Michael Wilczek appointed Professor of Theoretical Physics as of Oct. 1, 2021

Starting in the 21/22 winter semester, Prof. Dr. Michael Wilczek will teach and pursue research at the University of Bayreuth as Professor of Theoretical Physics, focusing on exciting self-organization phenomena in soft matter and fluids.

Michael Wilczek studied physics at the University of Münster, from which he also received his PhD in 2011. After a research stay at the Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, he has been heading an independent Max Planck Research Group at the Max Planck Institute for Dynamics and Self-Organization in Göttingen since 2015. His research focuses on nonlinear dynamics and complex systems. Together with his team, he will explore a broad range of research questions in Bayreuth, from the self-organization in soft matter to the statistical physics of fluids and turbulence. In his work, he combines state-of-the-art simulation methods with new theoretical approaches.

It is therefore not surprising that his research has a range of interdisciplinary applications, for example in wind energy. At the University of Bayreuth, Michael Wilczek aims to continue the long Bayreuth tradition of this line of research with new impetus. He is supported by a prestigious ERC Consolidator Grant, which he is bringing to Bayreuth.

Teaching is also close to Michael Wilczek’s heart: “I’m looking forward to bringing the fascination of physics questions to young people, thereby preparing them for a career in science and industry.” In 2018, Prof. Dr. Michael Wilczek received the Fulbright-Cottrell Award from the German-American Fulbright Commission for his efforts to bring innovative teaching methods and current research topics into the classroom. Starting with the 21/22 winter semester, he will now teach theoretical physics at the University of Bayreuth.