Lab Lead

Prof. Dr. Jakub Krukar

I am Junior Professor in Spatial Cognition - a branch of cognitive science studying how people think about, think in, and think with space. My background and approach are interdisciplinary, with an MA in psychology, a PhD from a department of architecture, and postdoctoral experience in geoinformatics.

Methods I work with include virtual reality, mobile eye-tracking, spatial computation, Bayesian statistics, and architectural theory of Space Syntax.

I am a Visiting Fellow at Future Cities Lab in Singapore, an Associate Editor at the newly-funded open-access Journal of Global Environmental Psychology, and head of the faculty's Ethics Committee. Prior to coming to Germany I was at Northumbria University in Newcastle, UK.

ORCID | Google Scholar | ResearchGate | LinkedIn | email

PhD Students

Fengxu Tian

I am a PhD student at the Institute for Geoinformatics, University of Münster, holding a master's degree in environmental design with a background in architecture and spatial design. My research interests are primarily in computer-aided design, parametric design, and spatial cognition.

Methods I work with include optimization algorithms, shape grammar, and space syntax to examine architectural configurations and their effects. I am also deeply interested in virtual reality, statistical models, and artificial intelligence to enhance spatial planning and design.

Jung-Won Lee

I am a PhD student at the Institute for Geoinformatics, with an interdisciplinary background in civil engineering and computer science. My academic journey has focused on spatial cognition and human-environment interaction, with a growing interest in the cognitive processes behind wayfinding and environmental transitions.

My research draws on behavioral experiments, virtual reality, and spatial analysis to study how people think, feel, and act as they move through cities, stations, and buildings. I am particularly interested in applying cognitive insights to improve human-space interaction in complex environments.

Linus Manuel Schilling

Inspired by the imposing buildings of Dubai, where I spent part of my childhood, I developed a deep passion for architecture that drives me to this day. After completing my Master’s degree in architecture at the Münster School of Architecture (MSA) at the University of Applied Sciences Münster in early 2024, I am currently working on my PhD.

As a PhD candidate in the SPARC program at the Graduate School of the Institute for Geoinformatics at the University of Münster, I focus on integrating psychological insights into spatial perception with algorithmic methods for architectural design.

My research approach, „AI-Driven Design Support for Architectural Differentiation: Tackling Subjective Spatial Similarity to Enhance Navigation“ aims to recognize subjective space similarities and enhance navigation.

Diverse perspectives enable me to develop innovative research approaches aimed at sustainably advancing the construction industry and enriching architectural practice through the integration of psychological insights and innovative AI methods.

Student Assistants and Ongoing Theses

Moritz Denk | student assistant

Amirtha Varshini Raja Sonathreesan Latha | MSc thesis

Alumni

Ahmed Aly | student assistant, MSc thesis

Maximilian Elfers | MSc thesis

Lea Heming | BSc thesis

Maryamsadat Valizadeh | MSc thesis

Seyedmohammadhossein Hosseini | MSc thesis

Guangyu Wang | MSc thesis

Hamidreza Behbood | student assistant

Rabia Yagmur Yildiz | student assistant, MSc thesis

Abdelbasset Laroui | visiting PhD student, University of Ghardaia Algeria