Department of
Technical Systems,
Processes and
Communication

Pursuing a doctorate at the Department of Technical Systems, Processes and Communication

In recent years, various doctoral degrees have been successfully completed at our department. Students have the option of pursuing a collaborative doctoral program, writing their dissertation at a university under the supervision of a professor from HM. In addition, there is also the option of pursuing an independent doctoral program at one of the doctoral centers ,

Events

6 Nov 2026
09:00 - 17:00

Research2Market: Successfully marketing research findings (compulsory elective module)

This course is aimed at doctoral candidates who wish to explore whether their research project has the potential to yield more than just an academic publication: an application, a collaboration with a practice partner, or, ideally, even a viable business model.

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Get to know some of our doctoral candidates

Robert Demel works as a research assistant on the ‘Smart Municipal Buildings – Energy Savings through Automation and AI’ project

“In my research project, I am developing methods to heat municipal buildings in an energy-efficient manner without compromising user comfort. A key approach involves a machine-learning algorithm that uses movement data and CO₂ measurements to predict when a room will be in use and adjusts the heating accordingly. Complemented by thermal building simulation (co-simulation), this allows pre-heating to be precisely tailored to the cooling behaviour of the building in question. This saves energy and offers a cost-effective alternative to expensive building renovations.”

Find out more about the research project

Anna Lexa is a research assistant in the Sustainable Materials and Product Design study area.

“My doctorate focuses on developing a biorefinery concept that utilises miscanthus as an industrial feedstock. By investigating various miscanthus hybrids, this work contributes to the development of sustainable, bio-based value chains.”

Philipp Nguyen is a research assistant at CENERGIE, the Research Center for Energy-Efficient Buildings and Districts, and is pursuing his doctorate at the Centre for Integrated Design and Construction (PZIB).

"As part of my work on the OpENEnD research project, I am collaborating with the project partners Sustainable Exergy and Trane Roggenkamp to investigate how the energy system efficiency at one of food manufacturer Develey’s production sites can be improved. In doing so, I am developing algorithms that optimise energy generation using equation-based methods and production processes using agent-based modelling. I particularly appreciate the opportunity my doctorate programme offers to delve deeply into the subject.”

Find out more about the "OpENEnD" research project

Paulina Hahn is a research assistant on the KIBAPap research project.

"“The KIBAPap research project aims to optimise data collection and analysis within the paper recycling cycle in such a way as to significantly reduce resource consumption. My focus is on the feasibility studies and production tests – from waste paper sorting right through to the finished paper – which we are providing technical support for at Hochschule München.”

More about KIBAPap

Thomas Lex is a research assistant at CENERGIE, the Research Center for Energy-Efficient Buildings and Districts.

“I am a doctoral candidate working on the research project ‘SubSie-GALuWap – Gas-fired absorption air heat pump with optimised heat exchanger geometry’. Normally, large shell-and-tube heat exchangers are used for this purpose. To make the whole system more compact and cost-effective, we are using plate heat exchangers in this project. As part of this, I am investigating the wetting properties of structured heat exchanger plates.”

Find out more about the "SubSie-GALuWap" research project

Erfan Salehi Sichani is a doctoral candidate and part of the research project ‘Ageing and degradation of barrier coatings in food packaging’.

"As part of a joint research project with Omya, we are investigating the ageing of barrier coatings on paper and board used in food packaging. In doing so, we are contributing to the goal of designing sustainable food packaging that is just as effective and functional as petrochemical alternatives. This motivates me because I am passionate about developing products that improve our quality of life whilst protecting the natural world."

More information about the research project

And the "Oskar" goes to ...

Dr Tina Hermann has been awarded the Oskar von Miller Award for her outstanding doctoral thesis in the field of thermal energy technology.

The HM Graduate School

The Graduate School is responsible for supporting individuals, services and structures, from the initial interest in a doctorate right through to preparation for a professorship at a university of applied sciences. There are currently 230 doctoral candidates studying for their doctorates at the HM.

About the HM Graduate School