Group leader

Silja heads the junior research group, providing its scientific leadership and strategic development. Her research focuses on high-temperature materials, with a particular interest in intermetallic phases and metal matrix composites. Building on a strong background in additive manufacturing for aerospace and automotive applications, she is passionate about developing sustainable microstructural design strategies that combine high performance with resource efficiency and reduced environmental impact.

⚲  W.08.001

☏ +49 (0) 202 / 439 - 5401

☏ +49 (0) 202 / 439 - 5346

⌯⌲ rittinghaus@uni-wuppertal.de

ORCID: 0000-0002-7739-1711

Postdoctoral Researcher

Ivan leads the PBF-EB workstream within NanoSTeW, covering sample production, process optimisation, and scanning strategy development for copper-based components. His research centres on in-situ process monitoring and defect detection, with the goal of making the build process self-correcting — using real-time monitoring data to inform build decisions and reduce dependence on post-process analysis. He holds a PhD in Information Measuring Systems and Technologies, and brings a strong metrological foundation to the group's work in instrument calibration and measurement uncertainty quantification.

⚲  W.08.003

☏ +49 (0) 202 / 439 - 5392

☏ +49 (0) 202 / 439 - 5346

⌯⌲ zhirnov@uni-wuppertal.de

ORCID: 0000-0001-7796-4092

PhD student

Garvit contributes to the nanoparticle development activities within the NanoSTeW project, working on the controlled synthesis and stabilization of functional nanomaterials for copper-based additive manufacturing. His research centres on producing silver (Ag) and yttrium oxide (Y₂O₃) nanoparticles with well-defined size distributions and tailored surface chemistry, and translating them into copper-based composite powders that serve as engineered feedstocks for 3D printing. The objective is to design material behaviour from the nanoscale upward, enabling systematic control over microstructure and performance in additively manufactured components. He holds an MSc in Nanoscience and brings a strong foundation in nanoparticle synthesis, colloidal chemistry, and advanced materials characterization.

⚲  W.11.047

☏ +49 (0) 202 / 439 - 5389

☏ +49 (0) 202 / 439 - 5346

⌯⌲ sharma@uni-wuppertal.de

PhD Student

Within NanoSTeW, Daniel contributes to sample production and process optimisation activities, supporting the PBF-EB workstream on a focused scale. His primary emphasis lies in the metallographic evaluation of manufactured specimens, including detailed microstructural characterisation and the assessment of heat treatment effects. By systematically analysing the relationship between process parameters, post-processing routes, and resulting material properties, he contributes to a deeper understanding of structure–property correlations in copper-based components.

⚲  W.08.003

☏ +49 (0) 202 / 439 - 3197

☏ +49 (0) 202 / 439 - 5346

⌯⌲ dborchert@uni-wuppertal.de

Research Assistant

⌯⌲ finn.luetjens@uni-wuppertal.de

Research Assistant

⌯⌲ ahmed.fayez@uni-wuppertal.de