Dr.-Ing. Eric Elzenheimer

Chair of Microwave Engineering
Room: C-03.017 (ZEVS)
Kaiserstraße 2, 24143 Kiel, Germany
Phone: +49 431 880-6170
E-mail: ee@tf.uni-kiel.de

ORCID: 0000-0002-4841-4646
Google Scholar: Link - Research Gate: Link

From 2015 to 2023, Eric served as a research assistant and postdoctoral researcher in the Digital Signal Processing and System Theory Group at Kiel University. Since 2016, he has been involved in the DFG-funded Collaborative Research Center (CRC) 1261, Magnetoelectric Sensors: From Composite Materials to Biomagnetic Diagnostics.

During his doctoral studies, his primary research centered on Multimodal Mapping of Nerve Pathologies Using Magnetoelectric Sensors, particularly emphasizing Magnetoneurography (MNG) and Magnetomyography (MMG). He also maintained a strong interest in clinical gold-standard techniques, including Electroneurography (ENG) and Electromyography (EMG). His work led to initiating a productive and ongoing collaboration with the Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt (PTB), Germany’s national metrology institute. In 2020, he was one of three organizers of the Biosignals Workshop: Innovative Processing of Bioelectrical and Biomagnetic Signals. In 2022, he earned his Dr.-Ing. degree with distinction for his dissertation titled Analysis of Stimulation-Evoked Muscle and Nerve Signals Using Electrical and Magnetic Sensors. His doctoral work was recognized in 2023 with an award from Kiel University and the German Society for Biomedical Engineering (DGBMT). Since September 2023, he has been serving as chairman of the DGBMT board for Magnetic Methods in Medicine. In 2024, he joined the Chair of Microwave Engineering at Kiel University as a postdoctoral researcher and, in recognition of his expertise, became an affiliate researcher at PTB, Department 8.2 Biosignals, in Berlin.

His current postdoctoral research focuses on the quantitative characterization of highly sensitive magnetometers, transferring knowledge gained from ME sensors to other magnetometer types and multichannel systems — one of the key objectives of his research project within the third and final funding period of the CRC 1261. This work is further strengthened through close collaboration with the PTB and partnerships with institutions such as the Laboratory for Clinical Neurotechnology at Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, including the MEG Core Facility of the National Institute of Mental Health (NIH). In parallel, he also contributes to the scientific community through regular peer-review activities for journals, workshops, and international conferences.

In addition to his research activities, he is actively involved in teaching and student supervision at Kiel University, where he leads a master’s-level module titled (Bio-)Magnetometry and Metrology in the Low-Frequency Range, following the university’s approval of his teaching assignment for non-habilitated researchers.

News and Updates:

April 15, 2025: Latest open-access journal publication on Converse ME Sensors as co-first author titled Analog Demodulation for Electrically Modulated ME Sensors: A Signal Integrity Analysis and Evaluation Approach is freely accessible in IEEE Sensors (Link).

April 14, 2025: The lecture and exercises on (Bio-)Magnetometry and Metrology in the Low-Frequency Range officially started for the Summer Semester 2025 at Kiel University.

March 26, 2025: Two supported co-authored conference contributions to the IEEE 42nd Central America and Panama Convention (CONCAPAN XLII) in San José, Costa Rica, have been published on IEEE Xplore. Many thanks to the students and especially Pablo (Mendoza-Ponce) for the excellent collaboration (Paper 1, Paper 2).

March 18, 2025: Presented at the Inaugural OPM Network Event between PTB and Charité – fostering interdisciplinary exchange in the field of magnetometry. Supported and guided panel discussion together with Silvia (Knappe-Grüneberg) (Summary).

March 17-24, 2025: Led the CRC 1261 Spring Measurement Campaign, hosted at PTB, working with DALAC in BMSR-2.1. The campaign focused on benchmarking ME sensors and developing new key metrics for evaluating state-of-the-art single-unit and multichannel magnetometer systems, including those used in MEG platforms.

March 5-7, 2025: Organized and hosted the Expert Committee on Magnetic Methods in Medicine in Kiel, followed by active participation in the two-day meeting of the Expert Committee on Biosignals, also held at Kiel University. Both meetings promoted interdisciplinary exchange and collaboration within the DGBMT community.

January 15, 2025: New collaborative open-access journal publication as author titled Key Metrics and Experimental Test Bench for Assessing Highly Sensitive Magnetometers in Research is now freely accessible in IEEE Sensors (Link). On March 5, the Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt (PTB) featured this work in a LinkedIn post, highlighting the impact of the collaborative research.

Research: Highly-Sensitive Magnetometers, Biomagnetic Sensing, Sensor Readout and Biomedical Signal Processing

Topic: Magnetoelectric Sensor Characterization

The Collaborative Research Centre (CRC) 1261 focuses on the development and investigation of diverse thin-film magnetoelectric (ME) sensor concepts for advanced (bio-)medical sensing. These innovative sensors enable contactless detection of weak magnetic signals, even in environments with external interference such as the Earth's magnetic field. A key advantage is their ability to operate at room temperature, eliminating the need for additional heating, as required by Optically Pumped Magnetometers (OPMs), or cryogenic cooling, as required in Superconducting Quantum Interference Devices (SQUIDs).

Project Z2, a service project within CRC 1261, plays a central role in the metrological characterization of magnetoelectric (ME) sensors and systems developed in the sensor-focused sub-projects and required for application in the corresponding medical research areas. In close collaboration with nearly all CRC sub-projects, Z2 systematically analyzes sensor performance metrics, focusing on quantifying variability arising from complex fabrication processes. Additionally, the project maintains a strong collaboration with the Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt (PTB) to contribute to the establishment of standardized performance benchmarks for magnetometers. Through its comprehensive support in sensor evaluation, selection, and integration, Project Z2 helps ensure the reliable deployment of ME sensor systems tailored to specific (bio-)medical sensing applications, while advancing harmonization efforts across the field.

Related Topics:

• Sensor Characterization
• Biomedical Signal Enhancement and Signal Analysis
• Electronics / Digital Signal Processing
• Magnetometry / Biomagnetism
• Bioelectric Measurements

Scientific Interests:

• New Magnetoelectric Sensor Concepts
• Novel Magnetometers for Biomagnetic Applications (MxG)
• Optically Pumped Magnetometers (OPMs)
• Electroneurography (ENG)
• Electromyography (EMG)

Membership in Scientific Socities:

• IEEE, Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society
• German Society for Biomedical Engineering (DGBMT), Society of German Engineers (VDI), Fachausschüsse „Magnetische Methoden in der Medizin“ and „Biosignale”
• VDE-ITG-Fachgruppe „Signalverarbeitung und maschinelles Lernen“