Award ceremony Dissertationspreis Adlershof for 2025

Wednesday, 11. February 2026 // 15.00 - 18.00

Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, IGAFA e.V., WISTA Management GmbH

Rudower Chaussee 26, 12489 Berlin
Erwin Schrödinger-Zentrum

Three nominees. Three presentations.

Whoever gets to the heart of their topic best will win the Adlershof Dissertation Award worth 3,000 Euros.

On Wednesday, 11 Februar 2025 from 3pm, three young researchers will present the topic of their recently completed doctoral thesis. The Adlershof Dissertation Award is jointly sponsored by the research network IGAFA e. V., Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin and WISTA Management GmbH.

Programme

Welcome by representatives of the awarding institutions
- Prof. Dr. Claudia Mareis (Humboldt Universität zu Berlin)
- Prof. Dr. Ulrich Panne (IGAFA, President Bundesanstalt für Materialforschung und -prüfung)
- Roland Sillmann (CEO WISTA Management GmbH)
Short presentations by the nominees (15 minutes each, plus discussion)
- Powering the Next Wireless Revolution – Accurate Physics-based GaN Models for Efficient Future Communication (in English)
  Dr Petros Beleniotis
  PhD student of Prof. Matthias Rudolph
  (Ferdinand Braun Institute gGmbH, Leibniz Institute for High Frequency Technology, and BTU Cottbus-Senftenberg)
  Charge traps in GaN transistors have a strong influence on the efficiency and performance of modern wireless communication systems. By modelling trapping effects, Dr Petros Beleniotis' research enables precise circuit design and improves the performance of next-generation wireless technologies.
- Between diffusion and reaction: statistical tools for complex systems (in German)
  Dr Sascha Gaudlitz
  PhD student of Prof. Markus Reiß
  Institute of Mathematics, Humboldt University of Berlin
  In his doctoral thesis, Dr Sascha Gaudlitz developed new statistical methods for reconstructing hidden dynamics in spatiotemporal systems controlled by diffusive and reactive mechanisms. His research focuses on a quantitative analysis that shows the extent to which additional spatial information improves the reconstruction quality of local interactions (reaction term).
- Scaffolding with unusual molecules: From non-alternating hydrocarbons to functional materials (in German)
  Dr Josefine Sprachmann
  PhD student of Prof. Oliver Dumele
  University of Cologne (previously Institute of Chemistry, Humboldt University of Berlin)
  Molecules are the building blocks of nature. As part of her doctoral thesis, Dr Josefine Sprachmann has researched organic molecules with unusual electronic structures, known as non-alternating hydrocarbons, as building blocks for novel materials. These are key to future technologies such as organic semiconductor technology, sustainable energy storage in organic batteries and green energy generation through photocatalysis.
Jury meeting followed by award ceremony and get-together

The event will be moderated by Steffen Terberl (Zukunftsorte Berlin).

Livestream on YouTube

About Dissertationspreis Adlershof

Since 2002, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, the scientific network of the non-university research institutions located in the technology park Berlin Adlershof (IGAFA) and WISTA Management GmbH have jointly awarded the annual Dissertationspreis Adlershof, which is endowed with 3,000 Euros. The target group is young researchers who have completed their doctorate in Adlershof with at least a “very good” (magna cum laude). Three nominees compete against each other in a live competition. The winner is the one who presents his or her topic in the most engaging and understandable way. Participants will receive a prize of €1,000 for being nominated, and the best performance in the dissertation award will be rewarded with €3,000.