2025-11-11: Female Researchers Receive NFF Doctoral Award in Braunschweig

At the Lower Saxony Research Center for Vehicle Technology (NFF) in Braunschweig, the best doctoral theses were honored on November 11, 2025.

In the traditionally male-dominated field of automotive engineering, two female researchers secured the top spots. Dr. Joana Warnecke from the Peter L. Reichertz Institute for Medical Informatics received second place (€1,000) for an innovative concept that uses sensors in vehicles to monitor heartbeat and respiration, enabling early detection of health issues. Dr.-Ing. Silvia Thal won first place (€4,000) for her data-driven approach to safety assurance in autonomous driving, considered for the first time in realistic urban traffic.

A total of ten doctoral candidates qualified for this year’s award. The NFF Doctoral Award was presented for the sixth time and, for the first time, supported by the new patrons Andrea and Dr. Axel Heinrich, who will provide a total of €5,000 in prize money for two young researchers in the future.

Link: braunschweiger-zeitung.pdf, https://magazin.tu-braunschweig.de/en/pi-post/outstanding-research-work-for-the-mobility-of-the-future/

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