The Team
The Zentrum am Berg is managed by the University of Leoben as an independent department and is under the direction of Prof.
Dr. Robert Galler. Altogether, the Zentrum am Berg offers not only infrastructure but also an experienced team in the fields of geotechnics, tunnelling and training and continuing education in underground infrastructure.
Prof. Dr. Robert Galler
Head of Department
From 1997 to 2007, Robert Galler worked at GEOCONSULT, an international planner and consultant for geotechnics and cavity construction. His experience includes numerous national and international research and consulting projects. Robert Galler has been a member of the board of the ÖGG - Austrian Society for Geomechanics since 2000; he has represented Austria in the ITA - International Tunneling Association since 2005. Since 2013, Robert Galler has been Chairman of the ITA-CET, the Committee for Communication and Training within the ITA.
Assoz.-Prof. Dr. Marlene Villeneuve
Marlène Villeneuve schloss ihre PhD 2008 an der Queen's University, in Kanada, ab. Danach arbeitete sie zwei Jahre als Tunnelingenieurin für McMillan Jacobs Associates in den USA und Australien. Von 2010-2020 war sie Lecturer, Senior Lecturer und schließlich Associate Professor für Felsmechanik an der University of Canterbury, Neuseeland. Seit 2020 ist sie am Lehrstuhl für Subsurface Engineering tätig und konzentriert sich auf Lehre und Forschung in den Bereichen Felsmechanik und numerische Modellierung.
Dipl.-Ing. Alexandros Evangelatos
Alexandros Evangelatos has been working in teaching and research as a university assistant at the Chair of Subsurface Engineering since November 2022. After completing his Master's degree in Geotechnics and Tunnelling at the University of Leoben, he dedicated his dissertation to alternative forms of reinforcement for tunnel construction, in particular steel and plastic fiber-reinforced concrete segments.
Aliaa Hammoud
Aliaa Hammoud holds a BSc in Geology from the American University of Beirut in Lebanon and an MSc in Petroleum Production Engineering from the University of Leeds in the United Kingdom. Since 2022, she has been working on her PhD as a university assistant at the Chair of Subsurface Engineering. Her research interests are in the fields of drilling technology, well logging, geothermal energy and machine learning.
Ranzhu Wei
Ranzhu Wei holds a Bachelor's degree in Safety Engineering from China University of Geoscience and a Master's degree in Environmental Health and Safety from the National University of Singapore. She is a PhD student at the University of Leoben, Austria. Her research focuses on the reduction of particulate matter concentration in tunnel construction through forced ventilation.
Dipl.-Ing. Robert Wenighofer
Robert Wenighofer has been a research assistant at the Chair of Subsurface Engineering since 2014 and has been working in surveying and mine surveying since 1989 (DI Umlauf, ZT OG Loschnigg-Dachsberger). He is professionally and scientifically involved in close-range photogrammetry, laser scanning, CAD and raw material projects and is involved in numerous scientific projects of the Chair of Subsurface Engineering.
DI Dr. Gerhard Pittino
Engineering training at the HTBLuVA-Villach, studied civil engineering and graduated from the Graz University of Technology (TUG). Since 1993 at the Montanuniversität Leoben (MUL) as research assistant and lecturer. Lecturer for “Foundation Engineering and Soil Mechanics” at the FH Technikum Kärnten in 1997/98. Doctorate in mining sciences at the MUL (load-bearing behavior of the overall system: Alpine salt rock - mine workings - leaching residue) Research focus: Long-term material behavior of geomaterials; experiments, parameter identification and numerical calculations.
Dipl.-Ing. Erik Schuller
Erik Schuller is a graduate in mining engineering from the University of Leoben. He has been a research assistant since 2004 and Senior Lecturer at the Chair of Subsurface Engineering since 2010. In addition to working on numerous projects, Erik Schuller is mainly active in teaching with a focus on soil mechanics and numerical simulations of geotechnical problems.
Dr.mont. Mario Weitzer
Mario Weitzer comes from St. Peter Freienstein (near Leoben) and studied mathematics at the Karl-Franzens-University Graz. He received his doctorate in mathematics in 2015 as part of the FWF doctoral program “Discrete Mathematics” at the Montanuniversität Leoben. Before moving to the Chair of Subsurface Engineering in March 2024, he researched the title topics in his FWF individual project “Arithmetic Dynamical Systems, Polynomials and Polytopes” at the Graz University of Technology and the University of Leoben. Today he works in the fields of 3D simulation, virtual reality and machine learning.
Aurora Camacho
Aurora Camacho, a bachelor student at the University of Leoben, has been supporting the team with ongoing projects and other upcoming tasks as a student assistant at the Chair of Subsurface Engineering since the summer semester of 2022.
Arsham Karsh A. Moayedi Far
Arsham is a research associate at the Chair of Subsurface Engineering. His main focus is on investigating the geomechanical, environmental and economic aspects of H2 geostorage. Arsham holds a Bachelor's degree in Mining Engineering. He also holds an M.Sc. in Tunnels and Underground Spaces and has extensive expertise in numerical modeling, PBEE, AI and ML as well as conducting laboratory testing on FRC samples.
Jasmin Fischer
After graduating from HTL, the trained car mechanic has been supporting the team at Zentrum am Berg in all technical matters since September 2023.
She also works as a trainer and organizer at the tunnel training center of the Austrian Federal Fire Brigade Association.
Dipl.-Ing. Gabriel Loucky
Gabriel Loucky has been working at the Chair of Subsurface Engineering since October 2022. First as a student assistant and since September 2024, after completing his Master's degree in Geotechnical Engineering and Tunnelling, as a research assistant.
Sophie Neuhold
Sophie Neuhold, Bachelor student at the University of Leoben, has been supporting the Chair of Subsurface Engineering and the team in various projects and tasks as a student assistant since summer 2022.
Inz.-Mech. Ktn Aliaksei Patsekha
Aliaksei Patsekha received his education in the fields of technology, equipment and automation of mechanical engineering, as well as in the field of prevention and elimination of emergencies at the universities of Belarus. In 2017, he received his doctorate (as a candidate of engineering sciences) on fire and industrial safety at the University of Civil Defense of the Ministry of Emergency Situations of the Republic of Belarus. Since June 2020, Aliaksei Patsekha has been working as a research assistant at the Chair of Subsurface Engineering. His research interests are in the field of fire dynamics and tunnel fire protection.
Daniel Schneider
As a graduate of a technical college for mechanical and plant engineering and subsequent training as a paramedic, Daniel Schneider started his Master's degree in Geotechnics & Tunneling in 2022 and has been supporting the team at the Subsurface Engineering Institute and the Zentrum am Berg as a student assistant ever since. He gained practical experience in the public works department of the Semmering Base Tunnel in Gloggnitz and is currently working on topics relating to digitalization and tunnel excavation recycling.
Samira Tourey
Samira Tourey is a bachelor student at the Montanuniversität Leoben in the field of raw materials engineering and has been at the Chair of Subsurface Engineering since fall 2023. As a student assistant, she is involved in various projects and also assists with other activities at the chair.
Patrizia Gäbler
Patritzia Gäbler has been working as a project assistant at the Chair of Subsurface Engineering since 1.12.2022. Her task is to relieve the project manager and support the team in projects.
Sarah Weilharter
Sarah Weilharter has been working in Office Management at the Chair of Subsurface Engineering since November 2, 2023. Her activities include teaching activities and human resources tasks.
Ing. Peter Schwab
Technical consultant
Peter Schwab supported the team during the entire construction phase of the ZaB with his many years of structural and civil engineering experience and is now available to the entire team as a consultant and trainer for all technical issues.
Ing. Jörg Krainz
From 1993 to 1997, Jörg Krainz worked as a skilled worker (paper technician) at Brigl & Bergmeister in Niklasdorf. From 1998 - 2009 Jörg Krainz was employed by RHI Magnesita at the Leoben Technology Center in the physics department. His tasks were; investigations on refractory products, further development of test methods and collaboration on R&D projects. After attending the evening school for mechanical and industrial engineering, Jörg Krainz was employed at the Montanuniversität Leoben at the Chair of Subsurface Engineering as a laboratory manager.
Miguel Marek
Miguel Marek graduated from the HTL in Leoben in 2021, specializing in raw materials and environmental technology. He then completed his basic military service with the Anti-Aircraft Battalion 2 in Zeltweg. Since July 2022, he has been working at the University of Leoben in the Subsurface Engineering department and at the Zentrum am Berg as a technician. His main tasks are: Carrying out tests, programming controllers and system software, as well as system and prototype construction, maintenance and servicing of systems.
Michael Mrazek
After completing his mechanical engineering apprenticeship and gaining many years of professional experience in this field, Michael supports the team at the Zentrum am Berg in all technical matters.
Matthias-Paul Marginean
Matthias-Paul Marginean joined the Chair of Subsurface Engineering at the University of Leoben in 2023 as a trainee materials testing technician. His main activity is in the laboratory at the IZR, where he is intensively involved in various aspects of materials testing and analysis with a focus on tunnel construction. In addition, he regularly supports various research projects, which gives him a broad insight into various technical and scientific issues.
Chiara Hude
Chiara Hude is currently completing an apprenticeship as an application developer. After completing compulsory schooling, she began her training at the Chair of Subsurface Engineering at the beginning of May. Her programming skills include Python and PHP. Her goal is to develop useful and clear software for projects in the future. She is particularly interested in machine intelligence.
Yasar Solmaz
Yasar Solmaz has been working at the Chair of Subsurface Engineering at the University of Leoben since 2023. There she is completing an apprenticeship as a test technician specializing in building materials. As part of her training, she supports the team at the Institute (IZR) Innovation Center Raw Materials in the laboratory with various tasks, including carrying out sample preparations, laboratory tests and working on research projects.
Pablo Ramírez
Civil Mining Engineer, graduated from Universidad del Desarrollo (Chile, 2020). From 2019 to 2022, he worked in energy optimization throughout different industries in Chile. Currently Pablo is pursuing a Master in Tunnel Construction (since October 2024) and is working part-time at the IZR laboratory, combining hands-on experience with specialized training in underground construction.