Interview with Oliver Brock, Alexander von Humboldt Professor at the TU Berlin
Oliver Brock wants to establish a research programme in the fields of robotics
and computionl biology at the TU Berlin. © Humboldt Foundation???aural:Bildende???
Federal Minister of Education and Research, Prof. Dr. Annette Schavan, and Prof. Dr. Helmut Schwarz, President of the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation, conferred the first eight Alexander von Humboldt Professorships on the award winners at a ceremony held in Berlin in May. At 5 million euros, this prize is the most valuable international award to be presented for research in Germany. The programme is financed by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) and is bestowed by the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation. Alexander von Humboldt Professorships are awarded to leading academics from all disciplines who work abroad. The award aims to allow outstanding academics, Humboldt Professors, to conduct long-term research at German universities. The prize is used to finance the first five years in Germany.
Prof. Brock, what was the key factor in your decision to return to Germany?
I had always wanted to return to Germany, eventually. The offer to join the TU Berlin, my alma mater, was itself very tempting. So, the Alexander von Humboldt Professorship made this into an even better option. It provides the financial means to create a unique environment for my team’s research activities. Coming home to such an outstanding opportunity was more than I could have asked for.
What distinguishes the Alexander von Humboldt Professorship from other renowned research prizes?
First of all, Alexander von Humboldt Professorships are very well funded, of course. This award provides the opportunity to pursue cutting-edge research under the very best conditions. But I believe the programme’s goals are broader than just support for a single research group. It also aims to import new ideas into the German academic environment. Both these aspects are very attractive to me.
You have already worked at many different institutions. How have the various working methods influenced your research?
People are most important in research. That’s why a research institution should aim to recruit the best people and support them as well as possible. This might seem obvious, but institutions differ greatly in how much they invest in attracting and keeping the best researchers.
What would you like to create or achieve in Germany with the Alexander von Humboldt Professorship?
I would like to establish an excellent research programme in the areas of robotics and computational biology. Beyond that, I hope to contribute some of the experience I gained during my time abroad to German academia.
More information on the Alexander von Humboldt Professorship:
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