Mathias Winkel

Head of AI & Quantum Lab @ Merck KGaA, Curiously Investigating the Digital Future

Darmstadt, Hesse, Germany

About

Experienced Research & Development Project Manager with a demonstrated history of working in the computer software industry. Holds a PhD in Theoretical Physics, an MBA in General Management and enjoys an always solution-oriented mindset. Permanently curious, always eager to learn, striving to understand, to analyze, to improve and finally to solve problems even before they arise.

Experience

  • Merck Group (Full-time · 5 yrs 11 mos)
    • Head of Software for AIDD (AI in Drug Discovery)
      Mar 2026 - Present · 5 mos

    • Head of AI & Quantum Lab
      May 2022 - Present · 4 yrs 3 mos

      • Investigating novel digital technologies that have the potential transform products and processes from AI/Machine Learning across Mathematical Optimization to Quantum Computing for Material Science and beyond • Prototyping tools and algorithms as showcases for the innovative potential of a fully digital approach to business • Consulting internal partners on development of digital and digitally enhanced products

    • Head of AI Research
      Mar 2022 - Apr 2022 · 2 mos

  • Electromagnetic Simulation Services R&D Development Manager at Dassault Systèmes
    Aug 2018 - Aug 2020 · 2 yrs 1 mo

    • Piloted development and implementation efforts on Software as a Service offerings that provide access to electromagnetics simulation tools and technology • Promoted agile projects for the continuous improvement of the local development processes and toolchain

  • Senior Software Developer (Particle Dynamics) at CST - Computer Simulation Technology
    Mar 2015 - Aug 2018 · 3 yrs 6 mos

    • Developed scientific methods and algorithms for simulation of charged particle dynamics in static and dynamic electromagnetic fields with a focus on vacuum electronics devices and plasma applications • Created the required workflow components from user interface across high performance solver technology to result data analysis • Lead agile research and development projects focussing on the CST Particle Studio product • Developed tools and scripts for improving the in-house development toolchain

  • Postdoctoral Scientist at ICS - Institute for Computational Science, USI Università della Svizzera italiana
    Jun 2014 - Feb 2015 · 9 mos

    • Developed algorithms and simulation methods for a multi-physics finite-element approach to simulating the human heart (electrocardiology, contraction mechanics, fluid dynamics) on recent high performance computing systems • Cooperated closely with medical staff at the Cardiocentro Ticino and learned necessary biological and clinical fundamentals • Studied parallel-in-time integration approaches for particle dynamics in electric and magnetic fields

  • Jülich Supercomputing Centre, Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH (Jülich, Germany)
    • Postdoctoral Scientist
      Mar 2013 - Apr 2014 · 1 yr 2 mos

      • Developed and evaluated parallel-in-time integration methods and their application for classical molecular dynamics simulations in close collaboration with colleagues from Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratories, USA • Guided and motivated PhD and Master students

    • Research Scientist
      Dec 2009 - Mar 2013 · 3 yrs 4 mos

      • Studied dielectric and optical properties of warm dense plasma systems using classical molecular dynamics simulations • Developed a highly scalable parallelization approach for the Barnes-Hut tree algorithm on the high performance computing systems in Jülich • Presented research results on several international conferences and in scientific publications • Supervised tutorials and workshops on numerical methods for the N-body problem • Leading organization of the annual summer student programme at Jülich Supercomputing Centre