During the winter semester, Prof Weißgraeber will be conducting research at the Universidad de Sevilla, collaborating with the Grupo de Elasticidad y Resistencia de Materiales (GERM). This creates a special opportunity for our students: Dr Sara Jimenez Alfaro and Dr Rico Kühlewind will join us as external lecturers, bringing international research expertise, teaching experience, and industry perspectives into two specialised Master’s modules.

Fracture and Damage Mechanics

Dr Sara Jimenez Alfaro is an internationally experienced researcher specialising in computational fracture mechanics. She received her PhD from Sorbonne Université Paris, continued her research as a postdoctoral researcher at Imperial College London, and gained teaching experience at the University of Oxford. She is currently a postdoctoral researcher with the GERM group at the Universidad de Sevilla. Her combination of methodological expertise, international research experience, and teaching practice offers students the opportunity to engage with advanced concepts in fracture and damage mechanics from a current research perspective.

Composite Material Design

Dr Rico Kühlewind combines scientific expertise in lightweight structures and composite materials with substantial experience in engineering practice. He received his PhD from the University of Bristol, with research focusing on carbon-fibre-reinforced composite materials. His academic background is complemented by professional experience in the maritime sector, including engineering and project management responsibilities, as well as teaching experience as a lecturer at Hochschule Stralsund.

Students therefore have the opportunity to explore composite material design from a perspective that connects scientific fundamentals and advanced material technologies with real-world engineering applications.

Open to students from different degree programmes

Both modules are taught in English and may be particularly relevant to students from Mechanical Engineering, SME, CSE, Industrial Engineering and Biomedical Engineering. As these new modules may not yet be included in all relevant study and examination regulations, students can submit a short request to the Study Office (Studienbüro) to have the respective course recognised as an elective module in their degree programme.

Take the opportunity to broaden your curriculum and learn from two internationally experienced specialists in fracture mechanics and composite materials!

Summer semester:

• Lightweight Materials
• Experimental Lightweight Design
• Laboratory Practical Course in Materials Engineering
• Finite Element Analysis of Composite Structures (EN)

Winter semester:

• Fundamentals of Lightweight Design
• Lightweight Construction
• Adhesive technology
• Fracture and Damage Mechanic
• Composite Material Design (EN)

You can find our courses on StudIP.