Prof. Dr.-Ing. Tobias Knopp has been appointed Professor of Sensor-Level AI and Biosignal Processing at the Institute of Medical Engineering (IMT) at the University of Lübeck. As a computer scientist, he approaches challenges through algorithms – from their mathematical foundations to their technical implementation. His research focuses on the intersection of measurement and data analysis: directly at the sensor. Since 1 October 2026, he has been conducting research into the development of intelligent sensor technologies and novel signal processing methods. At the same time, he heads the Diagnostics Business Unit at the Fraunhofer Research Institution for Individualized Medical Engineering IMTE.

A particular focus of his research is on magneto-mechanical resonators (MMRs). These offer the potential to measure parameters such as temperature, pressure, force and pH, paving the way for future implantable sensor systems.

"AI can only analyse what the sensor captures. That is why, for me, sensors and algorithms belong together: understanding the physics behind a measurement allows us to extract significantly more information from the signal. Magneto-mechanical resonators are a particularly exciting field in this respect – tiny, wireless, battery-free and capable of being read out externally. In the long term, they could enable measurements in places that are currently inaccessible to us. Together with partners from clinical practice and industry, we want to explore which applications could emerge from this technology," says Prof. Dr.-Ing. Tobias Knopp.

At the University of Lübeck, the focus is on the scientific foundations of sensor technology and signal processing, while Fraunhofer IMTE concentrates on further developing these technologies for practical applications. Companies interested in developing wirelessly readable or implantable sensor systems therefore have a direct point of contact in Lübeck.

"Tobias Knopp established an internationally recognised institute for biomedical imaging in Hamburg. I am delighted that we have been able to bring him to Lübeck. He combines a profound understanding of mathematics with the ambition to translate algorithms into practical applications. This is precisely what we need for the next generation of medical sensor technologies," emphasises Prof. Dr. Thorsten M. Buzug, Director of the Institute of Medical Engineering at the University of Lübeck and Head of Fraunhofer IMTE.

After studying computer science and completing his doctorate in Lübeck, Tobias Knopp gained industry experience at Bruker BioSpin and Thorlabs, where he developed software and reconstruction algorithms for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), magnetic particle imaging (MPI) and optical coherence tomography (OCT). In 2014, he received his first appointment to a joint W3 professorship in Biomedical Imaging at Hamburg University of Technology (TUHH) and the University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf (UKE). His research ranges from AI-assisted X-ray diagnostics and magnetic resonance imaging to the development of the first human-scale MPI scanner for brain applications. He is also actively involved in the development and promotion of open-source scientific software, particularly the Julia programming language.

Press Contact:

Sandy Bever
sandy.bever@imte.fraunhofer.de

Fraunhofer Research Institution for Individualized Medical Technology and Engineering IMTE
Mönkhofer Weg 239a, 23562 Lübeck