Congratulations on your new position! What will your new role involve, and what are you most looking forward to?
I’ll be joining the University of Luxembourg as a full professor in AI and cybersecurity, based at the Interdisciplinary Centre for Security, Reliability and Trust (SnT). I'll be building up an international research lab focused on AI and cybersecurity. I'm particularly looking forward to shaping research in these areas at the new site. I think it's a big challenge to foster talent there and build up the site to face future challenges in AI and cybersecurity.
What made you decide that now was the right time to take this next step in your career?
I spent seven years at the Max Planck Institute, followed by seven years here at CISPA. Both have been great experiences. After all this time, I felt ready for a new challenge and an opportunity to take the next step in my career. I wanted to further expand my research and explore new possibilities, and this position seemed like the right opportunity to do that.
Looking back on your time at CISPA, what stands out to you the most?
CISPA is truly an amazing place. One of the things that stands out most is the exceptional colleagues I’ve had the pleasure of working with. Whenever I had an idea that went beyond my group’s immediate research focus, there was always an expert I could turn to. Being able to exchange ideas, discuss different perspectives, and develop new projects together is a unique strength of CISPA.
Another important aspect has been the tremendous institutional support I’ve received. Over the years, I’ve been involved in several major research grants, including a large European research network. The support from the grants team, in particular, has been outstanding. I genuinely believe I couldn’t have achieved everything I did without that support.
How has your research evolved during your time at CISPA?
First of all, it needs to be recognized that I was given a lot of trust. I came from a background in perception and computer vision and was moving towards privacy. At that point, I was offered the opportunity to further expand my research into security and privacy. I think it was also a pivotal time, when AI and machine learning were becoming widely deployed and many of the associated security and cybersecurity risks were just emerging. So I think it was the right time to really focus on and look more deeply into the safety and security aspects of AI and machine learning.
Is there a particular project or moment you’re especially proud of?
There are many projects I’m proud to have advanced during my time here. But one of the most rewarding aspects has been mentoring students and watching them develop their careers, whether they’ve gone on to faculty positions or pursued opportunities in industry.
One particularly significant achievement has been ELSA, the European Lighthouse on Secure and Safe AI. The project received around €10 million in EU funding, and I’ve been coordinating it for four years. I believe ELSA has helped put CISPA firmly on the European map for AI safety and security. We’ve built a network that has grown to more than 40 partners across Europe. I think that’s a substantial achievement, and one that has made a lasting contribution to the European research landscape.
If someone asked you what it’s like to do research at CISPA, what would you tell them?
I would tell them that CISPA is an exceptional place to do research. There’s a great deal of trust in researchers and their ability to pursue ambitious, cutting-edge ideas. I think that trust has really paid off.
As an institution, CISPA has done a remarkable job of pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in research. At the same time, it plays an important role in raising awareness among the public and industry about emerging challenges and developing solutions to address them. Making AI safer and more secure is one example of that.
Is there anything from your time at CISPA, professionally or personally, that you’ll take with you to Luxembourg?
One of the most important lessons I’ll take with me is the value of trust. I’ve seen how much people can achieve when they’re trusted and given the right conditions to succeed.
CISPA has created an environment where excellent research can thrive, and that, in turn, attracts outstanding researchers. I believe creating these conditions is essential for conducting cutting-edge research at an internationally competitive level.
That’s something I want to carry forward to Luxembourg. As I build my new research group, I want to create an environment that gives people the freedom, trust, and support they need to do excellent research.
Although you’re leaving CISPA, many of the research questions you’ve explored here will remain relevant. Where do you see opportunities for future collaboration?
From my perspective, Luxembourg is just around the corner. I believe the University of Luxembourg could be an excellent strategic partner for CISPA, and I’ll do my best to strengthen that connection and develop our relationship over the coming years.
There are also several projects we’ve recently launched at CISPA that I’d like to continue working on. These could provide another bridge between the two institutions and help us further strengthen research in AI and cybersecurity.
