Holger Hermanns

Holger Hermanns is a Professor of Computer Science at Saarland University in Germany, where he heads the Dependable Systems and Software group. He also serves as Scientific Director of Schloss Dagstuhl - Leibniz Zentrum für Informatik. His academic journey includes previous positions at Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Universiteit Twente in the Netherlands, and INRIA Grenoble Rhône-Alpes in France. He has served as Dean of the Faculty of Mathematics and Computer Science at Saarland University from 2010-2012 and as Dean of Studies from 2004-2006.

Holger Hermanns' research focuses on modeling and verification of concurrent systems, resource-aware embedded systems, compositional performance and dependability evaluation, and their applications to energy and space informatics. He is an outspoken proponent of proactive algorithmic accountability. His work bridges formal methods with practical applications in critical systems, particularly in the domains of cyber-physical systems and satellite networks.

His recent publications reveal a strong emphasis on human oversight of AI systems, software doping detection, satellite network protocols, and explainable AI. There's a clear trend toward addressing practical challenges in dependable computing, with increasing focus on the societal implications of algorithmic decision-making and the environmental impact of computing systems.

Holger Hermanns has received numerous prestigious awards and recognitions:

• ERC Advanced Grant POWVER
• ERC Proof-of-Concept Grant LEOpowver
• Member of Academia Europaea (elected 2013)
• German "Preis des Fakultätentages Informatik" award (2013)
• Dutch "Vernieuwingsimpuls" award (2001)
• ERC Advanced Grantee
• Co-spokesperson of the Center for Perspicuous Computing, SFB TRR 248

As Scientific Director of Schloss Dagstuhl - Leibniz Zentrum für Informatik, Hermanns plays a crucial role in fostering international collaboration in computer science research. His leadership extends to various program committees and steering committees of major conferences in formal methods and theoretical computer science, including TACAS (steering committee since 2015), LICS (steering committee 2020-2023), and ICALP (steering committee 2020-2022). He has served as conference chair for LICS and ICALP in 2020. His research group at Saarland University focuses on dependable systems and software, with strong connections to both theoretical foundations and practical applications.