ZIH-Info No. 196, March 2026
Table of contents
Editor: Jacqueline Papperitz
Login name for e-mail and SharePoint
On March 12, 2026, the User Principal Name (UPN, login name) for all TUD accounts will be changed to the primary e-mail address. This standardization means that in the future, the primary email address will be used to log in to both the mailbox and SharePoint, which will improve discoverability in Microsoft applications such as SharePoint Online and Teams. In individual cases, Outlook may require a new login; in this case, the e-mail address and the corresponding password must be entered. If the login name cannot be edited, the option "Log in with another user account" should be used. Documents on SharePoint may also require a new login after the changeover. The links in SharePoint mySites will adjust automatically. For active OneDrive sessions, we recommend restarting the application or computer once or logging OneDrive out and back in so that synchronization is restored. If you have any questions or problems, the Service Desk is available as usual. (Contact: )
VoIP: Shutdown of Cisco Jabber
The VoIP service Cisco Jabber will be shut down on March 25, 2026. The associated instant messaging and presence servers will also be decommissioned. During the softphone pilot phase in 2025, ZIH support was already restricted in favor of Cisco Webex, as the manufacturer also prefers to further develop the Webex client. After the shutdown, softphone, chat, CTI functions and the availability status will only be available via the Cisco Webex service supported by ZIH. The chat function integrated into the telephone service systems of the Study Service Center and the Service Desk will also be deactivated. The responsible administrators of affected workstations will be informed in advance by email notification, if known. The Cisco Jabber client software should then be uninstalled on the client devices – either by the responsible administrator or independently. (Contact: )
New Outlook reporting plugin
In March 2026, a new Outlook plugin will be introduced for all TU Dresden mailboxes, that allows phishing and spam messages to be reported directly to the TU Dresden Computer Emergency Response Team (TUD-CERT). The new plugin developed by TUD-CERT replaces the previous solution. In addition to Outlook under Windows, it also supports the macOS version and the Outlook Web App (OWA). The user interface is currently available in German and English and automatically adapts to the selected Outlook design. Another new feature is the separate reporting of phishing and spam, which will improve the training of the central spam filters in a targeted manner in future. The plugin has been tested by volunteers since mid-2025 and has received consistently positive feedback. In March 2026, the plugin will be activated centrally for all TU Dresden mailboxes; manual installation is not required. If required, the plugin can be deactivated at any time in the OWA account settings (https://msx.tu-dresden.de). Administrators can uninstall the previous plugin automatically using the "Baramundi" software. Overall, the new plugin simplifies the handling of suspicious messages and is another important step towards improving email security at TUD. Further information: https://mailsecurity.cert.tu-dresden.de/. (Contact: )
AI-supported search for research data
The new Chat4Data project at the ZIH uses artificial intelligence (AI) to make data easier to find and reuse. The aim is to develop AI models that combine specialist knowledge of a discipline from publications, knowledge of datasets from data journals and metadata from research data repositories. With the help of an AI-supported chatbot, researchers are to be guided intuitively and in a dialogue-based way to relevant data sets. The Department of Earth System Sciences is serving as a pilot in cooperation with the NFDI consortium NFDI4Earth. Other partners at the TUD are the Chair of Geoinformatics and the national AI Competence Center ScaDS.AI Dresden/Leipzig as well as Leibniz Universität Hannover and HTW Berlin. (Contact: Dr. Ralph Müller-Pfefferkorn)
EU promotes interoperability of models
How can models of cells, organs and their dynamic processes be developed on a modular basis and assembled computationally to form a "virtual twin", e.g. of a cancer patient? Such virtual twins can be used to run through and optimize various therapy options before actual treatment. For such a high degree of interoperability, however, the computer models require new ontologies and standardized interfaces. As part of its OSCARS cascade funding, the EU is funding the "MultiCellML-TDR" project in the ZIH's Innovative Methods of Computing (IMC) department for two years from March 1, 2026. The project builds on numerous services of the European Open Science Cloud and supports the flagship project "Virtual Human Twin" in the EU's Apply AI strategy. Further information: https://oscars-project.eu/projects/multicellml-tdr-standard-and-fair-tdr-computational-models-multicellular-biological. (Contact: Dr. Lutz Brusch)
Experience digital technologies: Girls' Day at CIDS
This year's Girls' Day will take place on April 23, 2026, in which TU Dresden will once again participate with a range of activities. In the joint programme of the CIDS departments ZIH, ScaDS.AI Dresden/Leipzig and CODIP, participants will gain a wide range of insights into digitalization, artificial intelligence, high-performance computing and the use of digital media in teaching, research and education. In addition to guided tours of the Living Lab and the data center, the all-day program focuses on computer science and social science research as well as the training and study opportunities at CIDS. The program is aimed at girls aged 13 and over who are interested in technology and the topics on offer. Further information: https://www.girls-day.de/.oO/Show/center-for-interdisciplinary-digital-sciences-cids/dresden/digitalisierung-in-aktion-forschung-die-unsere-zukunft-gestaltet. (Contact: Gina Valentin)
CIDS at the India AI Impact Summit 2026
At the international India AI Impact Summit from February 16 to 20, 2026 in New Delhi, Prof. Wolfgang E. Nagel, Director of CIDS and the ZIH and ScaDS.AI Dresden/Leipzig departments, took part in expert discussions and the "Measurement of AI" session. The focus was on questions regarding the measurability, reliability and explainability of AI systems as well as the transfer of corresponding methods into practical applications. The conference also provided an opportunity to present the German AI ecosystem and strengthen international exchange. At the TUD, these topics are anchored in the CIDS, which bundles expertise in scalable infrastructures as well as HPC and AI methods with ZIH and ScaDS.AI Dresden/Leipzig. Cooperation with Indian partners was also addressed in the context of the summit, including in the area of energy-efficient AI infrastructures. Further information: https: //tu-dresden.de/cids/center/news/ki-kompetenz-aus-dresden-auf-ai-impact-summit-in-new-delhi. (Contact: Jacqueline Papperitz)
The events
- 02.–06.03.2026: Parallel programming with MPI, OpenMP and tools (APB, E065)
- Softphone consultation hour: 02.03., 09.03., 16.03., 23.03. and 30.03.2026 each 10:00–11:00 (online)
- Open Q&A session for users of the NHR@TUD computing cluster: 02.03., 09.03., 16.03., 23.03. and 30.03.2026 each 13:30–14:30 (online)
- 27.03.2026: Precision becomes personal – The patient voice in the molecular tumor board (TEDx Dresden), Dr.-Ing. Markus Wolfien (mightyTwice Hotel Dresden)
- 27.03.2026: Artificial intelligence – perception, ethics and our chance for a good tomorrow (TEDx Dresden), Prof. Dr. Birte Platow (mightyTwice Hotel Dresden)