Björn Rüffer Appointed Professor of Applied Mathematics
Since February 2022, Prof. Dr. Björn Rüffer has held the Professorship of Applied Mathematics at the Bauhaus-Universität Weimar. After having worked in Germany, Great Britain and Australia, the doctor in mathematics succeeds senior professor Klaus Gürlebeck. The professorship is based in the Faculties of Civil Engineering and Media and is instrumental in the basic education of Weimar’s engineering and computer science programmes.
»I am delighted to take on the Professorship of Applied Mathematics at the renowned Bauhaus-Universität Weimar and to contribute my expertise to research and teaching«, states Prof. Rüffer. After completing studies in mathematics with stints in electrical engineering and computer science in Bremen and Warwick (UK), Björn Rüffer completed his doctorate in applied mathematics at the University of Bremen in 2007. This was then followed by four years of academic work at the Universities of Newcastle and Melbourne (Australia) and another four years as a post-doc in engineering sciences in Paderborn as a deputy professor (W3) in the Mathematics Department with a focus on »Dynamic Systems« in Passau. The Bremen native returned to Australia in 2015, where he worked as a lecturer in mathematics at the University of Newcastle and was recognised with, among other prizes, the »Teaching Excellence Award«. He then accepted the appointment in Weimar.
Intersection Between Mathematics and Engineering
»The ten years I spent in Australia were incredibly formative for both my academic career and my private life«, says Rüffer. »The Australian post-secondary education system is less hierarchical, which has made me appreciate collegial interaction were everyone is on equal footing. The Bauhaus-Universität Weimar’s intimate atmosphere immediately appealed to me.« Positioned at the interface between the Faculties of Civil Engineering and Media, he hopes to get students excited about mathematical applications and to engage those students by using practical examples. »I believe maths can actually be a lot of fun if you are willing to embrace it. A lot of technological developments, such as Google’s search algorithm or autonomous driving, are based on mathematics. I try to motive students by relating teaching content to familiar examples. I also highly value student feedback, as it helps me to constantly improve my teaching.«
Research Focus on Mathematical Systems Theory
Prof. Björn Rüffer’s research focusses on mathematical systems theory, meaning that he develops methodological and algorithmic foundations for regulating dynamic systems, such as those used in traffic or logistics, in such a way that they can run in a stable way and the processes are optimally coordinated.
»I am especially interested in how to achieve and maintain stability in applications where several systems are connected and influence one another.« One example, he says, is »Industry 4.0«, whereby industrial production is closely interconnected and networked with modern information and communication technology, all the way to autonomous production. »Just as the case is with intelligent building materials of the future, mathematical optimisation also has the potential for developing proven guarantees of stability or solidifying network processes, and consequently many exciting interconnections in the Faculty of Civil Engineering«, explains the Professor of Applied Mathematics.
Contact
Prof. Dr. rer. nat. Björn Rüffer
Bauhaus-Universität Weimar
Faculty of Civil Engineering
Professorship of Applied Mathematics
Phone: +49 (0) 36 43/58 42 76
E-mail: bjoern.rueffer[at]uni-weimar.de