I’m joining the SEALs (software evolution and architecture lab) in July and I’m going to work on a very interesting project I was asked for by the company Astina AG. This project is supported by the CTI (commision of technology and innovation) cause of its high potential use in different areas like tourism. The CTI is the national agency for innovation. The CTI supports the knowledge transfer between companies and universities to create innovation and not just inventions.

As mentioned already, I’ll start working on my doctoral thesis in July. The project is a cooperation between two chais. The main chair is the one from Prof. Gall at the SEAL and Dr. Reif, my mentor. They have huge knowledge in the semantic web domain, a key knowledge area for my phD thesis. The other chair is from Prof. Bernstein at the DDIS (dynamic and distributed information systems) that delivers huge knowledge and expertise in data mining, onthology and taxonomy.

Well, I’m extremly happy and proud having this chance to promovate even if I get payed less then in the industry. But money is not everything. I think I’ll retrieve more value from this work then from every other job from a personal view. I was offered lots of well payed jobs. But I had to reject them all because no one was that challenging. I’ve to say I was a bit disappointed about the industry. Experience seems to count a lot in comparision to knowledge. I know that students mostly don’t have experience, but they have a huge theoretical background, are extremly creative and motivated and are used to work a lot. I know lot of examples that student result were even better then results made my experienced workers cause of those reasons.

I’m sure that you’ll get in touch with my phD thesis in the very near future because it’s going to be implemented by Astina. I’m looking forward to it and can’t wait to start this great work.