Stefan Kurz first Professor of Practice
Stefan Kurz has been appointed the first Professor of Practice in the Department. He is VP Senior Chief Expert for Hybrid Modelling at the Bosch Center for Artificial Intelligence and also Docent for Electromagnetism and Mathematical Modelling at the University of Jyväskylä, Finland. In this interview, he talks about his role as a bridge-builder between academia and industry.
The title "Professor of Practice" was introduced by the ETH Executive Board on 1 January 2023. It is awarded to selected business leaders who have proven expertise and a broad range of experience that contributes to the expansion of practice-oriented study programmes and promotes the transfer of knowledge between science and industry.
Professor Kurz, you are the first person to be awarded this title by the Department of Mathematics, and took up your position on 1 February 2024. You are affiliated to the Seminar for Applied Mathematics with Professor Ralf Hiptmair as your mentor. What areas will you be working in?
As a Professor of Practice, my primary focus is to bridge the gap between theoretical knowledge and practical application. This role enables me to share my industry experience with students through specialised courses and project supervision, particularly in the fundamentals of computational electromagnetics and the innovative field of hybrid modelling. Hybrid modelling synergises physics-based and data-driven modelling techniques to solve complex problems.
My duties encompass the teaching of the course “Advanced Numerical Methods for Computational Science and Engineering”, with an emphasis on the Boundary Element Method (BEM), hierarchical matrices and, naturally, hybrid modelling.
Collaboration is key in my role; I'm looking forward to joint research endeavours and student projects with fellow faculty members. And – of course – I am very much looking forward to working with the students.
“Collaboration is key in my role; I'm looking forward to joint research endeavours and student projects with fellow faculty members.”Stefan Kurz
Your role at the Seminar for Applied Mathematics occupies only twenty per cent of your time. The rest of the time you work in private industry. Can you give us an insight into these activities?
The position at ETH Zurich complements my primary role at Robert Bosch GmbH in Germany, where I serve as VP Senior Chief Expert for Hybrid Modelling at the Bosch Center for Artificial Intelligence (BCAI). This dual role allows me to dedicate twenty per cent of my time to academia as a Professor of Practice, while continuing my work in the industry.
Besides hybrid modelling, my research is concerned with mathematical methods for computational electromagnetics – a field in which I was able to make several innovative contributions to both science and industry during my previous career.
My academic path has also led me to the University of Jyväskylä in Finland as Docent for Electromagnetism and Mathematical Modelling. Prior positions include roles at the Technische Universität Darmstadt, Germany, and the Tampere University of Technology in Finland, where I was the Finland Distinguished Professor for Advanced Electromagnetic Modelling and Simulation for Engineering.
“This dual role allows me to dedicate twenty per cent of my time to academia as a Professor of Practice, while continuing my work in the industry.”Stefan Kurz
In addition to your work as a professor and industry expert, your interest in maths also plays a role in your private life where you combine it with music. What kind of music do you enjoy?
Music, particularly playing the organ in church, is a passion of mine, with Johann Sebastian Bach's compositions holding a special place in my heart. I firmly believe in the profound connection between music and mathematics, a theme explored in the renowned book “Gödel, Escher, Bach”. Additionally, I find running to be an excellent way to recharge and find balance.