TU Darmstadt and Commerzbank develop agent-based models

How do price movements arise in the foreign exchange markets? And how can trading strategies be developed and analysed without interfering with real markets? Researchers at TU Darmstadt are investigating these questions in collaboration with Commerzbank. Using a hybrid research approach, they combine mathematical modelling, agent-based simulations and artificial intelligence (AI). The aim is to simulate key mechanisms of the foreign exchange market under controlled conditions that are as close to reality as possible.

MIT's Leslie Pack Kaelbling opens new Distinguished Lecture Series

The Department of Computer Science at TU Darmstadt is launching a new, high-profile lecture series. The first guest in the “Distinguished Lecture Series” on October 2, 2026, will be the renowned robotics researcher, Professor Leslie Pack Kaelbling, from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in the United States.

AI systems/AI hardware

Amir Shaikhha joined the Department of Computer Science on 1 July as Professor of ‘AI Systems/AI Hardware’. He is also a member of the Hessian Centre for Artificial Intelligence, hessian.AI. His research aims to improve how AI systems are designed to make them more productive, efficient and energy-saving. The 37-year-old researcher, who used to be an Associate Professor at the University of Edinburgh, says that winning the Dahl-Nygaard Young Scientist Award and the Google Research Scholar Award are the most important moments in his academic career so far. We asked Professor Shaikhha a few questions:

Professor Ahmad-Reza Sadeghi Receives ERC Proof-of-Concept Grant

For his project “MIRAGE”, TU Computer Science Professor Ahmad-Reza Sadeghi will receive funding from the European Research Council (ERC) in the form of a Proof of Concept Grant worth 150,000 euros. The project aims to protect valuable code during computer chip development at the very point of design exchange — an endeavour that has already attracted considerable interest from industry.

Soofi Consortium with TU involvement

The Soofi Consortium has presented its initial findings on the performance of ‘Soofi S’, the first component in its family of European AI models. The aim of the project, which is funded to the tune of 20 million euros by the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy, is to develop high-performance AI base models on European infrastructure and to offer businesses, public administration, research organisations and start-ups a transparent alternative to non-European models. The Department headed by Professor of Computer Science Kristian Kersting at TU Darmstadt is involved in the project.

Fourth Alexander von Humboldt Professorship for TUDa – Award winner Dr Michał Pilipczuk

One of the eight Alexander von Humboldt Professorships has been awarded to TU Darmstadt: Dr. habil. Michał Pilipczuk, a mathematician and computer scientist nominated by the university, has been selected for Germany’s most prestigious international research award. The Cluster of Excellence Reasonable Artificial Intelligence (RAI) will also benefit in particular from his research at the interface between discrete mathematics and theoretical computer science.

Adaptive Bayesian Intelligence

Professor Mohammad Emtiyaz Khan joined the Department of Computer Science at TU Darmstadt on 1 June. The 47-year-old expert in adaptive Bayesian intelligence previously worked as a team leader on an AI project at the RIKEN research institute in Japan. We asked Professor Khan a few questions to mark his arrival:

The powerful AI systems behind Vibe Coding are the result of highly complex computer science expertise

Vibe Coding presents a significant opportunity for society! However, we will only truly master these tools, rather than be mastered by them, if we have a strong foundation in computer science.

Computer science has always been about raising the level of abstraction to make programming more productive

In recent months, a new narrative has gained traction: AI will “eat” computer science. The reasoning seems straightforward—if AI can generate code from natural language, why would we still need computer scientists? In contrary: Computer science has always been about raising the level of abstraction to make programming more productive. AI is making computer science more essential than ever.

Graduate programme combines AI and life sciences

The Max Planck Society is establishing a new Max Planck School on artificial intelligence (AI) and health – and is relying on Hessian research strength: TU Darmstadt is involved with the renowned researcher Professor Iryna Gurevych.

LLMentor’ supports lecturers in assessing and providing feedback on academic texts

Learning scientific writing requires precise feedback, which is a particular challenge in very large courses with many participants. In the Department of Computer Science at TU Darmstadt, the AI assistance system ‘LLMentor’ is therefore being used for the first time to support the assessment of students’ exposés and peer reviews for final theses. The tool reduces the workload for lecturers and promotes consistent feedback – without taking decisions out of the lecturer’s hands.

Dean's assistant and contact person for doctoral procedures

In February, Nadine Moldaner will succeed Heike Schmitt-Spall as the dean's assistant and become the new contact person for doctoral procedures. Having previously worked at the graduate college “Privacy and Trust for Mobile Users”, she is already familiar with the Department of Computer Science and is now returning from the Department of Human Sciences.

Apply now until 1 March 2026

Are you a student passionate about innovation, technology, and building connections? This is your chance to attend leading events connecting female researchers in computer science and engineering, or a scientific conference – apply now for the Female Student Travel Award!

With the appointment of Adi Akavia, TU Darmstadt and ATHENE are strengthening Darmstadt’s cybersecurity research center

Professor Adi Akavia is an internationally recognized expert in applied cybersecurity and took up an ATHENE professorship at the Department of Computer Science at TU Darmstadt and the position as head of department at the Fraunhofer Institute for Secure Information Technology SIT at the beginning of the year. The dual role combines cutting-edge academic research with practical application in a key area of cybersecurity.