Current Occupation

Independent Postdoctoral Researcher in Bio- and Physics-Inspired Artificial Intelligence

December 2020 to present

Affiliations:

• Institute for Theoretical Physics and Center for Material Science at the TU Wien, Vienna, Austria, since 2020
• Allen Discovery Center at Tufts University, Boston, USA, since 2023

  Research Topics:

• Confinement-Driven Self-Assembly
• Reinforcement Learning and Neuroevolution of Decision-Making Strategies of Cells
• Collective Decision-Making in Cellular Navigation
• Evolutionary Implications of Multiscale Intelligence
• Unifying Principles in Diverse Intelligences

Awards

• APART-MINT Postdoctoral Stipend, Austrian Academy of Sciences (2023)
• Promotio sub auspiciis Praesidentis (2022)
• Christiana Hörbiger Prize, TU Wien (2018)
• DOC Fellowship, Austrian Academy of Sciences (2017)
• Förderstipendium for excellence at the TU Wien (2016)
• Award of Excellence of the TU Wien (2012, 2013, 2014)
• Award of Excellence of the Faculty of Physics, TU Wien (2012, 2013)

Education

Ph.D. in Physics - TU Wien, Austria (2016 - 2020)

Thesis: Confinement-Driven Self-Assembly Charged Particles

• Independent funding via a DOC fellowship of the Austrian Academy of Sciences
• Sub auspiciis doctoral graduation

MSc in Physics - TU Wien, Austria (2013 - 2016)

Thesis: Optimal Control of Collective Dynamics Cavity-QED with an Inhomogeneously Broadened Spin Ensemble

• In collaboration with the Imperial College London
• Graduated with distinction

BSc in Physics - TU Wien, Austria (2010 - 2013)

Thesis: Cavity Protection in Cavity-QED with an Inhomogeneous Ensemble of Emitters Strongly Coupled to a Single Cavity Mode

• Graduated with distinction

HTBLA LiTec - Linz, Austria (2004 - 2009)

High School for IT and Computer Science

• Graduated with distinction

Work History

AI Consulting and Machine Learning Manager - Freelancer, Remote

November 2020 to Dec. 2022

Projects

• Reinforcement learning framework for autonomous navigation (computer-vision, neural networks)
• Bio-feedback software framework to synchronously gather, analyze, and control bio-sensory data (synchronous hardware interfacing)
• Multi-camera solution for optimal reflection-cancellation in marine environments (optics, hardware, software)

Advanced projects from the conceptual to a POC stage (backend and data-science)

Researcher (Pre-doc) - TU Wien, Austria

October 2016 to November 2020

• Dissertation: Confinement-driven self-assembly of charged particles
• Promotio sub auspiciis Praesidentis 2022 (i.e., graduated with distinction since high-school)
• Co-supervised master’s thesis: Self-assembly of ionic liquid crystals into smectic phases, R. Wanzenböck (2020)
• Co-supervised master’s thesis: A neural network approach to micro-swimmer locomotion, M. Hübl (2021)

FWF Project Assistant - TU Wien, Austria

July 2016 to August 2016

• Optimal control of collective dynamics in cavity-quantum-electrodynamics
• Decoherence suppression via spectral hole-burning in cavity-quantum-electrodynamics

Junior Software Developer - BEKO, Linz, Austria

May 2010 to August 2010

Implementation of C# real-time-monitoring system of Siemens S7 data (backend)

Paramedic - The Red Cross, Linz, Austria

August 2009 to April 2010

Community service (alternative to military service)

Internships - Stiwa Group, Hagenberg, Austria

July 2007, and June 2008 to July 2008

Implementation of web interface for inventory database and network monitoring system (PHP, LDAP, ORACLE)

Teaching Experience

Co-Supervision of Master’s Theses - TU Wien, Austria:

• A neural network approach to micro-swimmer locomotion, M. Hübl (2021), Graded “Sehr Gut”
• Self-assembly of ionic liquid crystals into smectic phases, R. Wanzenböck (2020), Graded “Sehr Gut”

Teaching Assistant - TU Wien, Austria (2012 - 2016):

• Fundamental Physics I
• Quantum Theory I and Quantum Theory II
• Statistical Physics I

Teaching Assistant - HTBLA LiTec, Linz (2007/2008):

• C-Programming

Event Co-Organization:

• Proof Society Workshop and Winter School, Funchal, Madeira, Portugal (2021)
• International Summer School for Proof Theory in First-Order Logic, Funchal, Madeira, Portugal (2017)
• FIT-Workshop for Women in Science, TU Wien (2019)

Languages

• German (mother tongue)
• English (fluent)
• Bosnian and Serbian-Croatian (A2)
• Sign-Language (basics)