Lecture + Exercise: Human-Robot Interaction (Summer 2025) Research Projects Open Topics for Theses & Projects FORSocialRobots KodiLL
Ruben Schlagowski is a scientific employee at the Chair for Human-Centered Artificial Intelligence , part of the Faculty of Applied Informatics at the University of Augsburg . His work bridges Human-Computer Interaction with Musical XR , Sonic Interaction Design , and Extended Reality , focusing on creativity support systems and immersive experiences. Research spans Mixed Reality , AI ethics , and physiological computing Active in IEEE International Workshop on the Musical Metaverse (IWMM) and reviewing for CHI , ISMAR , and other top venues Recipients of multiple Honorable Mentions at IEEEVR , C&C , and CHI Supervised 8 Master's theses and 5 Bachelor's theses in interactive systems Publishes on AI explainability , creative tools , and physiological human-machine symbiosis , with recent work on XR-based music production , GAN manipulation , and AI bias awareness through VR. His projects integrate computer vision , audio analysis , and user-centered design to create systems that adapt to human needs. Scientific accolades include: IEEEVR 2022 - Honorable Mention C&C 2022 - Honorable Mention CHI 2024 - Honorable Mention HCMKDT Best Driver Awards (2023) His research explores the intersection of music technology , immersive systems , and ethical AI , with a focus on user experience optimization in mixed reality environments and alterfactual explanation frameworks for AI transparency.
Dr. Irina Gradinari is an Assistant Professor at the FernUniversität in Hagen, holding the Junior Professorship in Gender Studies in Literature and Media Studies. Her research focuses on Gender Politics, Digital Culture, and Figurations of Uncertainty, with extensive publications in film theory, gender representation, and media aesthetics. 2024: DAAD Visiting Professorship at University of Łódź 2019: Habilitation in Modern German Literature and Media Studies at FernUniversität in Hagen 2017: Appointment as Junior Professor Gradinari's work bridges feminist theory with cinematic analysis, exploring themes like gendered violence in films, postcolonial representation, and media's role in cultural memory. Her recent books interrogate Christmas films as cultural critique and feminist gaze theories, while 2024 articles analyze ethnographic genre dynamics and cyborg aesthetics. She has co-edited volumes on gender and media, served as Managing Director (2020), and contributed to peer-reviewed journals. Her awards include the DAAD Visiting Professorship. Current projects examine transmedia memory narratives and gendered visual cultures across European and post-Soviet contexts.
Dr. Maren Stollberg is a Research Associate for Building Greening in Teaching and Research at Geisenheim University, where she works within the Institute for Urban Horticulture and Plant Use and the Professorship for Ornamental Plant Research and Urban Horticulture. Her academic background includes a Master's degree in Crop Science (focus on Production Ecology) from the University of Bonn (2013-2015) and a Bachelor of Environmental Geosciences from the University of Trier (2009-2013). Dr. Stollberg's research focuses on vertical greening systems, particularly living walls and facade greening technologies. Her work spans plant selection for different building exposures, biodiversity enhancement in vertical systems, and the microclimatic effects of green walls. She has conducted extensive field research over multiple years, examining how plants adapt to vertical environments and how these systems can be optimized for urban settings. Her research has revealed significant insights about plant performance in vertical systems, showing that different plant species and configurations respond uniquely to various building exposures (north, south, east, west). She has documented seasonal variations in plant growth and visual attractiveness, identifying species that maintain aesthetic appeal throughout the year. Her work on meadow-living walls demonstrates how seed mixtures can create biodiverse vertical ecosystems with relatively low maintenance requirements. 2024: Research on vertical biodiversity promotion and plant design for living walls 2023: Interdisciplinary studies on living walls' effects on surface temperature and human perception 2022: Field trials on meadow-living walls and plant suitability for textile-based systems 2016-2019: Development of green facade tiles system for cost-effective building greening Dr. Stollberg's scientific contributions have been published in journals spanning ecological engineering, horticulture, urban studies, and sustainability. Her work bridges theoretical research with practical applications, providing valuable guidance for architects, urban planners, and landscape designers seeking to implement effective vertical greening solutions.
