First Doctoral Student Starts at University of Technology Nuremberg

Reihaneh Mirjalili und Prof. Burgard stehen in einem Flur. Zwischen ihnen ist ein Pflegeroboter zu sehen.
Reihaneh Mirjalili, erste Doktorandin an der Technischen Universität Nürnberg, mit Prof. Dr. Wolfram Burgard, Gründungs-Chair des Departments Engineering (Copyright: Technische Universität Nürnberg)

In February, the Department of Engineering was established at the University of Technology Nuremberg under Prof. Dr. Wolfram Burgard. Now the Founding Chair is pleased about the first addition to the department: Since July 1, Ms. Reihaneh Mirjalili has been doing her doctorate in the field of Artificial Intelligence and Robotics at the university.

NUREMBERG. Reihaneh Mirjalili was previously a research assistant at the Technical University of Munich. In the Bavarian capital, she worked on human-robot interactions and machine learning, among other topics, and worked on the development of intelligent balance training systems. She completed her master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering in Iran at the University of Tehran. Here she was involved in the creation of the humanoid robot SURENA-Mini – a knee-high android that can walk, gesture as well as dance thanks to twenty small servo motors. It can be used, for example, to treat autism patients.

An “Outstanding Addition” to the Department

“I am pleased to welcome Ms. Reihaneh Mirjalili as the first doctoral student in the Department of Engineering. With her experience in the field of artificial intelligence and robotics, which she gained at the Technical University of Munich and at the University of Tehran, she is an outstanding addition to our department,” says Prof. Wolfram Burgard, welcoming the new staff member.

New Center of Life in Franconia

Reihaneh Mirjalili changed her place of residence for her doctorate and her new job and moved from Munich to the Franconian capital. “What particularly excites me about Nuremberg is the architecture and the medieval old town,” says the doctoral student. “I’m already very excited about my time in Franconia and I think it’s great that I have the opportunity to do my doctorate here under such an eminent expert like Prof. Burgard.”

Establishment of the First Departments

Wolfram Burgard took up his position as founding chair at the University of Technology Nuremberg on February 1, 2022. He will establish the Department of Engineering and set a first focus at UTN with the field of Artificial Intelligence and Robotics. All engineering disciplines will be bundled under this department. The second department, which will be established in the course of 2022, is called Liberal Arts & Science. It will comprise humanities, social sciences, natural sciences and mathematics. The subject areas of both departments will then be networked and combined in studies, teaching and research at the University of Technology Nuremberg.

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About the University of Technology Nuremberg

The University of Technology Nuremberg was founded on January 1, 2021 and has been the first new foundation of a state-run university in Bavaria since 1978.  With its consistently interdisciplinary approach, an innovative spectrum of subjects, new teaching methods and a future-oriented organizational structure, a model university will be created when it comes to teaching and research. The university is to have an international, interdisciplinary and digital approach. Upon completion, up to 6,000 students will be able to study on a campus embedded in the surrounding quarters.