Stephan Maier is a scientific project assistant and PhD student at Graz Univ. of Technology, Institute for Process and Particle Engineering in the Process Synthesis, Process Evaluation, and Regional Development research group (Email: stephan.maier@tugraz.at). He works with such tools as process network synthesis (PNS) and the Sustainable Process Index (SPI), with an eye toward specializing in resource and energy technology process optimization in regions and urban areas, as well as ecological footprinting. His PhD thesis deals with integrated energy and technology development in regions and urban areas. He earned his master’s degree in environmental system sciences at the Karl-Franzens Univ. of Graz, where he focused on geography, spatial planning, energy, and technology.