honors & media

🏆 Recognitions

ESA Φ-lab: Invited Visiting Researcher (2026)

I have been selected as an invited visiting researcher at the ESA Φ-lab in April-May 2026 in Frascati, Italy to support our shared IBM-ESA research agenda.

NASA Agency Group Award (2025) ⭐

The development team around the deep learning models of the Prithvi and INDUS family received the NASA Agency Group Award in summer 2025:

For developing AI foundational models that enhance scientific analysis, facilitating breakthrough discoveries, and exemplifying collaborative innovation, setting new standards for transparency and scientific rigor in AI development.

IBM Outstanding Accomplishment Award (2025)

My work on multimodal deep learning for Earth observation has been awarded with an IBM Outstanding Accomplishment Award.

IBM Significant External Honor (2025)

I was recognized with an IBM Significant External Honor for my contributions in geospatial AI as part of our collaboration with NASA.

AGU Open Science Recognition Prize (2025)

The Prithvi teams have received the 2025 AGU Open Science Recognition Prize.

NASA MSFC Honor Award (2024)

I received the NASA Honor Award from Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC) for my contributions to deep learning for earth observations.

IBM Outstanding Accomplishment Award (2024)

My work on deep learning for weather and climate assessments have been awarded with an IBM Outstanding Accomplishment Award.

Tenure-Track Professorship Recommendation (2024)

I was fortunate enough to be recommended for a tenure-track professorship at a German university of excellence in winter 2024. I decided to stay in industry research.

Dissertation Award ⭐ (2024)

My dissertation Data-Centric Artificial Intelligence: Foundations and Methods for Deep Learning was recognized as one of the most outstanding theses in Germany by the Association for Electrical, Electronic & Information Technologies.

Dissertation Award Nomination (2024)

My thesis Data-Centric Artificial Intelligence: Foundations and Methods for Deep Learning has been nominated for a faculty-wide dissertation award by Karlsruhe Institute of Technology.

IBM Outstanding Accomplishment Award (2023)

In summer 2023, my contributions on pioneering deep learning to accelerate scientific discovery have been awarded with an IBM Outstanding Accomplishment Award.

Outstanding Dissertation (2023)

I defended my Ph.D. thesis with summa cum laude.

Best Paper Award at HHAI (2023)

Best Paper Award Nomination at WI (2023)

Our paper on improving the efficiency of human-in-the-loop systems was nominated for the best paper award at WI’23 and selected for a thought-provoking session. Nomination

DAAD Scholarship for International Research on AI (2020)

I received a DAAD scholarship as part of my master’s thesis supporting research on AI.

🎤 Invited Talks

An excerpt of recent invited talks I gave during conferences, workshops, and panels.

Invited keynote speaker at University of Oxford (2025)

I had the pleasure of giving a keynote at the Intelligent Earth Graduate School on large-scale generative multimodality for Earth observation.

Invited keynote speaker at CVPR (2025)

I had the pleasure of giving a keynote at CVPR MORSE on large-scale generative multimodality for Earth observation.

Invited lecturer at HDCRS (2025)

In a team of NASA and IBM researches, we gave a one-day workshop on TerraMind and Prithvi models. Watch on YouTube

Invited speaker and panelist at PASC (2024)

I contribute to the deep learning in earth systems sciences workshop at PASC’24 in Zurich! Workshop details

Invited panelist at ICLR (2024)

I contribute to the data-centric machine learning research (DMLR) workshop at this year’s ICLR in Vienna! Workshop details

Invited speaker at BIFOLD (2024)

Invited keynote speaker at IBM Think on Tour (2023)

As a special guest, I contributed to the keynote on generative AI for business and climate impact based on our work at IBM Research in collaboration with NASA. More information

Invited lecturer at NASA workshop (2023)

In a team of NASA and IBM researches, we gave a one-day workshop on data science at scale and geospatial deep learning. More information

📰 Media Coverage

Media coverage of past projects I have been involved in.

🌎 International

Wall Street Journal - IBM and NASA Collaborate to Research Impact of Climate Change with AI

February 1st, 2023
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Forbes - IBM AI Helps NASA Researchers Mine Earth Data

February 1st, 2023
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🇩🇪 Germany

Spektrum der Wissenschaft - NASA und IBM machen Geodaten-KI für alle zugänglich

August 7th, 2023
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BigData-Insider - Mit KI gegen die Folgen des Klimawandels

April 14th, 2023
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