Meet the Team

The Scrum Teams:

Customer Support & IT

Engagement & Education

Software Development

Database Development

Talk to me about… All aspects of your licensing and customer support needs, especially those involving ChemApp in all shapes and sizes

Background: I studied Metallurgical Engineering at RWTH Aachen (back when it was still called “Hüttenkunde”), worked as a student at the former LTH (“Lehrstuhl für Theoretische Hüttenkunde”), where Klaus (Hack) and Philipp (Spencer) were my first supervisors. I did my PhD research at Forschungszentrum Jülich on high-pressure solution growth and defect thermodynamics of gallium arsenide, writing up my thesis at night while already working for GTT during the day.

Conversation starter: All things coffee (the nerdier the better), from light-roast pourovers to tinkering with vintage Italian manual espresso machines. Occasional trainer and lecturer on intercultural competence development for STEM people for almost 25 years. Volunteer with “Ingenieure ohne Grenzen” in various roles for 17 years now, mostly preparing students and young professionals in intercultural skills for their assignments abroad. Member of the advisory board of a charitable foundation. When I’m not in Germany, you’ll reach me most likely either in Canada or Japan. Last but not least: how to stay fit and healthy past 60 🙂

Michael Schick

Technical customer support (CSIT)

#Installation #Bonn #Koblenz #Judo # MartialArts

Talk to me about… FactSage (Technical questions: Installation and calculation, licensing, Macros). ChemApp for Python, ChemApp: Installation and licensing, programming languages Python, C, C++

Background: Chemist (University of Bonn), PhD in Physical Chemistry (Atomic Force Microscopy AFM and Molecular Beam Epitaxy, University of Bonn)

Conversation starter: Dad of 2 girls (14, 12), originally from the Koblenz region, I love programming. Did some judo in my youth, interested in martial arts, but now only passively

Talk to me about… ChemApp, performance tuning and optimizations, licensing issues. Talk to me on topics related to compilers, computing architectures or licensing related issues from dongles, network and cloud licenses for GTT products.

Background: I did my Masters in Software Systems Engineering at RWTH Aachen, with specialization in Information Systems, large scale distributed databases and wrote my thesis in the area of high performance computing.  I did my Bachelors in Computer Science Engineering from Osmania University in Hyderabad, India.

Conversation starter: I am passionate about technology, photography and motor sport though the latter two have taken a backseat over recent years and I now indulge in my other hobbies such as reading, hiking and  badminton.

Talk to me about… IT support, server administration, Microsoft 365, user accounts, backups, security, network and system troubleshooting

Background: I did my Bachelor of Science in Informatic with a focus on Cybersecurity from FH Aachen, and d planning to pursue my Masters in same field.

Conversation starter: I enjoy cooking. I  like finding practical solutions to technical problems, and enjoy learning about cybersecurity and improving IT systems

Talk to me about… Thermochemical databases, process simulation, kinetic effects in general and extractive metallurgy for ferrous and non-ferrous metals. Solidification and heat treatment of alloys in general.

Background: My academic/industrial background is terms of the material system is mainly related to alloys, in special iron/steel. I have also worked with a variety of computer simulation techniques in the past: both with using the tools and in the development of new ones from scratch. M.Sc. in Brazil, Ph.D. in Germany, both focused on phase transformations and their modelling.

Conversation starter: Movies, literature, poetry, philosophy, arts, (almost all kinds of) music. Physics. Microstructures are fascinating, I think.

Talk to me about…  If you have ideas for future Users’ Meetings, feedback on our newsletter, website, or LinkedIn content, or suggestions for improving the user experience, I’d love to hear them.

Background: Materials Science (RWTH), Ph.D. on the ab initio-guided design of thin-film model systems for FeMn-based steels. The thesis was completed despite the persistent efforts of alpha-manganese to prevent it.

Conversation starter: I’m a former Telemark ski instructor, an enthusiastic hobbyist garden designer with questionable expertise, and apparently the kind of person who builds Microsoft Power Apps for fun.

Talk to me about… Process modelling, flowsheeting, and optimization using FactFlow, FactProSim, and ChemApp for Python | Rotary kiln process simulation with KilnSimu | Different applications such as extractive metallurgy of non-ferrous metals (Cu, Pb), e-waste, battery recycling (Li) | FactSage | Anything

Background: My PhD work focuses on experimental and computational thermodynamics of solid-state battery materials (RWTH Aachen and Forschungszentrum Jülich, Germany). I have a BS-MS dual degree with a masters in Chemistry (IISER Bhopal, India). I focus on solving technical challenges, demonstrating the capabilities of our tools, and engaging in exchanges with (potential) customers, in addition to my development work.

Conversation starter: I enjoy creating art and sharing it with others. I had my first exhibition in Cologne last year, and it was a rewarding milestone to exhibit my paintings and handmade bookmarks and share them with a wider audience. Art has encouraged me to keep exploring new ideas and creating whenever inspiration strikes.

Talk to me about… Your honest feedback / Your needs and your ideas we at GTT can improve to better help you in the future

Background: Studied materials engineering and business administration at RWTH Aachen, PhD on “Design of materials with anomalous thermophysical properties and desorption-assisted phase formation of intermetallic thin films”. Calphad Optimizer course instructor. Database developer for salt systems to identify new Phase Change Materials.

Conversation starter: Dad of three small boys (5,2,2). I urgently need to improve my conflict resolution skills, any tips are welcome. Used by now to a constant, very high noise level. All hobbies currently discontinued but still a Dortmund (BVB) supporter!

Talk to me about… Modeling of pellet reduction in DRI Mean-Field modeling of precipitation

Background: I studied Materials Engineering (RWTH) PhD work focuses  on the modeling of the age-hardening behavior of automotive sheet Al-Mg-Si aluminium alloys.

Conversation starter: I enjoy drinking fruit brandy and engage in DIY/handyman work as a hobby. I like to go fishing, albeit with rather limited success.

Talk to me about… Calphad Optimizer, ChemApp for Python, FactSage, Process Simulations

Background: Metallurgical Engineering  and Masters at UFRGS (Brazil); PhD in thermodynamic database development for salt systems with potential as PCM at BTU (Germany) with Prof. Klaus Hack (GTT) as my co-supervisor. My PhD work produced also a new database optimization software at GTT, which served as the basis for Calphad Optimizer.

Conversation starter: I’m Brazilian, lived in Germany for  5 years and now am back in Brazil working remotely for GTT.

Talk to me about… Hy-DRI modeling for Green Steel

Background: I studied Business Engineering at RWTH Aachen, did my PhD in Physics at Uppsala University where I studied magnetism in single crystalline thin films and for the last seven years I lived in Scandinavia learning Swedish and Danish, and when to nod politely instead of pretending I speak Danish.

Conversation starter: I love skiing, playing volleyball (in particular in my super supportive ladies’ team), photography, watching football, and I enjoy figuring out complex boardgames (the kind that comes with a rulebook thick enough to be a novel).

Talk to me about… Anything

Background: I studied Metallurgcal Engineering at RWTH Aachen University and did my PhD at Materials Chemistry on quantum mechanically guided design of hard coatings. Current interest focusses on overcoming the scientific challenge of over-fitting in Materials Science (especially for process modelling).

Conversation starter: I studied Philosophy for a year and it changed my life. I love great ice cream and my dream is to one day be able to understand the ice cream making well enough to make three (taste- and microstructure-wise) very different, delicious chocolate ice creams.

Talk to me about… Sustainable metallurgy, Process modeling, High throughput materials design, ChemApp, Workflows

Background: Studied Materials and Metallurgical Engineering; B.Sc. at Istanbul Technical University, M.Sc. at RWTH Aachen University. Currently pursuing a PhD at Max Planck Institute for Sustainable Materials. I am interested in material design workflows and process modeling  for circular metal processing with hierarchical complexity.

Conversation starter: I played drums during high school, and I am subjectively good at playing Football and Billiard. I am also a fan and a congress member of Fenerbahce SK. I enjoy sound design as a hobby and reading non-fiction.

Talk to me about… Feature ideas and user experience issues, the Future of work in a world of AI, and anything database modelling related. I may be the world’s best in reading and writing any sort of thermodynamic database format.

Background: I did my PhD on High-Manganese steel modelling. My interests are mostly in bridging the gap of computer science towards technical application experts, nowadays a lot about the integration of our AI sidekicks. My Calphad interests are mostly shaped by bug reports about quirky issues in databases and how our software handles it 😉

Conversation starter: I’ve had my fair share of high-level competitive sports in sailing and ultimate frisbee, all came to a screeching halt last year with a very bad slipped disk. I now pivoted to coaching youth and kids sports, which only works because my family of 4 takes part in these activities.

Talk to me about… Computational Thermodynamics/Thermochemistry, links in the SGTE/Calphad community, suggestions to improve the usability of computational thermochemistry. Phase diagrams, what ever else

Background: Physics diploma (RWTH), doctoral thesis (theoretical metallurgy, RWTH), postdoc at National Physical Laboratory (UK), training course designer and trainer of ChemSage and FactSage course, 30+ years as lecturer on computational thermochemistry at RWTH, longterm teaching appointment at Osaka University, several years lecturer at TUBAF and Leoben, editor and main author of The SGTE Case Book – Thermodynamics at work (2 Eds.), author/co-authors of 120+ publications and chapters in books on metallurgy, internal project manager for e.g. HotVeGas I & II and BOFdePhos

Conversation starter: Classical music as well as jazz from ragtime to big band, James Bond movies, Do you know karting (rental karts as well as two-stroke race karts)? If not, why?

Talk to me about… Data-driven modelling and design of new materials; automated processing of heterogeneous materials data using statistical methods, machine learning and deep learning to generate AI-ready data; uncertainty quantification for multi-fidelity data; physically based AI-driven property modelling; third-generation CALPHAD databases from 0 K.

Background: PhD in Mathematics / Stochastics at RUB, focused on segmented nonlinear regression for thermodynamic properties and 3rd-generation CALPHAD databases down to 0 K. Former ICAMS/RUB group leader in “Artificial Materials Intelligence” and postdoc in materials informatics. Background in Applied Mathematics, Informatics and Electronic Business, with early applied projects at JUMO GmbH and BASF SE. Broad CALPHAD / data-driven materials modelling and design network incl. CSU Changsha, BAM, Penn State and NIST. Active DGM member since 2022.

Conversation starter: I enjoy building Lego and playing chess with my son, going on road trips in my BMW 520i E39, dancing, and organizing conferences. I’m also a big fan of strong Italian espresso, especially ristretto.

Talk to me about… Kilns/KilnSimu, ways to improve our databases, anything you feel like.

Background: I did my PhD in  Materials Science and Engineering while also studying computational materials design at the Penn State University in the United States. I did a year post doc at the Forschungszentrum Jülich calculating ion channels in the brain. I worked for 4 years as the Stage Gate Innovation Process and  Computational Analysis Manager for a ceramic and cement production company.

Conversation starter: From the US. I have three kids. I live on a farm in Bavaria with lots of chickens and soon to be goats

Talk to me about… how our thermodynamic databases can be made even better then they currently are. From oxides, salts, carbides, borides and nitrides, to intermetallics, there is always something new to discover in every type of system.

Background: I studied Materials Science at the TU Freiberg, with a scientific exchange @CERN. In my PhD at the TU Freiberg, I worked on the thermodynamic modelling of Fe-Mn-Al-Ni shape memory alloys, extended and deepened during my subsequent PostDoc.

Conversation starter: : I was actively practicing Karate in my youth (1. Dan). I usually tend to go regularly to the stadium to watch football. However, these things are now being moved down my priority list, due to the recent arrival of a little future Calphadian 😉

Talk to me about… I have been working first with Thermo-Calc and later FactSage since 1995. Ask me about thermodynamic modelling and creating of databases.

Background: I studied the theory of metallurgical processes at the Ural Polytechnic Institute in Yekaterinburg. My doctoral dissertation at the Department of General Physics was on the viscosity of Fe-Cu-based melts.

Conversation starter: I enjoy figure skating and am a member of two clubs (one in Germany, the other in the Netherlands). Last fall, I took part in the ice musical *Alice in Wonderland*. Skiing, hiking and biking are my favorite activities.