A warm welcome

Prof Kochdumper studied mechanical engineering at the Technical University of Munich and deepened his knowledge in the master's programme "Robotics, Cognition, Intelligence" at the same university. He then completed his doctorate in the field of "Formal Verification" in the research group of Prof Matthias Althoff. There he worked intensively on methods for safeguarding systems at the Chair of Robotics, Artificial Intelligence and Real-Time Systems.

After completing his doctorate, he travelled to the USA and France to gain further scientific experience. He initially conducted research in the USA as a postdoc at Stony Brook University under the supervision of Prof Stanley Bak. He then worked at the renowned IRIF Institute at the Cite Université Paris in the group of Prof Eugene Asarin. These international stations shaped his research and also broadened his view of interdisciplinary collaboration in the field of robotics and formal verification.

From research to teaching - the path to THI

The junior professorship advertised at THI offered Prof Kochdumper a perfect combination of academic teaching and practical experience in industry. The opportunity to pass on his knowledge and at the same time actively participate in innovative projects is exactly what he wanted. He has been part of the university team since 1 March and brings his expertise to research and teaching with great enthusiasm.

Interactive teaching with practical relevance

In his teaching, Prof Niklas Kochdumper focuses on active and practice-orientated knowledge transfer. He specifically integrates interactive elements to actively involve students in the learning process. Small questions and maths problems in the lectures ensure direct engagement with the material and promote understanding.

It places particular emphasis on practical examples. He uses code demonstrations to show how theoretical concepts work in real-life applications. This enables students not only to understand abstract models, but also their practical implementation. He prefers to explain complex issues graphically rather than just using mathematical formulae. Visual representations help to make difficult concepts more tangible and facilitate understanding.

Diverse interests outside of science

In addition to his academic work, Prof Kochdumper is fascinated by cycling - one of his most memorable tours took him over the San Bernadino Pass in the Alps. Bouldering is also one of his passions, as it offers both physical and mental challenges. His favourite book, "Limit" by Frank Schätzing, combines science, technology and thriller elements in an exciting way - a mixture that particularly captivates him. Prof Kochdumper enriches the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering with his interactive and practical teaching style as well as his diverse experience from research and industry. A warm welcome!