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Why did you become a researcher?

When I studied computer science, I started to program everything. It is a great feeling to manage to write for the first time the prototype of a mobile phone app; and so it is to create your first website.. I always wanted to find new things to challenge myself with. But it is rare to have a job that gives you new challenges over and over again. 

In theoretical research I saw that there will never be a shortage of difficult problems. No matter how good you are, there is a problem so difficult that it will push your limits. When I start working on a problem, I never know how the solution might look like. I always have to come up with something new. And when you finally solve this difficult problem you have worked on for many months, it is an amazing feeling. I think that most researchers including myself chase this feeling even more than the glory that comes with solving the problem.

What other career dreams did you have?

The careers I planned for myself have varied a lot over the years. As a child I saw myself as a future LEGO designer, later as a video game developer. I became more serious when I finished my bachelor's degree in computer science. At the time, I interned at some big tech companies in Silicon Valley, which was very fascinating: lots of programming, vibrant office culture, and weekend trips to try surfing, skiing, or to go to concerts in Los Angeles.

For a while I thought that I would start a fulltime job in a tech company in the US, but I decided to first do a master's degree back in Germany and then also stayed for a PhD. It was exciting to go abroad and to see how far some programming skills can take you, but I don't think that this feeling would have persisted. The academic career is different in many ways but very fulfilling as well. Ultimately, I feel that Europe is my home and I never regretted staying here.

Which question would you like to find the answer to?

There is a famous list of ten open questions in the theory of machine scheduling by Petra Schuurman and Gerhard Woeginger. Of course, I would enjoy very much to settle every single one of them.

However, in recent years, I also think more and more in connections between problems and fields. It could happen for example that one researcher thinks about machine scheduling, the other about graph algorithms and they both encounter the same problems without noticing the connection. Making such connections helps us transfer knowledge, but also to identify what are the most important insights of science, which sometimes disguise themselves in many different ways. Unlike the list of scheduling questions, making such connections is not a concrete question one can answer, but nevertheless a constant theme in my research.

How do you hope that others can benefit from your research?

There was a time when computer programs were simple enough that with solid expertise you could understand what they do and why they behave the way they behave. What we see nowadays sometimes feels a bit magical. Artificial intelligence draws pictures that leave us stunned or it talks to us in a way indistinguishable from human communication. Sometimes technology moves faster than our understanding of it.

I work on theoretical foundations of algorithms. Based on mathematical models I analyze algorithms or develop new ones. I am convinced that having a theory for the algorithms we are all exposed to is more important than ever. Theory is rigorous and can therefore make algorithms safer. It also gives us a deeper understanding of algorithms, which is the foundation for developing practical algorithms. Although this is a long path involving many other researchers as well, I hope that my research ultimately improves the algorithms that affect everybody's lives.

What do you have in your office that most other people don’t?

I have at least four coffee cups and a French press as a backup in case the shared coffee machine might not work one day. I also have framed pictures of my two dogs on the desk of course.

Who do you admire?

There are many giants in my research field that I admire. I was fortunate to work with great researchers in the past and present. Among them are Ola Svensson and Fritz Eisenbrand, who are professors at EPFL where I had a PostDoc position from 2019 to 2021. Their input still influences my work.

There are also exceptional people contributing to the university's atmosphere by doing great teaching, fascilitating research exchange, or mentoring students, which may not be as visible internationally, but is equally important to research papers.

What do you do when you are not researching?

I'm married and I have two dogs. I spend a lot of time in nature, going for very long walks with the dogs. I like to cook and to eat good food as well. I try to master different cuisines, from Indian over Thai to Mexican - as long as it involves spices. It's not unusual that I spend several hours preparing a dinner.