From October 2002 until July 2006 I studied computer science at the University of Würzburg. My studies were focused on artificial intelligence, knowledge-based systems, bioinformatics, genetics, database systems, and robotics. Before and during my time in Würzburg I have done some research in the area of medical consultation systems.

Since September 2006 I am researching at DFKI in Kaiserslautern. I am currently working on my PhD thesis in the area of personalized information retrieval. The aim is to use attention data of the user in order to improve the quality of the retrieval process, especially concerning desktop and web search. Attention data will be obtained by user observation techniques, e.g., by applying state-of-the-art eye tracking (more information).

My current research is embedded in a larger project called MyMory, which aims at creating a personal memory for knowledge workers.

During the summer of 2008 I did an internship at Microsoft Research (Adaptive Systems and Interaction group), Redmond, USA, working together with Ed Cutrell and Merrie Morris.

During the summer of 2009 I did an internship at Microsoft Research again, working together with Susan Dumais and Ed Cutrell.

Understanding the user
Logging and interpreting user interactions in information search and retrieval