BIFOLD appoints three Deputy Directors
Congratulations to Prof. Dr. Begüm Demir, Prof. Dr. Konrad Rieck and Prof. Dr. Alexander Meyer, who have been appointed BIFOLD Deputy Directors. With this decision, BIFOLD strengthens its leadership team and underlines its commitment to advancing cutting-edge research in data-driven technologies and machine learning. All three Deputy Directors are looking forward to taking on greater responsibility within BIFOLD, to supporting the Directors in shaping the institute’s future and to contribute to BIFOLD’s mission of advancing foundational research with real-world impact.
BIFOLD Co-Directors Prof. Dr. Volker Markl and Prof. Dr. Klaus-Robert Müller express their gratitude to all deputy directors for taking on this additional role. They emphasize that the appointment reflects not only the scientific excellence of Konrad Rieck, Begüm Demir and Alexander Meyer, but also their long-standing dedication to the institute’s successful development.
Begüm Demir is internationally recognized for her research at the intersection of machine learning and data management for Earth observation. At BIFOLD, she leads the Big Data Analytics for Earth Observation group, developing advanced methods and systems for analyzing large-scale satellite data with applications ranging from environmental monitoring to climate change analysis. She received the Early Career Award from IEEE Geoscience and Remote Sensing Society and two prestigious grants from the European Research Council (ERC). She is a Senior Member of the IEEE and a Fellow of the European Laboratory for Learning and Intelligent Systems (ELLIS).
Konrad Rieck is a leading expert in the field of machine learning and IT security. His research focuses on the development of intelligent methods for detecting cyber threats, including malware analysis and network intrusion detection. By combining statistical learning approaches with practical security applications, his work contributes to making complex digital infrastructures more robust and resilient. Among numerous other awards and honors, he received an ERC Consolidator Grant in 2021.
Alexander Meyer is a cardiac surgeon and expert in artificial intelligence in medicine. He serves as Professor of Artificial Intelligence in Medicine at Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin and Founding Director of the Institute of Artificial Intelligence in Medicine (IKIM). He also holds the position of Chief Medical Information Officer at the German Heart Center of the Charité. His research combines clinical medicine, data science, and digital health to advance the development and implementation of AI-based tools for diagnostics and patient care.