Prof. Dr.-Ing. Nele Rußwinkel

Office hours summer term 2025:
Tuesdays 11 - 12 in my office, room 69 (Building 64, 2nd floor)

Please register in advance by e-mail to IFIS secretariat

The goal for Human-Aware AI is to develop intelligent systems that can work in synergy with human partners in complex dynamic environments.

When intelligent systems are human aware, this means that the system adapts to the task of the human partner in its variations, the situation in its dynamics and uncertainty and the cognitive state of the human partner in-the-loop.

In our research group, dynamic mental models are developed (partly with cognitive architectures) that can, for example, anticipate the human in the interaction or identify intentions of the human partner. These modeling approaches are integrated with systems (e.g. robots) or simulations to enable relevant mutual understanding and proactive support.

The goal of such systems is to leave the control – on a macro level – with the human, while the human experiences adapted support for his and her goals.

• Since 1.2.2024 Head of the Institute IFIS
• Since 12/2022:
  Professor in the field of "Human-Aware AI" at the Institute of Information Systems
  University of Lübeck
• 02/2013 - 11/2022:
  Junior professor at the department "Cognitive Modeling in Dynamic Human-Machine Systems"
  TU Berlin https://www.tu.berlin/kmodys/ueber-uns/team-1/prof-dr-ing-nele-russwinkel-1
• 08/2012 - 01/2013:
  Research assistant at the Department of Cognitive Psychology & Cognitive Ergonomics (Prof. Dr. Manfred Thüring), TU Berlin
• 08/2009 - 07/2012: 
  Postdoc at the Research Training Group "Prometei" - Project "Digital Users & Digital Products", GRK prometei, Berlin
• 06/2007 - 07/2009:
  Scholarship holder at the Research Training Group "Prometei" ("Prospective Design of Human-Technology Interaction") at the Technical University of Berlin (GRK Prometei), Berlin
• Dissertation: "Computable quantitative models of duration estimation" (Scientific debate: July 13, 2009)
• 06/2005 - 06/2007:
  Research assistant at ZMMS in the MoDyS working groupCollaborator on various projects such as:
  IBB Networked Driving: Interruptibility and resumption of operating actions while driving
  Transregio 29 - Determination of requirements for multimodal interface design through the concept of hybrid service bundles (HLB)
• 01/2005 - 03/2005:
  Internship in the Vision & Motor System Group of the Neurological Clinic of the Charité, Berlin
  Tasks: Experiments with TMS (temporal magnetic stimulation)
• 10/2003 - 01/2005: 
  Freelancer at Eyesquare, Berlin
• 07/2003 - 10/2003: 
  Internship at Eyesquare, Berlin
• 05/2003 - 07/2003: 
  Internship in the field of acceptance and behavioral analysis at Daimler Chrysler, Berlin
• 10/2001 - 09/2004:
  Master's degree in Cognitive Science with a minor in Psychology, University of Osnabrück
  Master's thesis: "Which factors influence the distribution of visual-spatial attention?" (Charité Berlin, HU Berlin)
• 10/1998 - 09/2001:
  Bachelor program Cognitive Science, University of Osnabrück
  Bachelor thesis: "The temporal stability of explicit and inferred information"

• Complex cognition in applied dynamic situations
• Cognitive Modelling (Cognitive Architectures)
• Human Robot Collaboration
• Mental models for dynamic Interaction
• Models for emergent behavior
• Agency and sense of Control
• Embodied Cognition
• Integration of symbolic and subsymbolic computation

FPOplus (Timetable optimization through flow management of passenger transfers)

Timetable optimization through a Al-based solution for better predictability in the flow management of passenger transfers.

COMPAS II (Computational Cognitive Modeling of the Predictive Active Self in Situated Action)

The interdisciplinary project aims at modeling the role of the active self in the context of situated real-time interaction in a dynamic/spatial environment. In collaboration with Prof. Stefan Kopp (University of Bielefeld), funded by the DFG SPP 2134 "The Active Self".

DPDU (Digital Product, Digital User)

An interdisciplinary project for holistic modeling of human-machine systems in collaboration with the department of Prof. Klaus Gramann (Biological Psychology and Neuroergonomics, TU Berlin) and Prof. Rainer Stark (Fraunhofer, Industrial Information Technology, TU Berlin), funded by DFG.

AVALANCHE (Adaptiver, Virtueller Assistent zur LAwinenwarnung Nach CHarakter Eigenschaften)

Project AVALANCHE together with Sabine Prezenski funded by Software Campus and BMBF (Bundesministerium für Bildung und Forschung).

COMPAS I (Computational cognitive modeling of the predictive active self in situated action)

The interdisciplinary project aims at modeling the role of the active self in the context of situated real-time interaction in a dynamic/spatial environment. in collaboration with Prof. Stefan Kopp (University of Bielefeld), funded by DFG SPP 2134 "The Active Self".

VolkswagenStiftung Kurswechsel (VW)

Changing course ("Kurswechsel") - new research territory between the life sciences and natural or technical sciences