Marzieh Najafi Wins ATE Promotionspreis 2025
We are delighted to announce that Dr. Marzieh Najafi, former member of the IDC, has been awarded the ATE Promotionspreis 2025 for her outstanding dissertation. Her research makes significant contributions to the advancement of Free-Space Optical (FSO) communication systems for next-generation wireless networks. In particular, she explored Intelligent Reflecting Surface (IRS)- and Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV)-assisted FSO links to overcome line-of-sight limitations, developed models to address real-world impairments, and proposed hybrid Radio Frequency (RF)/FSO architectures that enhance reliability and throughput. By combining theoretical insights with practical designs, her work positions FSO technology as a key enabler for future wireless infrastructures.
The award will be formally presented on November 21, 2025, during the Tag der Technischen Fakultät at FAU, where Dr. Najafi will also take part in the Science Slam. We warmly congratulate Marzieh on this achievement and wish her continued success in her career!