Birger Kollmeier

Prof. Dr. Dr. Birger Kollmeier is a prominent German hearing researcher and academic leader in the field of medical physics and audiology. Here are some key aspects of his career and accomplishments:

Academic Positions and Research Leadership

Birger Kollmeier holds several significant positions:

• Head of the Division of Medical Physics in the Department of Medical Physics and Acoustics at the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Oldenburg12
• Scientific Director of the Hörzentrum Oldenburg GmbH (since 1996)12
• Head of the Hearing, Speech and Audio Technology division at the Fraunhofer Institute for Digital Media Technology IDMT23
• Spokesperson for the Cluster of Excellence "Hearing4all" since 20122

Education and Expertise

Kollmeier's educational background is interdisciplinary:

• Studied physics and medicine in Göttingen
• Completed Ph.D. in physics (1986) in psychoacoustics
• Earned a second Ph.D. in medicine (1989) focusing on binaural hearing aids12

Research Contributions

His research has significantly impacted the fields of hearing research, speech processing, auditory neuroscience, and audiology:

• Author or co-author of over 450 scientific publications
• Supervised more than 80 doctoral theses12

Awards and Recognitions

Kollmeier has received numerous prestigious awards, including:

• German President's Award for Technology and Innovation (Deutscher Zukunftspreis, 2012)
• International Award of the American Academy of Audiology (2012)
• Lower Saxony Science Prize (2011)
• Karl Küpfmüller Ring of TU Darmstadt (2009)
• Glocker Medal from the German Society for Medical Physics (2017)124

Professional Affiliations

He has been actively involved in various professional societies:

• Member of the German Society for Audiology (President from 2003-2005)
• Served in leadership roles in the European Federation of Audiological Societies EFAS1

Recent Developments

In 2023, Prof. Kollmeier was elected as a new member of acatech, the German Academy of Science and Engineering, recognizing his contributions to the field.5

Prof. Dr. Dr. Birger Kollmeier's extensive research, leadership roles, and numerous accolades demonstrate his significant impact on the fields of hearing research and audiology, making him a leading figure in these areas both in Germany and internationally.