Karen Alim

Karen Alim studied physics in Karlsruhe, Manchester and Munich. She obtained an MSc in Theoretical Physics in 2004 working with Alan J. Bray from Manchester University, U.K., followed by a Diplom (MSc) in Physics and Biophysics at the LMU Munich. During her PhD with Erwin Frey at the LMU in Munich she investigated the form of biological materials like DNA/actin and patterning mechanism during leaf development. As a grad fellow at the KITP in Santa Barbara, United States, she investigated the mechanics of plant growth. After her doctoral degree in 2010 she joined Michael P. Brenner’s group at Harvard University where she focused on the adaptation dynamics of the network-like forager Physarum polycephalum. In 2015 she started as an independent group leader at the Max Planck Institute for Dynamics and Self-Organization. In 2019 she joined the Technical University of Munich as a permanent professor. Karen is recipient of the John Birks Award of Manchester University and held an appointment as lecturer in Applied Mathematics at Harvard University. In 2020 Karen was awarded an ERC Starting Grant.

Contact

Physics Department
Technische Universität München
Ernst-Otto-Fischer-Str. 8, EG.036
85748 Garching b. München

k.alim(at)tum.de
Phone: +49 89 289 12192

Max Planck Institute for Dynamics and Self-Organization
Am Faßberg 17, Room 2.95
37077 Göttingen

karen.alim(at)ds.mpg.de
Phone: +49 551 5176 454

Research Experience

Teaching Experience

Education

Awards, Grants & Scholarships