Hamburg Aviation has honoured the winners of the 2025 Young Talent Award. A total of twelve young talents were recognised in four categories – Bachelor, Master, Sustainable Aviation and Trainee Award – for addressing key future issues in aviation through their scientific work and commitment. The award ceremony took place at the GINN Hotel Hamburg.
At the opening, the Senator for Economics, Labour and Innovation, Dr Melanie Leonhard, addressed the nominees and guests with a video message. She emphasised the importance of the competition for Hamburg as an aviation location: "The Hamburg Aviation Young Talent Award 2025 sends a strong signal about the importance of young talent in our aviation industry. The award-winning work represents innovative strength, sustainability and the courage to break new ground."
The 2025 winners
Best Bachelor's thesis
1st place: Dominik Ort, Hamburg University of Applied Sciences (HAW), cooperation partner Airbus Operations
Mr Ort investigated the use of porous foam to improve active noise reduction systems in aircraft cabins and evaluated both acoustic effects and environmental aspects.
2nd place: Simon Geller, Hamburg University of Technology, cooperation partner Airbus Operations
3rd place: Max Erkens, Nordakademie – University of Applied Sciences, cooperation partner Airbus Operations
Best Master's thesis
1st place: Pia Allebrodt, Technical University of Braunschweig, cooperation partner DLR
She developed a methodology for precisely taking cabin acoustics into account early on in the aircraft design process – for quiet, efficient and climate-friendly aircraft.
2nd place: Fabian Krüger, Hamburg University of Technology, cooperation partner 3D.aero
3rd place: Robert Langer, HAW Hamburg, cooperation partner Diehl Aviation
Sustainable Aviation
1st place: Jan-Alexander Wolf, University of Stuttgart, cooperation partner DLR
Mr Wolf developed a method for estimating the maintenance costs of electric aircraft engines and provided important insights into the economic design of future propulsion systems.
2nd place: Kelven Ng, Hamburg University of Technology, cooperation partner Institute of Aircraft Systems Engineering
3rd place: Henrik Berkmann, Hamburg University of Technology, cooperation partner Institute of Aircraft Systems Engineering
Hamburg Aviation Trainee Award
1st place: Eva Schnierle, Lufthansa Technik AG
The aircraft mechanic completed her training with outstanding results, began a distance learning course in mechanical engineering at the same time and showed above-average commitment to the company.
2nd place: Jakob Schoof, Lufthansa Technik AG
3rd place: Jan Lasse Petersen, Airbus Operations
Significance for Hamburg's aviation industry
With the Young Talent Award, Hamburg Aviation has been specifically promoting scientific excellence and qualified specialists in the Hamburg metropolitan region since 2013. The award-winning projects deal with topics such as cabin acoustics, production efficiency, electrified propulsion systems, sustainable materials and circular processes – issues that play a decisive role in the transformation of the industry. Jury member Dr Anna Elisabeth Bauch (Airbus) emphasised the impact of the award: "Young talent is key to the transformation of aviation. Their curiosity, courage and sustainable thinking are crucial to truly changing the industry."
Supported by strong partners
The Hamburg Aviation Young Talent Award is made possible by the support of numerous sponsors:
Airbus, Lufthansa Technik, Hamburg Airport, Krüger Aviation, VARTAN.AERO, Hanse Aerospace and HECAS.