At the 23rd International Multi-Conference on Systems, Signals and Devices (SSD’26), held March 30 to April 2, 2026, in Catania, Italy, Dr. Ahmed Yahia Kallel, research associate and group leader for Impedance Spectroscopy and Measurement Systems at the Chair of Measurement and Sensor Technology (headed by Prof. Dr. Olfa Kanoun) at Chemnitz University of Technology, received the Best Paper Award.

Lithium-ion batteries are the backbone of electric mobility and stationary energy storage. To reliably determine their state of charge, researchers use Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy (EIS), a method that measures a battery’s electrical behavior across different frequencies and generates up to 480 data points per measurement – far too many for the small microcontrollers in battery management systems to process in real time. The award-winning paper “Fast A*-mRMR for Model-Aware Feature Selection in EIS-Based Battery State of Charge Estimation” addresses this challenge through intelligent pre-selection of the most informative data points. The method transfers the A* algorithm – a proven tool in robotics and game development for efficiently finding optimal paths through complex environments – to the domain of feature selection. Rather than exhaustively testing every possible feature combination, the algorithm identifies the best selection directly and efficiently, much like a navigation system finds the shortest route without driving down every road. Two criteria are considered simultaneously: how informative a data point is for predicting the state of charge, and how much it overlaps with already-selected points (Minimum Redundancy Maximum Relevance, mRMR).

Tested on physics-based digital twin data from four battery cells across 17 state-of-charge levels and three temperatures (756 measurement points in total), Fast A*-mRMR achieves a prediction accuracy of 3.62 to 3.93 % error with a computation time of just 1.27 seconds – more than 500 times faster than comparable methods while matching or exceeding their accuracy. The work also yields a counterintuitive insight: allowing a controlled degree of similarity between selected data points can actually improve predictions, contrary to the prevailing assumption that redundancy should always be minimized. “Our method enables the practical use of high-dimensional impedance data in resource-constrained embedded systems, laying an important foundation for more efficient and reliable battery management systems,” explains Dr. Ahmed Yahia Kallel. “The Best Paper Award is a gratifying recognition that our work in intelligent sensor systems and sustainable energy technologies is resonating with the international research community,” adds Prof. Dr. Olfa Kanoun.

The SSD is an established IEEE international multi-conference founded in 2001, bringing together research in the fields of systems, signal processing, and devices, with an H-index of 35. The award was presented at the sub-conference Power Systems & Smart Energies (PSE). The proceedings are published in IEEEXplore and indexed in Scopus and Web of Science.

Contact: Prof. Dr. Olfa Kanoun, Chair of Measurement and Sensor Technology, email olfa.kanoun@etit.tu-chemnitz.de

Citation: Kallel, A.Y., Kanoun, O.: “Fast A*-mRMR for Model-Aware Feature Selection in EIS-Based Battery State of Charge Estimation.” Proc. 23rd Int. Multi-Conf. on Systems, Signals and Devices (SSD’26), Catania, Italy, 2026. Best Paper Award.

(Author: Prof. Dr. Olfa Kanoun)

The University Library of Chemnitz University of Technology was awarded with the current “Open Library Badge” (OLB). It is the first library in Germany, which was honored with this award for the third time in succession. Already in 2016 and 2020, its successful implementation of openness principles was certified by the dedication of the OLB. “We are very proud to be awarded again. This award encourages us in our engagement to fulfill also further criteria and fields of action”, Dr. Wolfgang Lambrecht, Deputy Library Director, comments. The jury attested the University Library a consequent implementation of openness and transparency in its all-day Library life. It stated that the engagement is particularly strong in the topics “Participation and Citizen Science”, “Open Access” and “Open Data”.

During the Capital of Culture-year of Chemnitz 2025, the University Library performed a particularly high number of activities jointly with regional networks. Based on that, the collaboration between science and citizens shall be further enhanced by transparency and participation. The University Library offers in addition to the proven support of Open Access publishing also a comprehensive range of offers in the fields of Open Data and Open Educational Resources. In order to assure sustainable implementation, Open Science is included in varied ways in the strategy document of the University Library for developing towards a 5D-Library until the year 2030 (mytuc.org/jwvr). 

Keyword: Open Library Badge 2025

The “Open Library Badge 2025” includes seven topics in total: “Participation and Citizen Science”, “Inclusion and Social Commitment”, “Open Access”, “Open Data”, “Open Source”, “Open Educational Resources” as well as “Open Government and Open Research Information”. The respectively four fields of action are “Consulting and Teaching”, “Provision of infrastructure”, “Corporate Action and Implementation of Strategies” as well as “Cooperation and Engagement in Networks”.

More information regarding the „Open Library Badge“: http://badge.openbiblio.eu

Contact to the Open-Access-Team of Chemnitz University Library: Ute Blumtritt, phone: 0371 531-31290, email os@bibliothek.tu-chemnitz.de

(Translation: Dr. Wolfgang Lambrecht)

The question of "What binds the world in its innermost core?" was on Johann Wolfgang von Goethe's mind in "Faust." Many researchers at Chemnitz University of Technology also search for answers to this question. At the new Transmission Electron Microscopy Center (TEM-Center), officially opened on April 14^th, 2026, at Erfenschlager Straße 73 in Chemnitz, researchers aim to visualize structures smaller than the wavelength of visible light. This will enable them to identify atoms, molecules, and the bonds of matter. To achieve this, they will utilize the top-tier research infrastructure.

High-resolution microscopes enable precise material analysis

"The core of the new, single-story building are two highly sensitive transmission electron microscopes that allow us to examine the structure and properties of materials at the molecular and atomic levels, and then translate these findings to new applications," says Prof. Dr. Andreas Undisz, the Chair of Electron Microscopy and Microstructural Analysis at Chemnitz University of Technology and head of the new center. For example, processes that lead to material damage can be examined in very detail, enabling more accurate conclusions to be made about the durability and performance of components.

A worthwhile investment at Chemnitz University of Technology

"With this new building and the two electron microscopes, Chemnitz University of Technology is once again at the forefront of global materials research. The complex technical features offered by this facility as a whole can be found at only a few other locations worldwide. In addition to the three faculties, partner institutions will also benefit. This makes Chemnitz University of Technology even more attractive to top researchers from around the world. Thus, we strengthen the entire scientific region of Southwest Saxony,” said Saxony’s Minister of Science, Sebastian Gemkow, in a statement from the State Ministry of Finance.

"We at Chemnitz University of Technology are delighted to celebrate the opening of the Transmission Electron Microscopy Center. This is an important investment in Chemnitz University of Technology and, by extension, in Chemnitz as a research hub, in our core competencies in materials science and intelligent systems, and in our university’s national and international reputation. We are very grateful to the Free State of Saxony and to everyone involved who actively supported the establishment of the center," says Prof. Dr. Gerd Strohmeier, President at Chemnitz University of Technology. Prof. Dr. Anja Strobel, Deputy President and Vice President for Research and University Development at Chemnitz University of Technology, who represented the Rector in receiving the key, added: "The new Transmission Electron Microscopy Center, which brings together expertise from various research areas at Chemnitz University of Technology, significantly strengthens our university’s STEM field in research and teaching and creates highly attractive conditions for new interdisciplinary research projects as well as for recruiting and training our next generation of academics by providing researchers and students with access to the latest technologies and methods in materials science."

Technological marvels explore the nano cosmos

The electron microscopes, which tower over four meters, capture images of the tiniest structures at the nanometer level. "To ensure these sensitive marvels of technology can operate optimally, they are housed in specially shielded, climate-controlled rooms and rest on a 1.4-meter-thick vibration-damping concrete slab," explains Undisz. This keeps mechanical, acoustic, electromagnetic, and thermal sources of interference at a distance. Experiments using the large-scale research equipment in the protected inner core of the building are conducted remotely from operating rooms. In-depth material analysis using the two transmission electron microscopes requires preparing material samples just a few nanometers thin. This process is semi-automated in an adjacent room using a focused ion beam system.

Researchers from over 20 professorships will work with the equipment in the future

The new center has the advantage of merging all of Chemnitz University of Technology’s high-resolution transmission electron microscopy equipment in one location. More than 20 professorships of the faculties of mechanical engineering, natural sciences, and electrical engineering and information technology will use the equipment for their transdisciplinary and interdisciplinary basic and applied research. They will also collaborate with non-university research institutions, such as Fraunhofer Society institutes, as well as companies.

Background: Transmission Electron Microscopy Center at Chemnitz University of Technology

Construction of the new research building began in September 2023 under the direction of the State Office for Real Estate and Construction Management. The building was designed by Heinle Wischer Partnership of Independent Architects mbB in Dresden. The sculpture "Impact", created by Stefanie Welk from Walldorf near Heidelberg as part of the "Art in Architecture" competition, frames the building’s entrance.

Approximately 13.1 million euros were invested in the construction of the building. Of this amount, approximately 7.4 million euros were provided by the European Regional Development Fund and around 5.7 million euros by the Free State of Saxony. The project was co-financed with tax revenues based on the budget approved by the Saxon State Parliament. The German Research Foundation (DFG) and the Free State of Saxony each provided 3.5 million euros for the large-scale equipment. Professors Christoph Tegenkamp, Martin Wagner, and Bernhard Wunderle successfully acquired the funding on behalf of the three participating faculties at Chemnitz University of Technology.

For further information, please contact Prof. Dr. Andreas Undisz, phone +49 (0)371 531-34528, email andreas.undisz@mb.tu-chemnitz.de.

(Translation: Ulrike Lohr)

For recognition of her particular engagement and in acknowledgement of her outstanding merits for the benefit of Chemnitz University of Technology, the Director of the University Library, Angela Malz, was awarded with the Honorary Medal of Chemnitz University of Technology. The President, Prof. Dr. Gerd Strohmeier, handed over the medal within the retirement celebration on March 26, 2026. “Angela Malz has led the University Library in an outstanding manner and generated a number of successes”, the President said. For this reason, it is a great honor and a particular pleasure for him to confer her the highest award of Chemnitz University of Technology. The president liked to quote a citation from an article issued only a few days ago by Berliner Zeitung: “The University Library is supposed to belong to those locations of the academic sphere which are historically most worth seeing and which should not shy the competition with Oxford, Cambridge or Stanford. One should have seen it or, even better, should have studied there. An assessment delighting Angela Malz and her Library Team as well.

Angela Malz is working at Chemnitz University of Technology resp. her predecessors already since 1984 – at first as librarian and later as directorate assistant. In 2006 she was engaged as managing director of the University Library, since September 2010 she is her Director. Already in 2006, Chemnitz University Library was considered, according to the Library Index (BIX), as most efficient University Library in Germany. In addition, the University Library was at the forefront with regard to the usage of electronic media. The engagement of the University Library for more openness in science and society – particularly on the field of Open Access – was honored i.a. in the years 2016 and 2020 with the “Open Library Badge”. Since 2013, Malz is a core participant and moderator of the “Literary Quintet”, an event format of the University Library jointly with the Professorshjp of Modern German and Comparative Literature Studies and the Student Representatives of the Faculty of Humanities. The most challenging task for Malz was the merging of the former Library sites in the “Old Spinnig Mill”-building. After five years of reconstruction works, the new University Library opened on October 1, 2020. This was preceded by the moving of around 1.2 million books and the major part of comprehensive archival material of the University. In 2025, the University Library participated in a varied manner in the Chemnitz Capital of Culture-year. Malz was involved in many projects as well as in an endless number of events happening at the University Library. As outstanding networker, she was always looking for connections with many institutions at Chemnitz, among them the City Library, the City Theaters and a number of museums. Malz liked to tell stories from the history of the building during her guided tours through the Library and from the successful development the University Library has taken.

„This award makes me very proud and it belongs also to my team and my former colleagues”, Malz says subsequent to the conferment of the Honorary Medal. Even though she will leave the University Library in a few days, she will remain faithful to her University. “For this reason, I have already registered in the alumni-database of Chemnitz University of Technology.”

Keyword: Honorary Medal of Chemnitz University of Technology

In order to award persons for their particular engagement or outstanding merits, there are several options at Chemnitz University of Technology. In addition to the Honorary Doctorate and the merit of an Honorary Senate Member, also the Honorary Medal of Chemnitz University of Technology is conferred. This Medal was handed over for the first time on October 9, 2007 to its Royal Highness Princess from Thailand Maha Chakri Sirindhorn who engaged in the networking of King Mongkut’s Institute of Technology North Bangkok as well as other universities in the country with Chemnitz University. In total, this Honorary Medal was conferred to 18 persons until now. It was manufactured at the State Porcelain Manufactory Meißen.

(Translation: Dr. Wolfgang Lambrecht)

Since the launch of the European University Alliance „Across – European University for Cross-Border Knowledge Sharing“ in March 2025, Chemnitz University of Technology has been working with nine partner universities across Europe. More than 30 students and staff from TU Chemnitz are involved in 16 international task forces. These teams develop joint strategies in the areas of education, research, innovation, governance, and societal engagement—creating direct added value for the university. Students and staff at TU Chemnitz are now invited to contribute their experiences on 18 and 20 March 2026 and support one of the task teams with their knowledge.

Supporting the task team by collecting valuable user experiences

Task Team 2.1 – „Across Border Campus System“ is responsible for ensuring the interoperability of digital services across all Across universities. At the core of this work is the “Across eCampus”, a digital hub for management, teaching, learning, and networking. In two moderated focus groups, the task team will collect experiences from everyday study and work routines with the university’s digital systems on 18 and 20 March. These insights will feed into the further development of a digital infrastructure designed to facilitate international collaboration and open up new opportunities for education and exchange. Key questions include: Where does access to information and services already work well? Where do barriers arise (e.g., due to scattered information, unclear processes/responsibilities, or parallel tools)? And which improvements would be most important from a user perspective?

Students and staff at TU Chemnitz who would like to contribute to shaping a future-oriented campus system are warmly invited to take part in the focus groups:

• Student focus group: 18 March, 13:00 (duration: 60–90 minutes; venue: Welcome Center, International University Centre (IUZ), Bahnhofstraße 8)
• Staff focus group: 20 March, 10:00 (duration: 60–90 minutes; venue: Welcome Center, International University Centre (IUZ), Bahnhofstraße 8)

Participation requirements and compensation

Students and staff of Chemnitz University of Technology can participate if they are willing to share experiences in a moderated group discussion and provide feedback on the beta version and concept ideas. No technical background is required. Focus group participants will receive 15 EUR compensation, an official certificate of attendance from the Across alliance, and—optionally—the opportunity to be involved in the future as a „premium beta user“ (early access and further feedback opportunities).

To register interest, students and staff are asked to complete a short pre-survey in advance. Based on the responses, eight to ten participants per focus group will be selected to ensure a broad range of perspectives. For students, selection aims to cover different faculties, study programms, and stages of study. For staff, selection will consider different roles as well as experience with various internal digital systems. Anyone who is interested but cannot attend on the scheduled dates can, upon request, be contacted again for the next development phases of the „Across eCampus“.

Links to the pre-survey

• Students (German): www.mytuc.org/bryq
• Students (English): www.mytuc.org/vxjx
• Staff (German): www.mytuc.org/ntfk
• Staff (English): www.mytuc.org/kjqk

Keyword: Across eCampus

The „Across eCampus” is intended as a central digital access point of the Across university alliance to make study- and work-related services easier to use across institutions. This applies in particular to access to course content and learning offers from partner universities, as well as information and services that facilitate international exchange and mobility. In the long term, a dashboard will serve as the central entry point, bundling user-related information and simplifying access to core services. These include, for example, a digital course catalogue and a learning environment for cross-institutional digital and blended-learning formats, as well as collaboration and communication tools. Within the Across alliance’s „eCampus” sub-project, a digital infrastructure is being developed to centrally bundle and integrate existing services rather than replace them.

Background: Across and the eCampus sub-project

The European University Alliance „Across – European University for Cross-Border Knowledge Sharing“, coordinated by TU Chemnitz, promotes the exchange of knowledge, skills, and resources across national and institutional borders. Through innovative cooperation in education, research, administration, and third mission activities, Across aims to strengthen international collaboration and the long-term visibility of its partner universities. Key activities include the development of joint teaching offers and the expansion of mobility opportunities for students and staff. The „Across eCampus“ is a TU Chemnitz-led sub-project and a central building block within the alliance. As a digital infrastructure, it is intended to systematically facilitate access to cross-institutional offers.

Further information: Dr. Daniel Pietschmann, Co-Leader of the Across Task Team „eCampus“, email: daniel.pietschmann@phil.tu-chemnitz.de

Dr. Chundong Wang, Professor at Huazhong University of Science and Technology in Wuhan (China), has been awarded a research fellowship for experienced scientists by the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation. The prestigious fellowship will enable him to conduct a one-year research stay at the Chemnitz University of Technology, starting in March 2026. At the Research Centre for Materials, Architectures and Integration of Nanomembranes (MAIN), he will work in the group of Dr Minshen Zhu at the Professorship of Material Systems for Nanoelectronics (Chair: Prof. Oliver G. Schmidt) in the Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Information Technology. 

Wang's research focuses on electrocatalysis and nanostructured functional materials, particularly for sustainable energy technologies such as hydrogen production and fuel cell technology. The aim of his work is to understand catalytic reactions at the atomic level and to develop advanced catalysts with precisely controlled electronic structures. In particular, he investigates single-atom catalysts and the role of electronic spin states in governing catalytic performance.

During his research stay in Chemnitz, Wang will collaborate with the groups of Dr Zhu and Prof Schmidt to develop microfluidic strategies for the controlled synthesis of single-atom catalysts at the MAIN Research Centre. The project aims to understand the influence of the electronic spin configuration of transition metal centres on catalytic reaction pathways and kinetics. By combining concepts from electrochemistry, nanotechnology and microfluidic technology, the aim is to enable more efficient and cost-effective production of catalysts. The expected results could contribute to the development of high-performance hydrogen fuel cell technologies, which are considered a key factor for sustainable energy systems.

Keyword: Humboldt Experienced Researcher Programme

The Alexander von Humboldt Foundation's Humboldt Research Fellowship for Experienced Researchers supports highly qualified scientists with established academic careers from all over the world in carrying out long-term research projects in Germany. It enables experienced researchers to carry out independent research projects in collaboration with a host institution and become part of the global Humboldt network. With this initiative, the foundation promotes international scientific exchange, strengthens long-term cooperation and supports outstanding research across disciplinary boundaries.

For further information, please contact Yvonne Ulbrich, email yvonne.ulbrich@etit.tu-chemnitz.de.

(Author: Yvonne Ulbrich)

The Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and the University Library at Chemnitz University of Technology invite you to a special exhibition in the Year of Jewish Culture in Saxony (TACHELES 2026): From February 25 to April 6, 2026, an exhibition on monument preservation in the “White City” in Tel Aviv will be on display on the first floor of the University Library, Straße der Nationen 33. The exhibition has been curated by the Leipzig Art Foundation in collaboration with the Bauhaus Center Tel Aviv to mark the 100th anniversary of the Bauhaus.

This project connects many aspects of Chemnitz with the Year of Jewish Culture in Saxony and the immigration of Jewish architects to the British Mandate of Palestine in the 1920s and 1930s. At that time, renowned young architects transported and adapted the “International Style” from the Bauhaus school, which was considered degenerate by the National Socialists, to the Middle East. In Tel Aviv, the “White City,” which has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2003, a number of remarkable modernist residential buildings were constructed. Some of these will be presented in the exhibition. The exhibition also addresses the issue of monument preservation in Tel Aviv, one of the most expensive cities in the world, where every square meter of building land is highly competitive.

“Since Chemnitz has a very special gem of this era and style in the form of the Schocken department store, built by Erich Mendelsohn in 1930, and since aspects of historic preservation also played a very decisive role here, Chemnitz has a truly unique connection to the international style in Israel, particularly through the Schocken,” says Christian Vogel from the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering at Chemnitz University of Technology, who brought the exhibition to the university together with Stephan Luther from the university archives. 

Program note: An introduction to the exhibition will be held on February 25, 2026, at 4:00 p.m. in the university library by Leipzig art historian Dr. Wolfgang Hocquél.

For further information, please contact Christian Vogel, phone 0371 531-32285, email christian.vogel@mb.tu-chemnitz.de, and Stephan Luther, phone 0371 531-32694, email stephan.luther@bibliothek.tu-chemnitz.de.

On December 22, 2015, the United Nations General Assembly adopted Resolution A/RES/70/212, establishing the International Day of Women and Girls in Science. Since then, the United Nations, UNESCO, intergovernmental organizations, and numerous institutions from science and civil society have highlighted every year the importance of recognition, participation, and visibility of women in research and science. Despite progress, gender equality remains a major global challenge. Promoting young women, ensuring access to high-quality education, and translating scientific knowledge into practice are key measures to achieve this goal.

At TU Chemnitz, supporting early-career female researchers, strengthening women in leadership positions, and enabling the reconciliation of family, studies, and academic careers are central concerns in an increasingly complex research and work environment. Against this backdrop, TU Chemnitz is aligning with the UN initiative for the third time.

In connection with International Women’s Day on March 8, TU Chemnitz invites female scientists of all career stages, female students and university staff to the 3rd International Women-in-Science Day on March 6, 2026, at the Altes Heizhaus, Straße der Nationen 62, Chemnitz. No registration is required.

Focus Topic: Women’s Health

The 2026 event focuses on women’s health and its relevance for scientific careers, workplace structures, and academic environments. The event provides a platform for interdisciplinary exchange, new perspectives, and the empowerment of women in science.

The hosts of the event are Prof. Dr. Anja Strobel, Vice-Rector for Research and University Development at TU Chemnitz, and Karla Kebsch, Equal Opportunities Officer of TU Chemnitz.

Scientific Lectures and Program

The event opens with a scientific lecture giving psychological perspectives on Menstruation and Mentrual Pain. Further lectures explore the influence of hormonal, physical, and neurological factors on women’s careers and provide practical insights into cycle-oriented nutrition and performance.

A networking break offers space for discussion. In the afternoon, the project TUC_FemAktiv will be officially launched.

The day concludes with “Coffee & Talk”, an informal exchange format in which female students and researchers can connect with the Vice-Rector and the Equal Opportunities Officer, share experiences, discuss research interests, and address individual needs in a relaxed atmosphere.

Program Overview

09:00 a.m.
Welcome
Prof. Dr. Anja Strobel, Vice-Rector for Research and University Development, and Karla Kebsch, Equal Opportunities Officer, TU Chemnitz

09:15 a.m.
Talk (English): Psychological Perspectives on Menstruation and Menstrual Pain – Attitudes, Barriers and Work-Related Outcomes

Dr. Alexandra (Sasha) Cook, University of Amsterdam

10:15 a.m.
Talk (English): Invisible Influences: Hormones, Body, and Brain in Women’s Careers
Dr. Andresa Mara de Castro Germano, HSW, TU Chemnitz

11:15 a.m.
Talk (German): Zyklus-Power freisetzen: Ernährung, die pusht

Jonathan Balkenhol, freelance nutritional scientist

12:00 p.m.
Networking break 

01:00 p.m.
Opening of the project TUC_FemAktiv
Dr. Andresa Mara de Castro Germano, HSW, TU Chemnitz

02:00 p.m.
Coffee & Talk
Informal exchange with Prof. Dr. Anja Strobel and Karla Kebsch

03:00 p.m.
End of the event

(Author: Prof. Dr. Anja Strobel)

Dr. Konstantin Hopf has been appointed Full Professor of Information Systems and Business Analytics at Chemnitz University of Technology as of 15 February 2026. He received his letter of appointment from the Vice President for Academic and International Affairs, Prof. Dr. Maximilian Eibl. The professorship is located at the Faculty of Economics and Business Administration.

Academic Career

Konstantin Hopf studied Information Systems at the University of Bamberg, where he also conducted research at the Bits-to-Energy Lab. His research focused on the application of machine learning methods to energy-related data in industry-oriented projects. He additionally gained international experience during a research stay at Copenhagen Business School.

In 2019, he completed his doctorate at the University of Bamberg with a dissertation entitled “Predictive Analytics for Energy Efficiency and Energy Retailing.” He subsequently worked as a Senior Researcher and Lecturer at the Chair of Information Systems and Energy-Efficient Systems (Prof. Thorsten Staake). As part of his habilitation, he established the research group “Machine Learning & Data Work in Organizations.” During this period, he was also a lecturer at Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg and Leipzig University.

Since October 2025, Dr. Hopf has been acting professor of the Chair of Information Systems and Business Analytics at Chemnitz University of Technology.

Research and Teaching

Dr. Hopf’s research focuses on the integration of explainable machine learning methods into enterprise information systems for decision support. His work addresses both methodological challenges in Business Analytics and theoretical questions concerning the transformation of socio-technical systems through artificial intelligence (AI). His research is supported by numerous third-party funded projects with national and international partners from academia and industry. He regularly publishes in leading international journals in Information Systems and management science and presents his findings at major international conferences.

At Chemnitz University of Technology, he aims to further strengthen practice-oriented and explainable Business Analytics and to expand the application of AI-based decision support systems in critical energy infrastructures and in digital higher education. In addition, he plans to pursue strategic and organizational research on the use of Business Analytics and AI in companies.

In teaching, he contributes to the Bachelor’s and Master’s degree programs in Information Systems as well as to the Master’s degree programs in Business Intelligence & Analytics and Value Chain Management. He also offers complementary courses, including courses taught in English.

(Translation: Dr. Konstantin Hopf)

Chemnitz University Library is the seventh-nicest university library in Germany. However, this was the result of a current instagram survey of the digital funk Content-Network of the public television broadcasters ARD and ZDF, in which participated subsequent to nomination of the TOP 10 of the university libraries more than 35.000 followers. The predominant target group of this network are persons in the age between 14 and 29 years with a high affinity to social media. “I am very delighted that our Library is particularly attractive for young people in the main age category of people interested in studies and students” comments Angela Malz, Library Director, the results and continues: “This is not only good news for us as Library but we thus also contribute to further raising the attractiveness of the University of Technology and Chemnitz as location for studies.”

Since its relocation in the year 2020, Chemnitz University Library is not only focused on one location, which considerably facilitates orientation for first-year-students, but by the renovated “Ancient Spinning Mill” it also disposes of a very representative building in the heart of the city with a long, very diversified history since its construction in mid 19^th century.

In its interior, the building provides a lot of space for a comprehensive open-shelves area extending on both side wings over four levels, for more than 700 standing, sitting, single and team workplaces as well as 19 reservable study cabins (“Carrels”) on the top level. Within the context of the “Third Place”, the “Common Area” in the east wing of the ground floor invites with two childrens’ corners, teamwork spaces as well as eight seating areas to relax and to communicate because here not only unmuted communication but also eating and drinking is permitted. Also culture lovers may benefit from a variety of events happening in a large space situated behind the “Common Area”, which was specifically designed for this purpose (“IdeenReich”) as well as from changing exhibitions on the 1^st level.   

Finally, those spatial offers are perfected by a variety of services of the University Library for its users ranging from rallies and guided tours via training and e-learning opportunities up to bookable individual consultations (“Book a librarian”).

In the past, the University Library was already awarded several times; Thus, the architects and the builder of the building received the particular acknowledgement of the jury of the “German University Building Prize 2022” as well as the acknowledgement within the award of the Prize for Architecture of the Association of German Architects Saxony 2021.

Back to the ranking of the nicest university libraries: In addition to the Biblioteca Albertina of the University of Leipzig (1^st place), the University and State Library Darmstadt (2^nd place) and the Library of the University of Hohenheim (3^rd place) were reaching the virtual winners’ rostrum. Beside the University Library of Chemnitz University of Technology also those of Marburg, Bamberg, Heidelberg, Tübingen, Freiburg and Berlin were voted underneath the Top Ten.

Event tip: If you would like to see Chemnitz University Library live in action, you should come to the "Long Night of Postponed Course Papers" (https://www.tu-chemnitz.de/ub/aktuell/veranstaltungen/landah.html.en) today from 04:00 pm on.

Website of the University Library: https://www.tu-chemnitz.de/ub/index.html.en

(Authors: Dr. Wolfgang Lambrecht, Mario Steinebach / Translation: Dr. Wolfgang Lambrecht)

On February 5, 2026 from 04:00 pm on, it happens again: The University Library jointly with the University Computer Center, the Foreign Language Center, the Methodological Competence Center of the Faculty of Behavioral and Social Sciences, the Central Course Guidance Service as well as the Student Council, the faculty student bodies and the Student Union Chemnitz-Zwickau invites again for the “Long Night of Postponed Course Papers”. The concept was adapted to the demands of the students. Thus, this year is provided the opportunity to book in advance individual time slots of 20 minutes for consultation with the respective consultant at the information booths according to the own time planning and orienting at the personal inquiries and needs via OPAL (mytuc.org/gsxv). The information booths provide their offers at the west wing at the ground floor of the Library Building until 10:00 pm.

In order to create the best conditions for finally complete the course paper, also sufficient opportunities for relaxing are provided: Thus, at 05:45 pm and at 08:00 pm a “break for moving” of respectively 15 minutes is offered at the east wing at the ground floor and within the period from 06:00-08:00 pm four times yoga and relaxing exercises of respectively 20 minutes (in the IdeenReich). From 07:00-09:00 pm, twelve time slots for “speed massages” of respectively ten minutes are provided. Those are allocated from 05:00 pm on at the information booth of the Student Union – first come, first serve! For the “breaks for moving” as well as for the yoga and relaxing exercises on the contrary, no prior registration is required. Thanks to the Student Union, also food and beverages are provided.

The event is rounded off by a keynote speech of Sofie Marie Götz of the Junior Professorship Sociology with Specialization in Technology dealing with the topic “Apply Generative AI (right) within studies” in the IdeenReich.

Subsequently, from 10:00 pm on, the course paper may be elaborated – this time, however, not only until midnight but all around the clock as until February 14, 2026 midnight, the University Library stays open 24/7 for the first time and thus fulfills a wish frequently expressed by its users. Consequently, not only the “course paper authors” but all students are cordially invited to extensively make use of this offer and crowd the University Library also during the night within the period mentioned. Please observe to bring with you your TUCcard as you will need it for getting in the Library Building within the time from midnight to 09:00 am by presenting it to a scanning device next to the main entrance.

Detailed information regarding the “Long Night of Postponed Course Papers”: https://www.tu-chemnitz.de/ub/aktuell/veranstaltungen/landah.html.en

Who did not make the experience of stress prior to the examinations? In order to assist students of Chemnitz University of Technology to prepare at the best for their examinations, the University Library (UL) offers to them several opportunities at the same time during the central examination period – this time even a very special one. Thus, the University Library opens again every day until midnight until March 7, 2026. From the “Long Night of Postponed Course Papers” on February 5 until February 13, 2026 it may for the first time even be used 24/7 – which means all around the clock. In that way, the University Library fulfills a long-time wish of its users. Accordingly, it expects a high frequency also in the night.

Also until March 7, 2026, four additional teamwork places are provided every day, which may be booked online in advance via an reservation system (mytuc.org/hwfc).

Organizational information: Bookings are possible daily for the periods from 9 am to 01 pm, from 01 pm to 5 pm and from 5 pm to 10 pm respectively. For the usage of the additional teamwork spaces at the IdeenReich on Saturdays and Sundays, the booking has to be done the respective Friday before until noon at latest. The working spaces may be used by groups up to 10 persons. However, the registration has to be done by one person serving also as contact person for the UL then.

The information and service desks are not staffed on the seven Sundays within the examination period. This means, that users may work in the UL and also borrow and return media from its collections via the self-checkout and return machines, but may not pay charges or ask for making changes at their user data. This applies also to weekdays from 07 pm to midnight and to Saturdays from noon to midnight. However, in case of inquiries, the guard at the ground floor next to the main entrance may be contacted. During the 24/7-opening hours, within the period from midnight to 09:00 am, the University Library may only be entered via the main entrance by the TUCcard. For that, the card has to be presented to a scanning device next to the doors.

(Translation: Dr. Wolfgang Lambrecht)

A stay abroad allows you to acquire new knowledge and skills and expand your social, cultural and professional competencies. Students at Chemnitz University of Technology can choose from exchange places at more than 200 partner universities in 30 countries as part of the Erasmus+ programme.

Anyone who would like to spend a semester abroad with the Erasmus+ programme in the winter semester 2026/27 or summer semester 2027 should now apply to their department for an exchange place at an Erasmus+ partner institution of the department. The online application for participation in the Erasmus+ programme must be submitted to the International University Centre (IUZ) at Chemnitz University of Technology by 31 March 2026. Further information is available online.

Erasmus+ offers a lot

A semester abroad with Erasmus+ has many advantages: the stay can be financially supported, there are no tuition fees at the host university, and the recognition of credits earned abroad and extensive organisational support are also advantages. The monthly funding rates of €600 or €540 are supplemented by a travel allowance and possible additional funding of €250 per month for students with children, physical disabilities, from non-academic backgrounds or in employment.

The IUZ supports Erasmus+ students before, during and after their stay. Numerous counselling and support services, preparatory meetings and intercultural training courses complement the stay at the ‘dream study location’. In addition, the IUZ is in contact with many partner universities and is available as a contact point at all times to ensure that the semester abroad is an unforgettable experience.

For further information please contact: Oliver Sachs, phone: +49 (0)371/531-37972, E-Mail: oliver.sachs@iuz.tu-chemnitz.de

From December 1 to 4, 2025, the final week of the three-year collaborative project „WeSPICE" took place at the Tunisian university École Nationale d'Electronique et de Télécommunications de Sfax (ENET'COM). The project was funded by the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) as part of the Ta'ziz Partnership Program. The following staff members from the Chair of Measurement and Sensor Technology at Chemnitz University of Technology were involved in the project: Prof. Dr. Olfa Kanoun (Chair holder), Dr. Thomas Keutel (Project Manager Impedance Spectroscopy), Dr. Christian Viehweger (Working Group Leader and Project Manager Energy-Autonomous Sensor Systems), Dr. Rim Barioul (Working Group Leader Smart Wearables), Dr. Hiba Hellara (Project Manager Smart Wearables), and Mohamed Dhia Ayadi (Project Leader Micro- and Nanosensors (Nanogenerators)). The project was officially concluded with all participating organizations on December 4, 2025, in a ceremonial closing event attended by representatives from TU Chemnitz and the German Embassy in Tunis, as well as the Director of the DAAD Country Office.

Cross-Border Professional Development and Student Orientation

TU Chemnitz and ENET'COM in Sfax have worked closely in recent years with the Dräxlmaier Group, headquartered in Vilsbiburg, Lower Bavaria. The globally renowned premium vehicle manufacturer develops and produces wiring systems, electrical and electronic components, battery systems, and high-quality interiors for premium automotive manufacturers such as BMW and Porsche.

The project pursued three central thematic priorities with a special focus on knowledge transfer, participatory network building, and sustainable dialogue between academia, industry, and society:

• Professional development in ASPICE (Automotive SPICE): A total of 17 professionals were qualified, including seven instructors who will directly incorporate their knowledge into university teaching in the future, thereby ensuring sustainable knowledge transfer from industry to academia.
• Building an interdisciplinary network: A network of 25 partners from industry and society was established. Together with these non-university actors, „Improvements of Engineering Education Addressing Industry and Research Needs" were discussed from the perspectives of instructors and students. These participatory dialogue spaces enabled knowledge exchange between academia and practice and contributed to the needs-oriented development of engineering education.
• Student-oriented events: Over 360 students participated in a total of 32 participatory events including hackathons, soft skills seminars, women's empowerment workshops, job fairs, and green economy workshops. These formats strengthened the dialogue between universities, industry, and civil society and created sustainable bridges between academic education and professional practice.

ASPICE is an internationally recognized process model for evaluating and improving development processes in the automotive industry. Manufacturers and suppliers worldwide use it to ensure the quality, safety, and efficiency of software and system development. The project's final week was framed by a job fair and a workshop on integrating ASPICE into academic teaching. This made the international collaboration between research, industry, and education clearly visible and strengthened once again. „The parallel qualification of instructors and the practice-oriented offerings for students represent a sustainable contribution to strengthening international cooperation and training future professionals," emphasizes Prof. Dr. Olfa Kanoun, project leader on the German side.

Background: The WeSPICE Project

The collaborative project „We Establish Sustainable Program to Improve Commitment to Employability" (WE-SPICE)" was funded from 2023 to 2025 by the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) as part of the Ta'ziz Partnership Program with approximately 300,000 euros from the German Federal Foreign Office.

Background: Ta'ziz Partnership Program

The Ta'ziz Partnership Program, funded by the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) with resources from the Federal Foreign Office, promotes cooperation between German universities and partner institutions in the MENA region (Middle East and North Africa). The Arabic term  „Ta'ziz" means „strengthening" or  „consolidation" and clarifies the program's objective. In times of social and political change, universities and non-university actors are to be supported in order to promote reforms, scientific cooperation, and civil society participation.

For further information, contact Prof. Dr. Olfa Kanoun, Chair of Measurement and Sensor Technology

The Physik Journal, the member magazine of the German Physical Society (DPG, Deutsche Physikalische Gesellschaft e. V.), the most important specialist medium and central information forum for over 50,000 physicists of all disciplines in German-speaking countries, features an overview article in its January 2026 issue on two projects from the TUCculture2025 initiative of Chemnitz University of Technology in recent years that have combined art and physics in a special way. For example, the stele artwork “Thinking and Perception Model for the Phenomenon of Color” by Dresden artist Stefan Nestler, erected in 1998 as part of the construction of the Central Lecture Hall and Seminar Building at Chemnitz University of Technology, demonstrated how abstract concepts of modern physics can be explored through aesthetic experience. From the viewpoint of the end of 2025, the article puts the European Capital of Culture Chemnitz again into a retrospective focus.

Behind a largely regular arrangement of 187 metal steles, which have adorned the forecourt of the Central Lecture Hall and Seminar Building as a work of art since 1998, lies more than just an aesthetic object: it represents a kind of color in itself, a variation on what it conveys as its main message. What sounds like a somewhat convoluted but trivial statement is the result of more than three years of intensive and interdisciplinary scientific observation, funded in part by the projects “Chemnitz: Wood, Light, Sound” and “Wave Plays” as parts of the TUCculture2025 initiative. The work revealed that the artwork “Thinking and Perception Model for the Phenomenon of Color” is the world's largest scientifically described realization of a photonic crystal for electromagnetic waves and, at the same time, represents a phononic crystal that can be used fort he manipulation of sound waves. It thus represents forbidden regions, i.e., barriers for waves in several spectral ranges: the band gaps occur for both sound and radio waves, so that the artwork has its own “color” in each of these two domains.

This special connection between physics, art, and the worlds of human perception and metrological measurement is the focus of the overview article titled “Phoxonic Art” Herein, Prof. Dr. Angela Thränhardt, Professor of Theoretical Physics at Chemnitz University of Technology and Dean of the Faculty of Natural Sciences, and Dr. Thomas Blaudeck, Managing Director of the Research Center for Materials, Architectures, and Integration of Nanomembranes (MAIN) at Chemnitz University of Technology, explain how Stefan Nestler's stele arrangement allowed fundamental wave equations to be examined clearly and how numerical simulations, theoretical models, and metrological experiments were interlinked with the expertise of the faculties of Natural Sciences and Electrical Engineering and Information Technology. The adjective “phoxonic” in the deliberately pejorative title “Phoxonische Kunst” (Phoxonic Art) refers to the fact that several “forbidden regions” for the propagation of waves, i.e., band gaps, occur in one and the same object. This applies both to the photonic case, i.e., that related to light and electromagnetic waves in the field of established communication technologies, and to the phononic case, i.e., that are related to acoustics and hence sound. An interaction between these domains is also conceivable, at least in principle. This demonstrates the remarkable visionary nature of artist Stefan Nestler, who has imbued his artwork with a unique, phoxonian model of perception that is measurable and therefore verifiable.

The overview article also highlights that physical research not only unlocks new insights into abstract or complex phenomena in nature, but also opens up innovative avenues for science communication through its connection with art: as part of the TUCculture2025 projects, the artwork and its surroundings were transferred to a laboratory environment where the complex wave phenomena of photonics and phononics, such as scattering, interference, and diffraction, became audible and tangible in surprising ways. The artwork thus became the starting point for dialogue between scientists, friends of art, and the general public, for example at the Open House Days (TUCtage) since 2022 or the Christmas market at Chemnitz University of Technology. This is an example of bringing physics out of the “ivory tower” and into the urban and cultural space.

Beyond the specific topic, the overview article provides an outline of other projects with a “physical flavor” from the TUCculture2025 initiative of Chemnitz University of Technology, which since 2022 has bundled many of the university's activities at the interface of science, art, and society since 2022 and was geared toward 2025, when Chemnitz held the title of “European Capital of Culture.” The article also looks back on cultural projects and events in Chemnitz during the European Capital of Culture year that had a special connection to physics and thus became part of the broad cultural program in Chemnitz as scientific sprinklings.

The article has been available as a summary on the Physik Journal website (issue 01/2026) since January 5, 2026 (login required to access the PDF).

For further information, please contact Dr. Thomas Blaudeck, phone +49 (0)371 531-35610, e-mail thomas.blaudeck@main.tu-chemnitz.de, and Prof. Dr. Angela Thränhardt, phone +49 (0)371 531-37636, e-mail angela.thraenhardt@physik.tu-chemnitz.de.

(Author: Dr. Thomas Blaudeck, Translation: Tobias Bollig)

Christmas time is a season of wonder, miracles and nostalgia. The perfect time to snuggle up and read some fairy tales or watch some fairy tale films again. But how well do you actually know the famous stories by the brothers Grimm? Christina Sanchez-Stockhammer, professor of English and Digital Linguistics at Chemnitz University of Technology, wants to find out what speakers of the English language remember about some of the most famous fairy tales. For example, what does the evil queen in “Snow White” ask when she wants to know if she looks good? That’s why Sanchez-Stockhammer has launched a brief anonymous survey. It only takes a few minutes to complete and is available in English and German.

“But please don't look anything up! We are interested in what you remember spontaneously, and there are no right or wrong answers,” explains the linguist. “This will help us identify the most widely known English versions.” The results of the survey will be shared in publicly accessible formats – for example on Sanchez-Stockhammer’s podcast “Linguistics Behind the Scenes”.

Survey URL: https://www.mytuc.org/grimm

For any questions, please get in touch with Prof. Christina Sanchez-Stockhammer, tel. +49 (0)371 531-32444, email christina.sanchez@phil.tu-chemnitz.de.

On 29 October 2025, Prof. Dr. Benanchour Saidi (Mohamed First University, Morocco) delivered a guest lecture titled “Criticality, Interculturality and Decoloniality: A Southern Praxis.” The event was part of his Visiting Scholar stay at the Junior Professorship of Intercultural Practice with a Focus on Digital Cultures at Chemnitz University of Technology, headed by Jun.-Prof. Dr. Yolanda López García. During his stay from September 2025 to January 2026, Prof. Saidi has been contributing as a Visiting Scholar to several courses in the Bachelor's and Master’s programs in Intercultural Communication. Together with Jun.-Prof. López García, he engaged with critically decolonial discourses as well as everyday practices and forms of knowledge related to interculturality. In doing so, they focused particularly on Latin American perspectives and those from the MENA region.

In his guest lecture, Prof. Saidi examined the epistemic intersections of criticality, interculturality, and decoloniality. He analyzed how discourses on interculturality are frequently depoliticized and rely on tokenistic notions of diversity, thereby unintentionally reproducing colonial structures of knowledge and power. At the same time, he cautioned against essentializing or reducing perspectives from the Global South, emphasizing that decoloniality must be oriented not merely reactively but transformatively.

Prof. Saidi advocated understanding criticality and decoloniality as ongoing epistemic and meta-ontological projects—processes of delinking, re-existence, and re-worlding. Such approaches require reflexivity, situatedness, and openness toward plural, multiversal articulations of Southern epistemologies.

Prof. Saidi’s Visiting Scholar stay fosters ongoing dialogue and academic exchange with Jun.-Prof. López García, whose research focuses on critical interculturality, (post)digital everyday practices, coloniality, and migration. Further collaborations are already being discussed to continue this dialogue beyond his current visit.

(Source: Junior Professorship of Intercultural Practice with a Focus on Digital Cultures)

The DFG Research Unit “Proximity-Induced Correlation Effects in Low-Dimensional Structures”, coordinated by Chemnitz University of Technology, investigates how proximity effects and interface engineering in atomically thin materials can be used to design next-generation quantum and optoelectronic devices. The research group explores epitaxial growth and intercalation of heavy carbon-group elements beneath graphene to tune its electronic and optical properties, ultimately forming hybrid systems with enhanced light-matter interaction.

In a recent publication in the renowned journal “Advanced Optical Materials”, researchers from the Professorships of Semiconductor Physics and Analytics on Solid Surfaces at TU Chemnitz reported a breakthrough in coupling light to graphene. Their work introduces tin (Sn) nanoantennas as a new plasmonic material capable of boosting the interaction between light and two-dimensional (2D) systems. This achievement not only expands the palette of plasmonic materials beyond conventional gold and silver but also strengthens graphene’s potential for future applications in molecular sensing, ultrafast photodetectors, and quantum nanophotonic devices.

From challenge to opportunity: how to make graphene absorb more light

2D materials, such as graphene, are highly regarded for their exceptional mechanical, thermal, and electronic properties. Notably, the absence of an energy bandgap in its electronic structure makes graphene particularly well-suited for broadband optical applications, including use in lasers and tunable optical modulators. Despite these remarkable traits, however, these materials interact only weakly with light; monolayer graphene absorbs a mere 2.3% of incident visible light under normal incidence. This low intrinsic absorption has long limited the use in optoelectronics.

One effective strategy to overcome this limitation involves the use of plasmonic nanoantennas, metallic nanostructures that act like tiny optical funnels. Much like a radio antenna concentrates widely spread (far-field) electromagnetic waves into a confined electrical signal, plasmonic antennas efficiently convert incident light into highly localized near-field plasmonic oscillations. This process focuses light into nanoscale “hot spots,” where the electromagnetic fields are dramatically intensified and concentrated far below the diffraction limit of light. Within these confined regions, interactions among electrons, phonons, and molecular vibrations occur much more efficiently, leading to enhanced optical processes such as surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS), high-sensitivity photodetection, and photocatalytic energy conversion.

Sn nanoantennas: a new path to strong coupling

In their recent study, researchers from Chemnitz introduced Sn as a novel plasmonic medium. They successfully demonstrated that Sn nanoantennas can amplify the scattering intensity of graphene’s Raman-active phonons by more than two orders of magnitude. "This significant enhancement was achieved by positioning the graphene in dual-sided proximity to Sn nanostructures, which effectively act as plasmonic nanoantennas,” explains Dr. Narmina Balayeva, a postdoctoral researcher at the Professorship of Semiconductor Physics at Chemnitz University of Technology. “Using a technique called confinement epitaxy, a 2D metallic Sn layer first formed naturally between the graphene sheet and its silicon carbide (SiC) substrate, followed by the growth of Sn nanoislands directly on the graphene surface.”

A window into new physics

Enhancing light-matter interaction is not merely about improving device performance; it unveils possibilities to explore new regimes of quantum and optical physics. “When light is confined to dimensions comparable to atomic scales, it can form entirely new hybrid states, so-called polaritons, where electronic and optical excitations become inseparable,” says Dr. Zamin Mamiyev, a postdoctoral researcher at the Professorship of Analytics on Solid Surfaces, who coordinated the experiments. “Under such extreme spatial and optical confinement, we can probe energy-transfer mechanisms and quasiparticle dynamics that remain entirely hidden in conventional, macroscopic measurements. This effectively allows us to push the boundaries of sensing, photonics, and quantum technologies.”

The ability to manipulate and engineer materials one atomic layer at a time has inaugurated a new era of "materials-by-design," with hundreds of stable 2D crystals now available for combination into complex heterostructures. “Through targeted intercalation, inserting specific atoms between layers, we can form unusual material phases that are difficult to achieve otherwise and precisely control how these ultrathin materials interact at their interfaces,” adds Prof. Dr. Christoph Tegenkamp, head of the Professorship Analytics on Solid Surfaces and spokesperson for the DFG Research Unit. “This unprecedented control allows us to fine-tune and probe electronic and photonic interactions at a truly fundamental level, an essential capability for developing the next generation of high-performance quantum technologies.”

Looking ahead

Building on this success, the research team aims to further refine the plasmonic response of the metallic nanoantennas and their interface with graphene. By precisely optimizing these hybrid structures, they intend to achieve even stronger near-field coupling, ultimately paving the way for entirely new classes of quantum materials and functionalities. This work underlines Chemnitz University of Technology’s leading role in advancing research on 2D materials, plasmonics, and quantum nanophotonics, effectively bridging fundamental science and the future technologies that will shape the light-based devices of tomorrow.

Publication: Enhanced Light–Matter Interactions With a Single Sn Nanoantenna on Epitaxial Graphene; Zamin Mamiyev, Narmina O. Balayeva, Dietrich R.T. Zahn, Christoph Tegenkamp; Advanced Optical Materials

DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1002/adom.202500979

For further information please contact Prof. Dr. Christoph Tegenkamp, Telefon 0371 531-33103, E-Mail christoph.tegenkamp@physik.tu-chemnitz.de and Dr. Zamin Mamiyev, Telefon +49 371 531-3170, E-Mail zamin.mamiyev@physik.tu-chemnitz.de

(Source: DFG Research Unit “Proximity-Induced Correlation Effects in Low-Dimensional Structures”)

When you made your first coffee this morning, did you act on autopilot or did you plan each movement with the goal of coffee in mind? This simple question goes straight to the heart of a central distinction in neuroscience: the difference between actions that are habitual and those that are goal-directed. In a recent paper published in the renowned journal Trends in Neuroscience, Prof. Dr. Fred Hamker (Chair of Artificial Intelligence, Chemnitz University of Technology), Dr. Javier Baladron (University of Santiago de Chile), and Dr. Lieneke Janssen (Otto von Guericke University Magdeburg) challenge this classic distinction. They discuss how interaction between brain loops could efficiently shape our behavior – and potentially that of AI-Transformer models in the future.

Until now, researchers have assumed that our brain operates with two systems that control our thinking and behavior: a fast, automatic system and a slow, deliberate one — known, for example, from Daniel Kahneman’s bestseller Thinking, Fast and Slow. These systems are thought to produce either quick, habitual actions or considered, goal-oriented behavior. However, according to Hamker, Baladron, and Janssen, much of our everyday behavior arises from a complex chain of processes in the nervous system in which both systems are tightly interwoven.

The research team therefore proposes a new model: instead of distinguishing between “habitual” and “goal-directed” behavior, behavior should be viewed on a continuum. At the center of this are the loops connecting the basal ganglia, thalamus, and cortex — recurring circuits in the brain. “These loops enable both goal-directed and automatic behavior. The key factor is how strongly they interact: when shortcuts form within these circuits, behavior tends to become habitual. When all loops are fully traversed, actions remain more goal-oriented,” explains Hamker.

Their insights could also inspire new directions in AI research. The three researchers see parallels between the attention mechanisms of modern transformer networks — the technology that underlies large language models — and context processing in the human brain. “If AI models could in the future make use of habit-like shortcuts, they could become more efficient and energy-saving,” the researchers suggest.

Thus, the work of Hamker, Baladron, and Janssen not only opens up new perspectives on how the human brain functions but also on the future development of intelligent machines.

Publikation: Interacting corticobasal ganglia-thalamocortical loops shape behavioral control through cognitive maps and shortcuts, Fred H. Hamker (TU Chemnitz), Javier Baladron (Universidad de Santiago de Chile) and Lieneke K. Janssen (OVGU Magdeburg), Trends in Neurosciences, 9 October 2025, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tins.2025.09.006 

Contact: Prof. Dr. Fred Hamker, Chair of Artificial Intelligence at Chemnitz University of Technology, Telefon +49 (0)371 531-37875, email fred.hamker@informatik.tu-chemnitz.de.

How study or do an internship abroad successfully? What funding opportunities are available, and what experiences have other students had during their stays abroad? Answers to these and many other questions will be provided at the International Day of the International University Center (IUZ) at Chemnitz University of Technology on November 4, 2025.

The event offers a diverse program with experience reports, livestreams from partner universities, and information by experts on organization and funding opportunities related to studying abroad. It will be held in the lecture hall and seminar building in and in front of lecture hall C10.113, Reichenhainer Straße 90.

Insights from students at Chemnitz University of Technology and partner universities from 1:45 p.m. to 3:15 p.m.

Focusing on personal perspectives, students from Chemnitz University of Technology report on their semesters and internships abroad, both within and outside Europe. In addition, representatives from the partner universities of Across – The European University for Cross-Border Knowledge Sharing, specifically the Università di Udine (Italy) and the University of Banja Luka (Bosnia and Herzegovina), will join by livestream to present their universities as study locations and provide a brief insight into regional student life. The livestream will be in English. In addition, the IUZ team will provide information about scholarship programs and the necessary steps for applying.

“The reports from students during an information session are a great opportunity to gain direct and immediate insight into what studying abroad during your studies can be like and what wonderful experiences you can have,” says Oliver Sachs, Erasmus+ coordinator at the IUZ, looking forward to International Day. In combination with information about the Across university alliance, partner universities, scholarships, and internships abroad, the International Day at Chemnitz University of Technology will once again offer a varied program.

Presentation on funding opportunities for internships abroad in the Erasmus+ program from 3:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.

The Leonardo Office Saxony invites to a talk and provides information about Erasmus+ funding for internship stays abroad. Participants will learn how they can finance their internship abroad and what support is available for their application and preparation.

Further information offers

On the first floor of the lecture hall and seminar building, an IUZ and Across information stand will be available throughout the afternoon to answer individual questions and provide advice on stays abroad. Coffee and snacks will be available free of charge to accompany the information provided – while stocks last.

The International Day is aimed at all Chemnitz University of Technology students who are planning a semester or internship abroad or simply want to be inspired.

Further information on the program for International Day at Chemnitz University of Technology: mytuc.org/kwfp

Background: European university alliance Across

Across – The European University for Cross-Border Knowledge Sharing is a European university alliance coordinated by Chemnitz University of Technology that aims to develop solutions for cross-border challenges. With their regional roots near borders, the nine partners of the Across Alliance contribute to the sustainable development of cross-border regions by bringing about genuine social change, cultural integration, a sustainable approach to innovation, new economic opportunities, and employment together with stakeholders from business and civil society. Across encompasses an academic space with more than 100,000 students and has been funded by the European Union since the beginning of the year as part of the European Universities Initiative.

Through innovative and diverse models of long-term cooperation, the participating European universities contribute to strengthening common European values and a stronger European identity. In doing so, they help to achieve significant progress in terms of quality, attractiveness, and international competitiveness in the participating regions, thereby contributing to the economy, employment, culture, and prosperity in Europe.

The Across alliance consist of:

• University of Banja Luka (Bosnia and Herzegowina)
• Politechnika Białostocka (Poland)
• Technische Universität Chemnitz (Deutschland)
• Universitatea din Craiova (Romania)
• Universitat de Girona (Spain)
• Univerza v Novi Gorici (Slowenia)
• Université de Perpignan Via Domitia (France)
• Università di Udine (Italy)
• Angel Kantchev University Ruse - Русенски университет „Ангел Кънчев" (Bulgaria)
• Ivan Franko National University Lviv (Ukraine) – Associated Partner

Contact: Oliver Sachs, phone +49 (0)371 531 37972, email oliver.sachs@iuz.tu-chemnitz.de