Prof. Dr. Lukas Hollenstein

Work at ZHAW

Position

• Co-Head Centre for Digital Labs & Production
• Head Simulation & Optimization Research Group

Focus

Modelling, simulation and optimization of complex systems. Core topics include production and logistics systems with complex interdependences and control strategies; application of simulation based optimization methods.

Teaching

• BSc Applied Digital Life Sciences: Lecturer in Mathematics, Modelling & Simulation
• MSc Computational Life Sciences: Supervision of Master theses in Digital Labs & Production
• BSc Biotechnology: Lecturer in Mathematics

Professional development teaching

CAS in Digital Life Sciences

Experience

• Co-Head Digital Labs & Production, ICLS, ZHAW
  ICLS Institute of Computational Life Sciences, ZHAW
  01 / 2022 - today
• Head Simulation & Optimization
  ICLS Institute of Computational Life Sciences, ZHAW
  05 / 2019 - today
• Senior Lecturer
  ICLS Institute of Computational Life Sciences, ZHAW
  09 / 2013 - today
• Postdoc
  Institute of Theoretical Physics, CEA Saclay, France
  2012 - 2013
• Visiting Postdoc
  Institute of Theoretical Astrophysics, University of Oslo, Norway
  2012 - 2013
• Postdoc
  Postdoc, Department of Theoretical Physics, University of Geneva, Switzerland
  2009 - 2012

Education and Continuing education

Education

• PhD / Theoretical Cosmology
  University of Portsmouth, UK
  2006 - 2009
• Diploma / Theoretical Physics
  University of Zurich
  2000 - 2005

Continuing Education

• CAS Teaching and Learning in Higher Education
  Zurich University of Teacher Education (PHZH)
  2017
• Project Management for Researchers
  ZHAW
  2015

Network

Membership of networks

• ASIM Simulation Working Group - Specialist Group Simulation in Production and Logistics - Member of the Board, contact person for members in Switzerland
• VNL Verein Netzwerk Logistik - Swiss Logistics Faculty

ORCID digital identifier

ORCID ID: 0000-0002-2317-6071

Social media

• LinkedId
• ResearchGate
• Loop Frontiers
• ORCID
• Google Scholar

Projects

• SmartRecipe - Real-Time Production Optimization / Co-project leader / ongoing
• Automation and logistics of the waste disposal plant at the Mitholz facility / Project leader / ongoing
• Breeding Wheat for High Baking Quality Under Reduced Nitrogen Input / Co-project leader / ongoing
• Space sufficiency in office buildings / Team member / ongoing
• Digital Twin: supporting the optimization of bioreactor operation and automation / Project leader / completed
• Digital Self-Learning Unit Design of Experiment / Team member / completed
• Simulation-based optimization of bulk carrier unloading systems / Co-project leader / completed
• Reinforcement Learning Analysis Framework / Deputy project leader / completed
• Simulation-based comparison of an end-to-end and a platform configuration for injection molding line / Deputy project leader / completed
• PE(K)O Sustain – Physically modified oils as sustainable alternative to tropical fats for the baking and sweet goods industry / Team member / completed
• Designing Business Models for the IoT / Project leader / completed
• A top-down indicator of lean-green alignment in small and medium-sized enterprises / Project leader / completed
• Digital Simulation of the Swiss Vaccination Center Winterthur / Team member / completed
• Predicitve Waste Management for SBB Train Stations / Project leader / completed
• Data-driven decision support for intracranial aneurysms and hospital catering using Bayesian networks / Team member / completed
• Simulation of pedestrian and traffic flows / Team member / completed
• Simulation & Optimization needs HPC / Project leader / completed
• Complexity 4.0 / Team member / completed
• Generic Simulation and Scheduling Tool for Powder Spray Coating Facilities / Project leader / completed
• Scheduling & Simulation USM / Project leader / completed
• Cooperational platform for urban logictis: An economically and ecologically efficient business model for the city of Zürich and other agglomerations / Team member / completed

Publications

Articles in scientific journal, peer-reviewed

• Husmann, C., Schmid, T., Waser, C., Kaelin, I., Hollenstein, L., & Müller, N. (2025). Crystallized pickering emulsions from plant oil as a local alternative to palm oil. Foods, 14(1), 104. https://doi.org/10.3390/foods14010104
• Schmid, T., Kinner, M., Stäheli, L., Steinegger, S., Hollenstein, L., De la Gala, D., & Müller, N. (2024). Effect of press cake-based particles on quality and stability of plant oil emulsions. Foods, 13(18), 2969. https://doi.org/10.3390/foods13182969
• Rüegg, R., Schmid, T., Hollenstein, L., & Müller, N. (2022). Effect of particle characteristics and foaming parameters on resulting foam quality and stability. LWT - Food Science and Technology, 167(113859). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.lwt.2022.113859
• Heim, E., Stadler, M., Scherrer, M., & Hollenstein, L. (2021). Coopetition : Kooperationen unter Mitbewerbern am Beispiel der Logistikbranche. Zeitschrift Führung + Organisation, 2021(1), 4–9.
• Hollenstein, L., Lötscher, A., & Luccarini, F. (2019). SimLack : simulation-based optimization and scheduling of generic powder coating lines. Simulation Notes Europe, 29(3), 127–132. https://doi.org/10.11128/sne.29.tn.10483
• Cardona, W., Hollenstein, L., & Kunz, M. (2014). The traces of anisotropic dark energy in light of Planck. Journal of Cosmology and Astroparticle Physics, 2014(7), 32. https://doi.org/10.1088/1475-7516/2014/07/032

Book chapters, peer-reviewed

Hollenstein, L., Lichtensteiger, L., Stadelmann, T., Amirian, M., Budde, L., Meierhofer, J., Füchslin, R. M., & Friedli, T. (2019). Unsupervised learning and simulation for complexity management in business operations. In M. Braschler, T. Stadelmann, & K. Stockinger (Eds.), Applied data science : lessons learned for the data-driven business (pp. 313–331). Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-11821-1_17

Written conference contributions, peer-reviewed

• Brunschwiler, M., Hollenstein, L., Wehrli, S., & Kunz, D. (2025). Enhancing information extraction for simulation modelling using large language models [Conference paper]. In S. Rank, M. Kühn, & T. Schmidt (Eds.), Simulation in Produktion und Logistik 2025 (pp. 49–41). Technische Universität Dresden. https://doi.org/10.25368/2025.282
• Scherrer, M., Hollenstein, L., Stadler, M., & Heim, E. (2021, July 7). Towards a symbiotic mutualism through external supply chain integration. Proceedings of the 28th EurOMA Conference.
• Hollenstein, L., Lötscher, A., & Luccarini, F. (2018). SimLack: simulation-based optimization and scheduling of generic powder coating lines [Conference paper]. In C. Deatcu, T. Schramm, & K. Zobel (Eds.), Tagungsband ASIM 2018, 24. Symposium Simulationstechnik: Vol. ARGESIM Report 56 (pp. 45–50). Argesim. https://doi.org/10.21256/zhaw-4956

Other publications

• Windlinger Inversini, L., Janser, M., Hollenstein, L., & Derman, M. (2025). Zwischenbericht Projekt FBB : Flächensuffizienz bei Bürogebäuden. Bundesamt für Energie BFE. https://www.aramis.admin.ch/Dokument.aspx?DocumentID=73830
• Derman, M., & Hollenstein, L. (2024). Reduktion potenzieller Schadensmengen entlang der Kakao-Supply-Chain. Transfer, 2024(1), 5. https://doi.org/10.21256/zhaw-30613
• Gerber, N., & Hollenstein, L. (2022). Wie die Digitalisierung den Food Service im Care Bereich erreicht. Clinicum, 2022(4), 79–80. https://doi.org/10.21256/zhaw-25448
• Vorburger, R., & Hollenstein, L. (2021). Neue Verrechnungsmodelle für die Maschinenindustrie. Transfer, 2021(2), 5. https://doi.org/10.21256/zhaw-23748
• Krähenbühl, A., Gerber, N., Höhener, R., & Hollenstein, L. (2021). Simulationen von Verpflegungsprozessen : auf Knopfdruck zur richtigen Entscheidung. fmpro service, 2021(4), 22–24. https://doi.org/10.21256/zhaw-23063
• Hollenstein, L., & Rinkel, A. (2020). Komplexe Dynamik mit Data Science und Simulation beherrschen. Logistics Innovation, 2020(2), 42–44. https://doi.org/10.21256/zhaw-21453
• Hollenstein, L., Busin, A., & Derman, M. (2020). Simulation & optimization needs high performance. Transfer, 2020(2), 5. https://doi.org/10.21256/zhaw-21455
• Brunschwiler, M., Hollenstein, L., & Müller, J. (2020). Automatisierte Modellierung der mikrobiologischen Sicherheit von Rezepturen. Lebensmittel-Industrie: Fachmagazin für das Management der Nahrungsmittel- und Getränkeindustrie, 2020(5/6), 18–19. https://doi.org/10.21256/zhaw-20194
• Starostina, T., & Hollenstein, L. (2019). Logistik mit Simulation sicher planen und optimieren. Lebensmittel-Industrie: Fachmagazin für das Management der Nahrungsmittel- und Getränkeindustrie, 2019(11/12), 14–15. https://doi.org/10.21256/zhaw-20245
• Vorburger, R., & Hollenstein, L. (2019). Virtuell Schäumen : Simulieren und Visualisieren. Transfer, 2019(2), 6. https://doi.org/10.21256/zhaw-18853
• Hollenstein, L. (2018). Komplexität in Industrie 4.0 beherrschen mit Simulation. Transfer, 2018(1), 9. https://doi.org/10.21256/zhaw-1445
• Schmelzer, H., Hollenstein, L., Bütikofer, S., Steiner, A., Wüst, R. M., & Zuberbühler, I. (2017). Kooperationsplattform für die urbane Güterlogistik : Schlussbericht.
• Schmelzer, H., Bütikofer, S., & Hollenstein, L. (2016). Kooperieren? Ja! Aber wie? : Chancen und Herausforderungen bei der Entwicklung einer Kooperationsplattform für urbane Güterlogistik in der Stadt Zürich. Logistics Innovation, 2016(1), 16–19. https://doi.org/10.21256/zhaw-3864
• Hollenstein, L., Derman, M., & Lötscher, A. (2016). Simulationsgestützte Optimierung der Produktionsreihenfolge. Transfer, 2016(2), 6. https://doi.org/10.21256/zhaw-2050
• Lötscher, A., & Hollenstein, L. (2015). Komplexe Anlagen einfach simuliert : Past, Present, Future. Transfer, 2015(3), 4. https://doi.org/10.21256/zhaw-2052

Oral conference contributions and abstracts

• Gerber, N., Hollenstein, L., & Krähenbühl, A. (2021, November 26). Was wäre wenn?! Unsichtbares sichtbar machen mit Simulationen im Verpflegungsprozess. FM Perspektiven: FM Innovationen in HC digital, Wädenswil, 26. November 2021.
• Hollenstein, L. (2016, March 18). Mit Advanced Dynamic Planning Energiebedarf, Betriebskosten und Investitionsrisiken reduzieren : am Beispiel von Lackieranlagen. 16. Thurgauer Technologietag, Kreuzlingen, 18. März 2016. http://www.technologieforum.ch/documents/technologietag/hollensteinl_thurtechtag_2016-03-18.pdf

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