Berndt Zeitler
University of Applied Sciences Stuttgart, Germany
Berndt Zeitler is a professor of Technical Acoustics and Building Acoustics in the Building Physics department of the Applied University of Sciences Stuttgart (HFT). Besides lecturing on acoustics at graduate and under-graduate levels, Berndt is the deputy Academic Director of the Institute of Applied Research (IAF) of the HFT, and leads the acoustics group, which has its main focus on airborne, impact, and structure-borne sound transmission in construction. Their research, often carried out in collaboration with other institutions, most frequently utilises the HFT’s state of the art building physics laboratory, comprised of several sound transmission test facilities, as well as a reverberation and a semi-anechoic chamber. One main goal of Berndt’s acoustics group is to advance prediction approaches and standardisation methods in building acoustics, which is why many of the researchers are members of the national and international standards committees.
Berndt Zeitler studied acoustics at the world renown Institute of Technical Acoustics (ITA) of the Technical University of Berlin. After completing his masters with honors, he continued at the ITA as a research assistant, carrying out research and teaching at graduate and under-graduate levels. Within the framework of his PhD Berndt compared different source substitution methods and applied them to the radiation of rails. Subsequent thereof, in 2005, he began at Rolls-Royce Germany as a Research Officer. Among other things he was responsible for acoustically optimizing the new two-shaft jet engines. One of which turned out to be the quietest two-shaft engine Rolls-Royce had built to date. Between 2007 and 2015 Berndt worked at the acclaimed National Research Council Canada in Ottawa, in the Building and Room Acoustics Group. Under his leadership (starting 2012), his group improved the Canadian National Building Code regarding sound insulation requirements, while preparing industry for this major change. Furthermore, the group developed design details in wooden construction to meet the very stringent Japanese and Korean impact noise requirements. Berndt then, in late 2015, returned to Germany after being appointed professor at the HFT Stuttgart.