York University will advance its global research profile with the arrival of Germany’s Max Mehltretter, a computer scientist and recipient of a Humboldt Research Fellowship who will undertake a six-month visit under the supervision of Professor Jinjun Shan.
The Feodor Lynen Research Fellowship, awarded by the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation, is a competitive international research program. It connects promising German scholars with established researchers abroad to pursue independent inquiries and build global profile and networks.
Mehltretter is based at Leibniz University Hannover, where he leads the Photogrammetric Computer Vision Group. His research focuses on AI-driven 3D reconstruction and interpreting visual data – teaching computers how to see, understand and measure the 3D physical world using cameras and intelligent sensors.
Mehltretter will join York on Oct. 1 to collaborate with Shan, a former Humboldt fellow and an expert in dynamics, control and navigation of autonomous systems. The research will focus on projects that combine advanced computer vision with smart sensing systems – an area of growing importance as industries adopt automation and AI tools.
“Dr. Mehltretter’s work explores areas that align closely with York’s strengths in space engineering and autonomous systems,” says Shan, a professor at York’s Lassonde School of Engineering.
Shan’s research centres on improving how satellites and autonomous systems move, operate and make decisions in challenging environments. He leads work that combines control theory with applications in space missions, robotics and intelligent systems, including contributions to missions such as NEOSSat.
Mehltretter also brings experience in international scientific leadership, including roles with the International Society for Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing and the German Society for Photogrammetry, Remote Sensing and Geoinformation. His fellowship at York will contribute to academic exchange, mentorship and the development of graduate students and research teams.
The visiting fellowship also reflects the University’s commitment to support international collaborations and attract globally mobile talent, with York’s Offices of the Associate Vice-President Global and Vice-President Research & Innovation providing matching funds from the Global Research Excellence Seed Fund program.
“Programs like Humboldt show how York continues to attract top international scholars,” says Shan. “By strategically investing in global collaboration, the University is strengthening its ability to address complex challenges through innovative, interdisciplinary research.”