The team led by Univ.-Prof. Dr. Raúl Bermejo focuses intensively on the fracture statistics and reliability analysis of ceramics. Because the failure of brittle materials depends heavily on the size and distribution of microscopic defects, strength values often exhibit significant natural scatter. To capture this mathematically and generate reliable lifetime predictions, the group utilizes advanced statistical models such as the Weibull distribution. Instead of relying exclusively on elaborate and cost-intensive physical fracture tests, the team employs thousands of virtual Monte Carlo simulations. These computer-generated samples make it possible to precisely determine confidence intervals and gain a profound understanding of failure behavior. This creates a solid foundation for extremely safe industrial ceramic applications. >more<

Dr. Anton Hohenwarter focuses on enhancing the mechanical performance of metallic materials through extreme grain refinement. He analyzes the fracture and fatigue behavior of high-strength alloys that must withstand massive loads. Through the intelligent design of the microstructure and detailed crack propagation analyses, his group develops concepts for damage-tolerant, extremely resilient high-tech metals. >more<

Priv.-Doz. Dr. Verena Maier-Kiener researches the scale-bridging behavior of high-performance materials under extreme conditions. To fully exploit their potential, she analyzes the complex interplay between mechanical properties and microstructure. At the center of her work is the investigation of temperature- and load-dependent deformation processes using advanced nanoindentation and microcompression. By combining this mechanical data with high-resolution imaging techniques (such as SEM, TEM, and APT), she develops reliable predictive models for state-of-the-art material classes, including high-entropy alloys, amorphous metals, and nanostructured coatings. >more<

Univ.-Prof. Dr. Ronald Schnitzer heads the Chair of Physical Metallurgy at Montanuniversität Leoben, dedicating his research to the development of 21^st-century steels. To make crucial contributions to sustainability, CO₂ reduction, and automotive lightweight construction, he and his team develop customized high-performance steels down to the atomic level. Using high-resolution analytical methods, such as atom probe tomography (APT), he decodes complex structure-property relationships at the nanometer scale. His pioneering research on Advanced High Strength Steels (AHSS) and tool steels, in close cooperation with industry, forms the foundation for extremely resilient, energy-efficient generations of materials. >more<

As a Senior Scientist, Dr. Florian Spieckermann is a proven expert in the thermal and mechanical behavior of metastable systems. He researches complex nanostructures, metallic glasses, and polymers using state-of-the-art methods such as high-speed calorimetry (Flash DSC) and in-situ synchrotron X-ray diffraction. His goal is to decipher thermal stability, crystallization processes, and relaxation mechanisms at the atomic level. With this profound structure-property analysis, he provides essential knowledge to drastically increase the reliability and service life of innovative amorphous materials under extreme conditions. >more<

Dr. Gerald A. Zickler researches the complex interplay between mechanics and thermodynamics in solid and biological materials. A central focus of his work lies in the mathematical modeling of solid-state phase transformations, microstructural coarsening processes, and stress-driven shaping processes. Using innovative approaches, such as the thermodynamic extremal principle, he analyzes driving forces and defects in a wide variety of material systems. Through the intelligent linking of theoretical continuum mechanics with sophisticated physical models, he creates a profound, multiscale understanding of the structural evolution and stability of complex materials. >more<