Research groupExplanation-awarecomputing systems

Prof. Dr. Thomas Roth-BerghoferSchool of Computing and Technology

Greenwich, UK, 12 September 2011

Career reflections: Chance, opportunities, people

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DC@ICCBR 2011 — University of Greenwich — 2011-09-12Explanation-aware Computing Systems Group University of West LondonSlide

Prof. Thomas Roth-BerghoferSchool of Computing and Technology, University of West London, UK

Studied computer science at University of KaiserslauternWorked in software industry at empolis GmbH, a University spin-off,

as software developer, consultant, and quality manager for the Case-Based Reasoning tool orenge (1997–2002)

In parallel: PhD at the University of Kaiserslautern„Knowledge Maintenance of Case-Based Reasoning Systems“

Returned to academia in 2002:Technical Director of award-winning EU project MedCIRCLE (Research Unit Cybermedicine & eHealth, University of Heidelberg) and Researcher (Knowledge Management Department, DFKI)

2003–2011: Senior Researcher (DFKI) and Lecturer (U. of Kaiserslautern)2010–2011: Visiting Professor at University of Hildesheim

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Montag, 12. September 11

DC@ICCBR 2011 — University of Greenwich — 2011-09-12Explanation-aware Computing Systems Group University of West LondonSlide

My motivation: curiosity

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“To boldly go where no man has gone before!”

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“I hold an A-7 computer expert classification, Commodore.”

Ep. “The ultimate computer”

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DC@ICCBR 2011 — University of Greenwich — 2011-09-12Explanation-aware Computing Systems Group University of West LondonSlide

School and university

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Leibniz-Gymnasium

Montag, 12. September 11

DC@ICCBR 2011 — University of Greenwich — 2011-09-12Explanation-aware Computing Systems Group University of West LondonSlide

Chances and opportunities

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School just had become test school for computer science.

Artificial Intelligence was taught in introductory CS class — just once.Student jobs in various research projects helped pay studies.

Shareholder of small software company and programmer there➔ Dead end

Leibniz-Gymnasium

Computer Arts and Technologies Software GmbH

Montag, 12. September 11

DC@ICCBR 2011 — University of Greenwich — 2011-09-12Explanation-aware Computing Systems Group University of West LondonSlide

Career questions

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What are the options? IndustryResearch institutes such as the German Research Center for AI, Fraunhofer or Max Planck InstitutesUniversity

What are the general rules of the game?

What are the requirements to get a PhD?

Montag, 12. September 11

DC@ICCBR 2011 — University of Greenwich — 2011-09-12Explanation-aware Computing Systems Group University of West LondonSlide

Software industry & EU research at empolis GmbH

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DC@ICCBR 2011 — University of Greenwich — 2011-09-12Explanation-aware Computing Systems Group University of West LondonSlide

Chances and opportunities

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Stefan Wess: “You can do a PhD at tecInno. We make that happen.”

Ralph Traphöner: Introduction to EU-funded projects and research

Mehmet Göker: “… and this is how research is actually done.”

Montag, 12. September 11

DC@ICCBR 2011 — University of Greenwich — 2011-09-12Explanation-aware Computing Systems Group University of West LondonSlide

Career questions

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How can I do research at a software company?

What are interesting topics to research that are also of use to a software company?

What are requirements for the time after my PhD?

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DC@ICCBR 2011 — University of Greenwich — 2011-09-12Explanation-aware Computing Systems Group University of West LondonSlide

Research at University Hospital Heidelberg & German Research Center for Artificial Intelligence DFKI GmbH

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DC@ICCBR 2011 — University of Greenwich — 2011-09-12Explanation-aware Computing Systems Group University of West LondonSlide

Chances and opportunities

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Andreas Dengel: “We need to rebuild my university research group.”➔ Teaching experience, supervision of PhD students, proposal writing, conference/workshop organisation, etc.

Agnar Aamodt:“Would you like to serve on a PhD committee at NTNU?”➔ Reviewing experience

Klaus-Dieter Althoff:“How about being a visiting professor for semester or two in Hildesheim?”➔ Committee work, experience with university processes, independent teaching, etc.

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DC@ICCBR 2011 — University of Greenwich — 2011-09-12Explanation-aware Computing Systems Group University of West LondonSlide

My “experience portfolio”

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Senior researcherGerman Research Center for Artificial Intelligence (DFKI) GmbH

Senior researcherGerman Research Center for Artificial Intelligence (DFKI) GmbH

Visiting ProfessorUniversity of HildesheimLecturer at University of Kaiserslautern

industry

Software engineer, Consultant, Manager Quality and Support empolis GmbH (now: Attensity)

research

academiaProfessor in Computingsince September 2011:

Montag, 12. September 11

DC@ICCBR 2011 — University of Greenwich — 2011-09-12Explanation-aware Computing Systems Group University of West LondonSlide

Voyage home messages

Academic career is not set in stone.Know about your own capabilities, your options, and your personal goals!Keep your eyes open and create your own opportunities!Don’t despair on the way: There is enough time for each step, but you need to have a long time goal.

Boldly go where no one has gone before!

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Montag, 12. September 11

Research groupExplanation-awarecomputing systems

Prof. Dr. Thomas Roth-BerghoferSchool of Computing and Technology

Greenwich, UK, 12 September 2011

Career reflections: Chance, opportunities, people

Montag, 12. September 11