André Brinkmann is a full professor at the Department of Computer Science, Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, leading the Efficient Computing and Storage Group. He previously served as head of the university's data center (2011–2021) and was an assistant professor at Paderborn University (2008–2011). He holds a Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering from Paderborn University (2004) and managed the Paderborn Centre for Parallel Computing (PC²). His research focuses on algorithm engineering for data center management, cloud computing, storage systems, and high-performance computing (HPC). Notable projects include: Development of ad hoc file systems like GekkoFS and IO-SEA for exascale architectures Optimization of storage systems (e.g., hybrid RAID, SSD garbage collection) Quantum computing compiler research for trapped-ion architectures Leadership in initiatives like the I/O Trace Initiative and BINARY (Big Data in Atmospheric Physics) He serves as Senior Associate Editor of ACM Transactions on Storage and co-chairs major conferences like FAST 2026 and ARCS 2026.
Prof. Dr. rer. nat. Matthias S. Müller is a Universitätsprofessor and Director of the IT Center at RWTH Aachen University. His research focuses on High-Performance Computing (HPC), parallel programming models, correctness verification, energy-aware computing, and tools for distributed systems. He leads the High-Performance Computing group, contributing to advancements in HPC resource management, runtime systems, and sustainable computing practices. Key areas of expertise include MPI and OpenMP correctness checking, static and dynamic analysis techniques, performance optimization for heterogeneous architectures, and energy footprint modeling. Müller has extensively collaborated on projects like MUST (MPI correctness tool), OMPT tools, and frameworks for analyzing hybrid parallel applications. His work bridges theoretical computer science with practical implementation challenges in large-scale computing environments. Notable contributions include developing methods for data race detection in Remote Memory Access (RMA) programs, latency-aware power management models, and educational frameworks for HPC lab courses. His research often emphasizes tool development, runtime systems, and interdisciplinary applications of HPC across engineering domains. Müller's lab is part of RWTH Aachen's IT Center, which provides infrastructure and expertise for computational research. He actively publishes in top-tier conferences and journals, addressing challenges in parallel programming, energy efficiency, and distributed computing systems.
Prof. Timo Hönig is a Professor leading the Bochum Operating Systems and System Software (BOSS) Research Group at Ruhr-Universität Bochum (RUB). Previously, he served as an Assistant Professor at Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), where he was part of Department of Computer Science 4. His research focuses on Energy-Aware Computing Systems, Operating Systems, and System Software design with applications in embedded and real-time systems. Key research projects include the DFG Collaborative Research Center/TR 89 (Invasive Computing) and the DFG SPP 1914 (Latency- and Resilience-Aware Networking). He has received notable awards such as the SOSP SRC Gold Medal (2019) and the ISORC Best Paper Award (2017). He actively contributes to conferences like ACM EuroSys and USENIX ATC, and has led initiatives like the Albatross runtime system for energy-efficient HPC clusters. Teaching includes courses on Energy-Aware Computing and Operating Systems Technology. His work bridges theoretical system software design with practical applications in energy efficiency and heterogeneous architectures. The BOSS group explores future system software challenges for many-core and NVM-based systems.
Michael Bader is a Professor in the Department of Computer Science at the Technical University of Munich (TUM), part of the TUM School of CIT. He leads the research group on hardware-aware algorithms and software for high-performance computing at the Leibniz Supercomputing Center. His work focuses on developing efficient algorithms and software for supercomputing platforms, particularly in geosciences and simulation of earthquakes and tsunamis. His research interests include high-performance computing, simulation software development (e.g., SeisSol and ExaHyPE), parallel numerical algorithms, adaptive mesh refinement, and large-scale geophysical simulations such as earthquake dynamics and tsunami modeling. He emphasizes optimizing algorithms for modern supercomputing architectures to handle complex computational challenges. Professor Bader has supervised numerous PhD students, including Lukas Krenz, Ravil Dorozhinskii, and Sebastian Wolf, among others. His research has been supported by grants from the EuroHPC JU, BMBF, DFG, and other institutions. Notable projects include ChEESE-2P for exascale computing in solid earth sciences and the targetDART project for adaptive task distribution on exascale systems. He is actively involved in teaching, offering courses such as Numerical Algorithms for High Performance Computing and Scientific Computing 1 . His group collaborates extensively with institutions like the Leibniz Supercomputing Center to advance computational methods for simulating natural disasters and geophysical phenomena.
Prof. Frauke Gräter is the newly appointed Director at the Max Planck Institute for Polymer Research (MPI-P), effective July 2024. She holds a professorship in Molecular Biomechanics at Heidelberg University and previously led the Molecular Biomechanics group at the Heidelberg Institute for Theoretical Studies (HITS). Her research focuses on mechanical forces in biochemical processes, combining AI/ML with experimental and computational methods. She earned her doctorate at the Max Planck Institute for Biophysical Chemistry and conducted postdoctoral work at Columbia University and the Max Planck Partner Institute in Shanghai. Education: Studied chemistry at Universities of Tübingen, Kyoto, and Heidelberg; PhD at MPI Göttingen; postdoctoral training at Columbia University and Shanghai's MPG-CAS Partner Institute. Research Interests: Molecular biomechanics, soft matter, AI-driven material design, and biomimetic systems. Specific projects include studies on blood coagulation, spider silk mechanics, and collagen structures. Her interdisciplinary methods integrate high-performance computing, molecular simulations, and AI to explore non-equilibrium material systems. Awards: PRACE Ada Lovelace Award for HPC ERC Consolidator Grant (European Research Council) Advising & Grants: Led the 'Protein Mechanics and Evolution' group in Shanghai and the HITS 'Molecular Biomechanics' team. Current focus includes collaborative projects at MPI-P to develop AI-predicted materials with bio-responsive properties. Labs/Teams: Heads the newly established Department Graeter at MPI-P, fostering interdisciplinary research with the Institute's five existing departments. Active in international collaborations to advance computational biology and smart material systems.
Stefano Markidis is a leading researcher in High-Performance Computing (HPC) and quantum computing. His work focuses on developing advanced simulation frameworks, such as the Neko framework for computational fluid dynamics, and optimizing algorithms for heterogeneous architectures. He collaborates extensively with institutions and researchers globally, contributing to fields like plasma physics, quantum systems, and machine learning applications. His research emphasizes scalability, performance optimization, and the integration of cutting-edge technologies like GPU acceleration and quantum computing. Key research interests include extreme-scale simulations, quantum algorithms, and in-situ data analysis techniques. He has published over 200 articles, with recent work addressing challenges in NISQ systems, tensor network simulations, and CUDA-based performance enhancements. His contributions span theoretical and applied domains, bridging computational methods with real-world applications in fusion energy, materials science, and space exploration. Notable collaborations include projects with Philipp Schlatter, Niclas Jansson, and the NISQ application development community. Markidis also explores hybrid frameworks combining classical and quantum computing, aiming to leverage emerging hardware for scientific breakthroughs.
Gerhard Wellein is a Professor for High Performance Computing at the Department of Computer Science of Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU). He is the head of NHR@FAU (Erlangen National Center for High Performance Computing) and a member of the board of directors of the German NHR-Alliance. Since 2024, he has also served as a Visiting Professor for HPC at the Delft Institute of Applied Mathematics, Delft University of Technology. He holds a PhD in theoretical physics from the University of Bayreuth and has over two decades of experience in HPC education and research. Research Interests: His research focuses on performance modeling and engineering, architecture-specific code optimization, novel parallelization techniques, and the development of hardware-efficient building blocks for sparse linear algebra and stencil solvers. His work bridges computer science, applied mathematics, and computational physics, aiming to maximize efficiency on current and future HPC architectures, including exascale systems. Publication Trends: His recent publications emphasize analytical performance modeling (e.g., Roofline, oscillator models), energy efficiency, GPU optimization, and scalable linear algebra. They reflect a strong focus on both theoretical modeling and practical implementation, with applications in CFD, quantum physics, and molecular dynamics. Scientific Awards: 2011 Informatics Europe Curriculum Best Practices Award (shared with Jan Treibig and Georg Hager) for outstanding teaching contributions in HPC. Grants and Advising: He has led numerous third-party funded projects from the EU, BMBF, and DFG, including EoCoE-III, ESSEX, EXASTEEL, and ProPE. These projects focus on exascale software, performance engineering, fault tolerance, and multiscale simulation. He has mentored multiple researchers and students, contributing to the development of tools such as LIKWID, ClusterCockpit, and GEOPM. Labs and Teams: He leads the HPC research group at FAU and is deeply involved in national and international HPC initiatives. His team collaborates extensively on open-source HPC software and performance tools, fostering a strong community-driven approach to performance engineering.
Harald Köstler is an Associate Professor and Head of Research at the Erlangen National High Performance Computing Center (NHR@FAU) within the Department of Computer Science at Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU). He leads the research group on HPC Software Design at the Chair of Computer Science 10 (System Simulation), focusing on software engineering for high-performance computing and data analytics. His research interests include: Software Engineering for HPC Code Generation for Numerical Solvers Performance Engineering on Hybrid Architectures Discontinuous Galerkin and Lattice Boltzmann Methods Multigrid Solvers and Parallel Algorithms Performance Portability across CPUs, GPUs, and FPGAs The recent publications highlight a strong trend in developing efficient, scalable, and portable simulation frameworks for complex physical systems. His work emphasizes code generation, performance optimization, and the integration of classical model-driven and data-driven approaches. Key application areas include computational fluid dynamics, geotechnical engineering, and climate modeling, often leveraging the waLBerla and ExaStencils frameworks. Harald Köstler has no listed scientific awards in the provided text. He advises students in the areas of high-performance computing, numerical methods, and software engineering for scientific applications. His research is supported by collaborations within the FAU HPC ecosystem and likely involves grants related to national high-performance computing initiatives. He is a key contributor to the waLBerla framework, a block-structured, high-performance software for multiphysics simulations, and is involved with the ExaStencils project, which focuses on advanced multigrid solver generation. These frameworks form the core of his research team's efforts in scalable scientific computing.
Dr. Torsten Stuehn serves as IT Group Leader at the Max Planck Institute for Polymer Research (MPI-P) in Mainz, Germany, leading scientific software development and HPC infrastructure since joining in 2003. He oversees the ESPResSo++ simulation package and collaborates with the University of Mainz and Max Planck Compute and Data Facility (MPCDF). Education: Diploma in Physics, University of Mainz, 1999 Doctorate in Physics, University of Mainz, 2005 His research focuses on scientific software engineering for exascale computing, developing neural network-based force fields, adaptive resolution methods, and load balancing algorithms to advance molecular simulation capabilities. This work addresses critical challenges in maintaining computational leadership for soft matter physics. Recent publications reveal a clear evolution in ESPResSo++ toward exascale readiness, integrating machine learning with multiscale modeling and parallel computing innovations. The software's progression reflects broader trends in computational physics where AI-driven methods and heterogeneous architecture optimization are becoming indispensable. Stuehn directs MPI-P's computational infrastructure team and contributes to major initiatives including Transregio SFB 146 and the European E-CAM project, driving open-source scientific software development for the global research community.
Prof. Dr.-Ing. Rainer Keller serves as Vice Dean of the School of Computer Science and Information Technology at Esslingen University of Applied Sciences. He concurrently holds Laboratory Management roles for both the Operating Systems Laboratory and Information Technology Laboratory, coordinates the Applied Computer Science (Master) program, and serves on the Environmental Committee for his school. His academic journey includes a Doctorate in Engineering (with distinction), Research Associate and Group Leader positions at HLRS, University of Stuttgart (leading the 9-member "Applications, Models and Tools" group), PostDoc tenure at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), and prior appointments at Stuttgart University of Applied Sciences. Keller's research centers on operating systems, distributed systems, and HPC with specialized expertise in Linux-based parallel programming tools and file I/O optimization. His work bridges theoretical system models with practical performance tuning, particularly in high-performance computing environments where syscall tracing and storage optimization are critical. Recent publications reveal consistent focus on system-level performance analysis, evolving from foundational file I/O profiling (2020) to advanced syscall tracing mechanisms (2022) and forward-looking access optimization frameworks (2025). These works demonstrate applied research in Linux ecosystems with direct relevance to HPC infrastructure. As Program Coordinator for the Applied Computer Science (Master) program and laboratory manager for two key facilities, he oversees academic development and hands-on technical training. His consultation hours (Tuesdays 1-2 PM by appointment) support student engagement in systems research. He actively contributes to national HPC infrastructure as a Member of the State User Committee (LNA) bwHPC, influencing regional high-performance computing strategies while maintaining his laboratory management responsibilities at Esslingen.
Reza Salkhordeh is a Lecturer and Postdoctoral Researcher at Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Germany, where he leads the Efficient Computing and Storage Group. He holds a Ph.D. in Computer Engineering from Sharif University of Technology (2018) and has been affiliated with Ferdowsi University of Mashhad and Sharif University of Technology. His research focuses on operating systems, storage systems, and non-volatile memory technologies, with a particular emphasis on high-performance computing and I/O optimization. He has taught courses such as Storage Systems and Advanced Topics in Operating Systems since 2020. His academic journey includes a B.Sc. from Ferdowsi University (2011), M.Sc. and Ph.D. from Sharif University (2013, 2018). He has held roles such as Technical Lead for the High-Performance Data Storage System (HPDS) project in Tehran, Iran, and has mentored 4 M.Sc. and 6 B.Sc. students. His work spans patented technologies like Reconfigurable Cache Architectures and Load Balancers for I/O caching systems. Research interests include heterogeneous memory management, storage system design, and optimizing I/O performance in distributed environments. His recent publications address challenges in NVMM utilization, garbage collection in SSDs, and I/O tracing for HPC systems. He is actively involved in conference committees (e.g., FAST, ARCS, SC) and has reviewed for top journals like IEEE TPDS and ACM Transactions on Storage. Notable recognitions include membership in Iran’s National Elites Foundation (2012–2015) and top rankings in national exams (3rd in PhD, 35th in MSc). His contributions to storage systems have advanced enterprise-grade architectures and decentralized file systems, with a focus on practical implementations for modern computing challenges.
Felix Wolf is a Full Professor at Technische Universität Darmstadt's Department of Computer Science since 2015 and leads the NHR4CES@TU Darmstadt HPC center. He served as Department Chair and Vice Department Chair at TU Darmstadt, with prior faculty roles at RWTH Aachen University (2006–2015) and adjunct positions at the University of Tennessee (2003–2008). His academic work spans performance analysis, parallel programming, and scalability modeling. Ph.D. in Computer Science, RWTH Aachen University (2003) M.Sc., RWTH Aachen University (1998) Research Interests : Wolf focuses on High-Performance Computing , including performance modeling , parallel programming tools , and I/O optimization . His work addresses GPU acceleration , machine learning integration into HPC systems, and structural plasticity simulation . Key projects involve tools like Scalasca, Score-P, and Extra-P for automated performance analysis. Article Trends : Recent publications emphasize HPC systems for AI-driven workflows , I/O contention reduction , and GPU port validation . His team explores empirical modeling for deep learning and scientific simulations , with applications in engineering and neuroscience .
Gregor Snelting is a Professor and head of the Chair of Programming Paradigms at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Faculty of Computer Science, Institute for Programming Languages and Compiler Construction. His research focuses on compiler construction, program analysis, software security, and verification. His primary research interests include programming languages, compiler design, program analysis, software security, information flow control, formal verification, object-oriented and concurrent programming, and software reengineering using concept analysis. His work aims to provide solid theoretical foundations and empirical validation. The research output, particularly the 15 most recent articles, shows a strong emphasis on software security and program analysis, with a focus on information flow control in Java using the JOANA tool. There is also a significant thread on invasive computing and resource-aware parallel programming. The work combines deep theoretical contributions, such as formal semantics and correctness proofs, with practical tool development and empirical validation. Faculty Teaching Award for the course 'Practice in Software Development' Snelting leads a research group that has developed several significant tools, including JOANA for security analysis, the Praktomat system for automated grading of programming assignments, and contributions to the libFirm compiler framework. His group is a key participant in major research initiatives like the DFG Collaborative Research Center InvasIC and the DFG Priority Program RS3. He advises students and supervises theses, fostering research in programming paradigms and software security. The group is involved in several key research projects: JOANA for information flow control in Java, InvasIC for invasive computing and dynamic parallelism, Quis-Custodiet for machine-checked correctness proofs of security analyses, and the development of the libFirm compiler framework.
M.Sc. Annalena Daniels is a Researcher at the Chair of Control Engineering , Technical University of Munich (TUM), since May 2021. Her work focuses on control systems applied to agricultural and industrial robotics. Education: 2018–2021: Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering, University of Stuttgart (Specializations: Systems Theory and Control Engineering, Modeling and Simulation) 2014–2018: Bachelor of Engineering in Mechanical Engineering, East Bavarian Technical University of Regensburg (Specializations: Modeling and Simulation, Energy Engineering) Research interests include: Vertical farming systems using closed-loop control for crop optimization. Robotic recycling with haptic-enhanced precision in uncertain environments. Advanced fault diagnosis and detection in dynamic systems. Recent publications highlight her expertise in adaptive control frameworks, with applications to greenhouse climate regulation, vertical farm irrigation, and robotic recycling. Her work often integrates machine learning and dynamic modeling for agricultural and industrial automation. Contact: a.daniels@tum.de Labs & Projects: She contributes to the Chair of Control Engineering at TUM, including the HR Recycler project for hybrid human-robot electronic recycling systems.
Dr. Michael Obersteiner is a researcher at the Technical University of Munich (TUM), affiliated with the TUM School of Computer Science and Information Technology and the Department of Computer Science. He is part of the Chair of Scientific Computing in Computer Science (SCCS), led by Prof. Hans-Joachim Bungartz. His research focuses on high-dimensional numerical methods, sparse grids, the combination technique, molecular dynamics, and machine learning applications. He has contributed to the development of scalable algorithms for exascale computing, including the DisCoTec and sparseSpACE frameworks. Education: Michael Obersteiner began his studies in Biochemistry in 2010 before switching to Computer Science in 2011. He completed his M.Sc. in Computer Science in 2016 and is currently pursuing his doctoral dissertation with a focus on high-dimensional numerics and the sparse grid combination technique. Research Interests: His work spans molecular dynamics simulations, high-performance computing (HPC), spatially adaptive sparse grid methods, and applications in uncertainty quantification, machine learning, and plasma physics. He has developed open-source software tools like DisCoTec (for exascale PDE simulations) and sparseSpACE (for adaptive sparse grid operations). Teaching: Obersteiner has been involved in teaching numerical programming, scientific computing, and discrete structures at TUM. His roles include leading exercises for courses like 'Algorithms for Scientific Computing' and 'Numerisches Programmieren.' Projects: He leads projects such as DisCoTec and sparseSpACE, which focus on scalable sparse grid techniques for high-dimensional problems. His research also includes applications in plasma turbulence modeling, hydrology simulations, and machine learning with density estimation. Grants and Collaborations: His work has been supported by projects like EXAHD (funded by DFG/SPPEXA). He collaborates with institutions like BGCE, CSE, and IGSSE. Open student projects are available in areas like adaptive quadrature, machine learning with sparse grids, and uncertainty quantification.
