KHK c:o/re director Gabriele Gramelsberger has been honored with the RWTH Fellow award 2026. The award recognizes outstanding professors at RWTH Aachen University who have made significant contributions to research and provided exceptional service to the University.
Each dean nominates a professor from their faculty. Based on external reviews, the RWTH Fellow selection committee recommends candidates for appointment to the Rectorate. Dirk Uwe Sauer from the Chair of Electrochemical Energy Conversion and Storage Systems was also appointed the 2026 award.
Photo credits: Andreas Schmitter
The award was given for the following reasons, as stated on the RWTH website:
Gabriele Gramelsberger is an internationally recognized science theorist and technology philosopher whose research on the philosophy of the digital, the epistemology of simulation, and the cultures of research has attracted considerable attention.
Since May 2021, she has been the founding director of the Käte Hamburger Kolleg “Cultures of Research” at RWTH Aachen University, where she has provided decisive impetus for interdisciplinary research structures that extend far beyond the Faculty of Arts and Humanities. Her outstanding achievements have been recognized with, among other honors, the K. Jon Barwise Prize from the American Philosophical Association, an award that is rarely given to non-US scholars.
Professor Gramelsberger brings a remarkable level of diversity to her research, combining various disciplines within philosophy, including the philosophy of cognitive science and the philosophy of mathematics. Her work not only promotes understanding of digital technologies and their influence on scientific practices, but also helps to shed new light on current societal challenges.
In addition to her scientific achievements, she has worked hard to build a vibrant intellectual community, both at RWTH Aachen University and internationally. Her commitment to scientific discourse is evident in numerous published co-authored works and in her ability to establish significant networks and stimulate dialogue between different disciplines.
In addition, Gabriele Gramelsberger has raised over 20 million Euros in third-party funding, which highlights her ability to create stable research structures. Her interdisciplinary commitment fits perfectly with RWTH Aachen University’s profile as an “Integrated Interdisciplinary University.”
Header image: Thorsten Voigt, Dean of the Faculty of Philosophy at RWTH Aachen University, KHK c:o/re director Gabriele Gramelsberger, and Ulrich Rüdiger, Rector of RWTH Aachen University; Photo credits: Andreas Schmitter