Study at the University of Klagenfurt: We have a lot of nature nearby for leisure activities and most lecturers are very motivated in their work
Tobias Mitterer has just finished his PhD in in Technical Sciences, Information Technology. His research work focuses on automating and simplifying the addition of new sensors to a system, by using electronic descriptions of said sensors. We talked to him about his field of research the reasons why he decided to study at the University of Klagenfurt.
How do you explain to your neighbour at the garden fence what you are working on?
My work focuses on automating and simplifying the addition of new sensors to a system, by using electronic descriptions of said sensors.
What do you know now about your research question after your doctoral thesis that you didn’t know before?
I now have a deeper insight into sensor development from a scientific and industrial point of view.
Why did you decide to study at the University of Klagenfurt? Why did you choose Klagenfurt?
Because I had already finished my Bachelor and Master degree in Klagenfurt and I was interested in the offered PhD degree programme in sensors and actuators.
Are there still new things for you to experience at the university?
There are still follow-up topics to be researched and the developed methodology is still being further refined in ongoing research projects, one of which I am currently working on.
Has your view of the world changed as a result of your studies?
I now have a better insight into scientific work and the scientific community.
Why should one study here at the University of Klagenfurt?
Because we have a lot of nature nearby for leisure activities and most lecturers I had contact with are very motivated in their work.
What would be important advice for new students?
For new PhD students the advice would be to gather all important information regarding their dissertation activities in a first step and take the time to create a rough timetable for your work. And it is best to finish the mandatory courses early on in order to have more time to concentrate on writing your dissertation at the end.
Where do you see yourself in ten years?
Probably still working in research.
A few words with … Tobias Mitterer
What would you be doing now, if you hadn’t become a scientist?
I would probably be working in 3rd level IT support or as a programmer in C# or Java.
Do your parents understand what it is you are working on?
Yes, we have detailed discussions about it.
What’s the first thing you do when you get to the office in the morning?
Turning on the lights, as I am usually one of the first people in the office.
Apart from that, checking my e-mails and my plans for the day.
Do you have proper holidays? Without thinking about your work?
Yes and no. New ideas and inspiration can happen in any situation, but generally I stop thinking about work when on holiday.
What makes you furious?
Situations in which logic cannot be used to solve them.
And what calms you down?
Music and reading fiction.
Who do you regard as the greatest scientist in history, and why?
No-one in particular as each and every scientist contributes to the future of the human race.
What are you afraid of?
Aging and forgetting acquired knowledge
What are you looking forward to?
Some concerts in the near future, holidays in Iceland at the end of the year and the completion of my doctorate.
