Fraunhofer Institute for Microelectronic Circuits and SystemsOur PhD supervisors introduce themselves in short interviews and answer questions about doctoral studies.
PhD supervisors
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Prof. Dr. Anton Grabmaier
Prof. Dr. Anton Grabmaier is the director of Fraunhofer IMS. He is also a professor at the Chair of Electronic Components and Circuits at the University of Duisburg-Essen.
What areas do you carry out research in?
We conduct research into smart sensor technology for applications in industry, automotive, and healthcare. We examine issues relating to semiconductor technology in order to enable innovative, improved sensors and even special electronics. We work on architectures and resource-saving algorithms to integrate artificial intelligence close to the sensor.
Why should someone pursue a doctorate, and what advantages does the Fraunhofer Institute offer in this regard?
A doctoral thesis allows you to work independently on a scientific topic and deepen your own specialist knowledge. You also gain experience in providing technical guidance to students and presenting your own results. The industry rewards the skills acquired with a completed doctorate with a possible next career step. A successfully completed doctorate is a prerequisite for an academic career.
Completing a doctoral thesis at a Fraunhofer Institute allows you to combine scientific standards with practical application in a particularly well-equipped research environment.
What is your tip for a successful doctorate?
Enthusiasm, commitment, motivation, and enjoyment are the guarantees for a successful graduation.
Prof. Dr. Anna Lena Schall-Giesecke
Prof. Dr. Anna Lena Schall-Giesecke heads the Technology Services division at Fraunhofer IMS. She also works as a professor at the University of Duisburg-Essen in the Department of Electronic Components and Circuits.
What areas do you conduct research in?
We conduct research in the field of integrated photonics, focusing on innovative solutions for smart sensor systems and quantum photonic circuits. By using microscale optical fibers, we make data communication orders of magnitude faster and more energy-efficient than conventional electronics. We develop chips that can process data using light or act as sensors themselves.
What is your tip for a successful doctorate?
In my opinion, it is crucial to have the interest to look CLOSELY without losing sight of the BIG PICTURE. For me, the focus is on integrating individual work into the state of the art.
How do you find a topic?
Depending on their interests, our doctoral students can focus on technology or simulation. When choosing a topic, the focus is on finding solutions to the challenges posed by photonic integrated components and their systems. We work closely with colleagues from the field of circuit design and our in-house clean room technology, as well as with industry partners.
Prof. Dr. Karsten Seidl
Prof. Dr. Karsten Seidl is Head of the Health Division at Fraunhofer IMS. He is also Professor of Electronic Components and Circuits at the University of Duisburg-Essen.
What areas are you researching?
We conduct research on micro- and nanosystems that are used in electronic implants in humans, for example for invasive blood pressure measurement in the heart and for electrical stimulation of nerve cells in the retina in blind people. We are also working on highly sensitive sensors for detecting individual biomolecules and on intelligent assistance systems, for example to provide support for patients with dementia.
What do you expect from a doctoral student?
I expect doctoral students to be curious and enthusiastic about working on new scientific and technical topics and advancing them. The ability to work independently while also enjoying working in a team, coupled with perseverance and the determination to solve problems that arise, are further prerequisites for a successful doctorate.
What is your tip for a successful doctorate?
You should realize that you are not reinventing the world during your doctoral thesis, but you are developing insights for a narrow subject area, which is recognized by experts in the field.
Prof. Dr. Hendrik Wöhrle
Prof. Dr. Hendrik Wöhrle heads the Smart Embedded Systems group at Fraunhofer IMS. He also works as a professor at the University of Duisburg-Essen in the Department of Electronic Components and Circuits.
What areas are you researching?
We are working on the development of novel embedded systems, in particular for smart sensor systems based on integrated artificial intelligence. A central focus of our research is the optimization of AI models for small, particularly energy-efficient systems. We are investigating how efficiency can be improved through quantization, pruning, and neural architecture search. Another goal is to increase the robustness of AI methods—on the one hand through decentralization using federated learning, and on the other hand through adaptivity, i.e., adaptation to changing conditions. For embedded systems, we also use and develop domain-specific computer architectures and AI accelerators that enable maximum performance with minimum energy consumption through application-optimized calculations. Of particular importance to us is the development of trustworthy AI with precise uncertainty quantification for use in safety-critical applications. This is essential in areas such as robotics and medical technology.
What challenges can you expect to face during your doctorate?
A key challenge is striking a balance between depth and breadth in research. On the one hand, you have to delve deep enough into a topic to make real scientific contributions, but on the other hand, you mustn't get lost in the details and lose sight of the big picture. In addition, research rarely proceeds in a linear fashion – setbacks, unexpected results, and dead ends are part of the process and require perseverance and the ability to critically question your own approach and adapt it if necessary. This requires both diligence and creativity.
What is your tip for a successful doctorate?
In my opinion, two aspects are particularly important here. First, it is important for doctoral students to understand that engineering sciences are real sciences – as opposed to engineering. A doctorate in engineering is not just about solving a single, specific problem with a highly specialized technical solution, as engineers usually do, but about researching novel solution principles and gaining the associated scientific insights. On the other hand, doctoral candidates should also look behind the scenes and comprehensively understand or even expand the underlying principles.