Electrical Engineering and Information Technology

Professor Ulrich Rüdiger, Rector of RWTH Aachen University, honoured 22 outstanding graduates with the Friedrich Wilhelm Prize 2024. ©Andreas Schmitter

Three individuals, distinguished for their academic excellence, were recognized as winners of the Friedrich Wilhelm Prizes for their exemplary final theses, which were developed under the auspices of the Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Information Technology.

Christian Fester, a research assistant at the Chair of Transmission Grids and Energy Economics at RWTH Aachen University, was awarded recognition for his master’s thesis, entitled ‘Validation and further development of a method for topology optimisation of the German transmission grid using real operational planning data’. The thesis provides innovative impulses for the integration of the optimisation of switching operations into the preview processes in the German transmission grid.

Following the completion of his Bachelor’s degree at RWTH Aachen University, Maximilian Henri Vincent Tillmann proceeded to undertake the T.I.M.E. Double Degree Programme, which enabled him to obtain a Master of Science in Electrical Engineering, Information Technology and Computer Engineering at RWTH Aachen University and Keio University. His thesis, which was awarded the Friedrich Wilhelm Prize, is entitled ‘Investigation on Autoencoder Models for Online System Identification’.

In recognition of his academic achievements, Dr Eduard Heidebrecht was also honoured for his dissertation, entitled ‘Alternative Concepts for Wideband Doherty Power Amplifiers’. His research is conducted at the Chair of High Frequency Electronics at RWTH Aachen University, where it is primarily focused on nonlinear efficient PA design, specializing in wideband Doherty power amplifier (DPA) design across CMOS, MMIC, and hybrid systems from sub-6 GHz to mmWave frequencies.

The Friedrich Wilhelm Prize is bestowed by the foundation bearing the same name, which was established in 1865 by the legal predecessor of the present-day Generali Deutschland. The foundation’s principal objective is to advance research and academic education, and to provide support for students and scholars at RWTH.

The foundation takes its name from Prussian Crown Prince and later Emperor Frederick William III. In 1858, he received a donation of 5,000 thalers from the Aachener und Münchener Feuer-Versicherungs-Gesellschaft for the purpose of establishing a polytechnic institute in the Rhineland. This donation constituted the basis for the Friedrich Wilhelm Foundation, which in turn laid the foundation for RWTH Aachen University.