Mann mit Brille und grauen Haaren steht vor unscharfer Menschengruppe im Hintergrund

Günther Hasinger und DZA-Crew in Görlitz

People

Faces of the DZA and their stories

The German Center for Astrophysics (DZA) currently employs approximately 60 people under the management of Prof. Günther Hasinger. Here, you can learn more about some of the staff in very personal short portraits which will be elaborated and updated.

Are you looking for a contact person at the German Center for Astrophysics or a media contact? Click here.

junge Frau mit glatten dunklen Haaren, trägt dunklen Pullover und lächelt freundlich in Kamera

Head of Campus Development

Anne Baldovski

native Görlitz resident with a fondness for historic buildings
turned her profession into a hobby

Mann mit dunkelblonden Haaren und Vollbart, trägt schwarzes Hemd und lächelt freundlich in Kamera

Electrical Engineer

David Becker

from the Sorbian Upper Lusatia
from the star singers to the DZA
loves Norway and its fish

freundlich schauender Mann mit Bart in einem weißen Hemd und mit Sakko

Deputy Head of the Institute for Technology Development

Dr. Johannes Benduhn

physicists with a passion for innovative semiconductors
realizes groundbreaking technologies

Mann mit Brille, kurzen weißen Haaren und blauen schaut in Kamera

Head of the Center for Innovation and Transfer

Prof. Dr. Jürgen Besold

solid-state physicist with reverence for astrophysics
Upper Lusatian with heart and soul
Passion for the Musik of J. S. Bach and Jazz

junge Frau mit glatten dunklen Haaren und runder Brille, lächelt freundlich in Kamera

Science Communication

Jana Bingemer

biologist with a fondness for tardigrades
structural change through education
occasionally perfoming on stage with her own texts

Frau mit langen dunklen Haaren und Brille, trägt bunten Pullover und lächelt freundlich in Kamera

Human Resources

Jana Caspari

HR specialist with experience in science institutes
with heart, humour, and a lot of patience
loves books, music, and Christmastime ❄️

Frau mit kurzen weißen Haaren, einer Brille und bunter Bluse lächelt freundlichin Kamera

IT administrator

Monika Darr

a Heidelberg resident who lived for years in the observatory residential house
loves southern Africa and the starry sky
enjoys reading and practices Aikido

Mann mit dunklen Haaren und schwarzem Pullover lächelt in Kamera

Data Science

Dr. Marc Drobek

software architect and computer scientist
passionate in sqeezing data
gravity enthusiast and guitar learner

Mann mit Brille und dunklen kurzen Haaren, trägt blaues Hemd und lächelt in die Kamera

Head of IT Administration

Hardy Drube

Frau mit kurzen schwarzen Locken, trägt violette Bluse und lächelt in Kamera

Office Management & Assistant to Prof. Hasinger

Daniela Eckstein

open-minded Görlitz native with a love for Spain
enjoys a broad perspective, reaching to the stars
yoga, traveling & 💃

Frau mit blonden Haaren und Brille vor blauer Wand mit roséfarbenem Oberteil

Sekretariat

Stefanie Engler

Harry-Potter-Fan | offene und kommunikative Görlitzerin
findet Kleinen Wagen super – am Himmel
liebt Yoga, liest gern und mag Städtetrips

Mann mit grauen kurzen Haaren und Brille, trägt dunkles Sakko über grauem Hemd und lächelt in Kamera

Head of Data Science

PD Dr. Torsten Enßlin

cosmologist & astrophysicist
information field theorist
curious person

junger Mann mit dunklen Haaren und Schnauzbart, lächelt freundlich in Kamera

Postgraduate of Prof. Hasinger

Maël Gonin

junge Frau mit schwarzen langen Haaren und Brille, lächelt freundlich in Kamera

Project Support

Marina Grodd

wanted to move to the big city but ended up in the countryside
still mesmerized by the starry nights on Tenerife
Harry Potter fan (team Hufflepuff 💛), loves to cook

Mann mit weißen Haaren und weißen Schnauzbart, blickt freundlich in Kamera

Designated Founding Director of the DZA

Prof. Dr. Günther Hasinger

astrophysicist with a passion
has traveled the world extensively
also enjoys making music from time to time

junger Mann mit kurzem Haaren und weißem Hemd, lächelt in Kamera

Data Science

Dr.-Ing. Lars Haupt

Lusatia returnee & extreme optimist
telescope owner
volunteer | Lego enthusiast | ❤️ 90°C and beyond

junge Frau mit, zum Zopf gebundenen, dunklen Haaren und roter Bluse lächelt freundlich in Kamera

Head of the DZA Project Office

Dr. Maria Haupt

Mann mit Brille und kurzen lockigen Haaren und Hemd vor blauem Hintergrund

Transformation Research

Dr. Sebastian Heer

transformation researcher with a background in political science
practice-oriented social sciences with societal relevance
policy consulting for the sustainable transformation of structural change in the Lusatia region

Frau mit halblangen blonden Haaren, schaut freundlich in Kamera

Overall Management of the DZA Project

Katharina Henjes-Kunst

a passion for interdisciplinary research and innovation
experienced networker in European astroparticle physics and beyond
bringing her experience from international research projects to the heart of Europe

Mann mit kurzen weißen Haaren, dunkelblauem Sakko über weißem Hemd blickt freundlich in Kamera

Data Science

Prof. Dr. Hermann Heßling

Frau mit violett-schwarzen Haaren, dunklem Oberteil und schwarzer Bluse lächelt in Kamera

Astrophysics/Gravitational Wave Astronomy

Prof. Dr. Michèle Heurs

experimental physicist specializing in gravitational wave astronomy
loves cross-connections and vibrant diversity
nature and music enthusiast

Mann mit hellblauer Schiebermütze und schwarzem Hemd, blickt freundlich in Kamera

Institute for Technology Development

Vinzenz Kumpf

Mann mit dunkler Brille, schwarzen Haaren und Vollbart, schaut freundlich in Kamera

Low Seismic Lab

Dr. Mike Lindner

seismologist from the 'Ländle' (Swabian region)
taller in real life than on ZOOM
culinary explorer | history enthusiast

Frau mit grau-schwarzen langen Haaren und dunkler Bluse lächelt freundlich in Kamera

Center for Innovation and Transfer

Jacqueline Mosebach

altruist
networker
loves hiking and traveling

Frau mit kurzen brauen Haaren und dunklem Sakko, lächelt freundlich in Kamera

Head of Procurement

Kerstin Nitsche

team-oriented woman from Dresden
former civil engineer
fitness studio, mountain hiking, and via ferrata enthusiast

Mann mit kurzen blonden Haaren und Brille, trägt ein schwarzes T-Shirt, lächelt in Kamera

Head of Regional Networking & Science Communication

Dr. Stefan Ohm

astrophysicist with roots in Thuringia
out of the ivory tower and into the exchange
lover of diverse music genres 🔊

Mann mit lächelndem Gesicht und kurzen dunklen Haaren, trägt ein schwarzes Sakko

Head of Transformation Research

Dr. Andreas Otto

geographer with a heart for Upper Lusatia
astrophysics creates opportunities for the region!
explorer through travels and on maps

junge Frau mit blonden langen Haaren und bunter Bluse, lächelt freundlich in Kamera

Center for Innovation and Transfer

Maria Reich

creative returnee to East Germany
on paper: print and media technician
road bike enthusiast and graphic designer with a love for good music

junger Mann mit schwarzen Haaren schaut freundlich in Kamera

Institute for Technology Development

Paško Roje

Mann mit Schnauzbart und kurzen Haaren in blauem Hemd und mit Anzug lächelt in Kamera

Head of the Institute for Technology Development

Prof. Dr. Martin Roth

astrophysicist with a special interest in stellar populations
wants to bring long-term professional experience in instrument development and technology transfer to DZA

Mann mit Glatze und randloser Brille, trägt graublaues Hemd und schaut freundlich in Kamera

Low Seismic Lab

Andreas Scholze

Upper Lusatian
mechanical engineer
being human

freundlich lächelnder Mann mit dunklen kurzen Haaren, trägt ein blaues Sakko über einem weißen Hemd

Projektkoordinator

Alexander Seedorff

Sachse mit Herz & Verstand
„Machen statt meckern“
stets anzutreffen unter passionierten Menschen

junger Mann mit kurzen dunklen Haaren, trägt ein dunkles Hemd und blickt freundlich in Kamera

Staff Campus Development

Enrico Titze

progressive Upper Lusatian granite head
analyst and energy technician, astronomy mostly meets him in books
bookworm, hiking enthusiast, drummer, trader, gardener

junge Frau mit blonden Locken und weißem Kleid blickt freundlich in Kamera

Staff Campus Development

Jasmin Urland

home-loving Upper Lusatian woman with a traditional half-timbered house
organisational talent with a heart 😊

junge Frau mit blonden langen Haaren und weißer Bluse lächelt freundlich in Kamera

Institute for Technology Development

Stella Vješnica

Mann mit kurzen grauen Haaren, dunkler Brille, mit Hemd und Sakko schaut freundlich in Kamera

Astrophysics/Radio Astronomy

Prof. Dr. Stefan Wagner

Mann mit kurzen stoppeligem Haar und grünem Hemd, lächelt freundlich in Kamera

Head of Human Resources

Alexander Welk

HR professional with passion
dedicated networker
with a heart for social issues and a joy for life

Mann mit kurzen Haaren, blauem Hemd und dunklem Sakko lächelt in die Kamera

Head of Communications

Stephan Witschas

returnee to Lusatia & former journalist
had astronomy as a school subject and met Konrad Zuse
Astrophysics + Technology + IT expertise = core components of the Lusatia innovation region

Mann mit freundlichem Lächeln, schulterlangen grauen Haaren und schwarzem Hemd schaut in Kamera

Low Seismic Lab

Dr. Alexander Wolf

mechanical engineer from Lower Saxony
loves the sun and temperatures above 30°C
hobby photographer and cyclist

junge Frau mit blonden langen Haaren, weiß gepunkteter schwarzer Bluse lächelt freundlich in Kamera

Secretariat

Catharina Zedel

always on the move with the family in the garden and nature
loves the universe of life
motivated team player with an eye for new opportunities in the region

Initiators, Partners and Supporters

Regional backing and international network

Behind the concept of the German Center for Astrophysics stands a collective initiative of the German community of astronomy and astroparticle physics. The idea givers are renowned researchers in their area. They are being carried by many universities and partners in the region. Representatives of all major research communities (Helmholtz, Leibniz, Fraunhofer, Max-Planck) and the principal of the Technical University of Dresden as well as the principal of astroparticle physics at the German Electron Synchrotron DESY support our issue to build a world class major research center.

The DZA works close together on an international level with large astronomical organisations - among others the European Southern Observatory (ESO), the European Space Agency (ESA), the large observatory Square Kilometre Array (SKA) and the European initiative for the construction of the Einstein Telescope. By participating in major projects there already exists an extensive network with numerous partners in non-university and university astronomical research worldwide. To us, international cooperation is a crucial matter. It is the DNA of the Center.

Günther Hasinger, former Scientific Director of the European Space Agency ESA, is the designated founding director of the DZA.

Cutting edge research only works in a team. That is why the German Center for Astrophysics counts on international expertise.

Looking for a contact person?

Initiators

We submitted the concept

Initiator | Designated Founding Director of the DZA

Prof. Dr. Günther Hasinger

former Director of Science, European Space Agency (ESA)
former Head of the European Space Astronomy Centre (ESAC), Madrid

Co-Initiator

Prof. Dr. Michèle Heurs

Quantum Optics and Gravitational Wave Detection
German Representative in the Forum of National Representatives for the Einstein Telescope

Co-Initiator

Prof. Dr. Hermann Heßling

big data informatics at the DZA, formerly HTW Berlin
former chairperson of the Association for Data-Intensive Radio Astronomy (VdR) e.V.

Co-Initiator

Prof. Dr. Michael Kramer

director at the Max Planck Institute for Radio Astronomy
President of the German Astronomical Society

Co-Initiator

Prof. Dr. Christian Stegmann

Director for Astroparticle Physics, Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron (DESY)
Head of the DESY Zeuthen site

Co-Initiator

Prof. Dr. Matthias Steinmetz

spokesperson of the board, Leibniz Institute for Astrophysics Potsdam

Co-Initiator

Prof. Dr. Wolfgang E. Nagel

Director of the Center for Information Services and High-Performance Computing, Technische Universität Dresden

Co-Initiator

Prof. Dr. Stefan Wagner

State Observatory Heidelberg and Professor at the Center for Astronomy of Heidelberg University

Co-Initiatorin

Katharina Henjes-Kunst

Overall Project Manager for the Establishment of the German Center for Astrophysics
Secretary General of the Astroparticle Physics European Consortium (APPEC) for DESY

Octavian Ursu, Mayor of Görlitz

We welcome the establishment of the German Center for Astrophysics in Görlitz as an outstanding opportunity for urban and regional development.

Marina-Heimann-futureSAX-2023-Innovationskonferenz-BLEND3-Frank-Grätz

Marina Heimann, former managing director of futureSAX

We believe that the approach of establishing a German Center for Astrophysics (DZA) in Lusatia has a promising future. The DZA will contribute to strengthening Saxony's innovation ecosystem.