Jan Kurkofka

Dr. Jan Kurkofka is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Mathematics at Freiberg University of Mining and Technology. His research focuses on graph theory, particularly in areas such as Graph Minor Theory, Connectivity Theory, Topological Graph Theory, and Infinite Graph Theory. He actively contributes to the academic community through publications, conference presentations, and organizing the Research Seminar in Discrete Mathematics and Algebra.

Dr. Kurkofka completed his Master's thesis in 2017 with a grade of 1.0 on "On the tangle compactification of infinite graphs." He earned his Ph.D. in 2020 summa cum laude with the dissertation "Ends and tangles, stars and combs, minors and the Farey graph." In 2023, he completed his habilitation, further establishing his expertise in graph theory.

Dr. Kurkofka's research interests span Graph Minor Theory, Connectivity Theory, Topological Graph Theory, and Infinite Graph Theory. His work explores structural aspects of graphs, including explicit structure theorems for low connectivity, local-global invariants of graphs and groups, and the role of the Farey graph in infinite edge-connectivity. He has made significant contributions to understanding the connectivity properties of graphs and their applications across various mathematical fields.

His publication record demonstrates a strong focus on connectivity theory and graph minors. Dr. Kurkofka has published in prestigious journals including Mathematische Annalen, Journal of Combinatorial Theory, and Transactions of the American Mathematical Society. His work often involves collaborations with leading researchers in the field, such as Johannes Carmesin and Reinhard Diestel, reflecting the interdisciplinary nature of modern graph theory research.

Dr. Kurkofka has received research funding from the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG, German Research Foundation) under grants 566118291 and 546892829. He serves as an organizer for the Research Seminar in Discrete Mathematics and Algebra alongside Professors Johannes Carmesin and Friedrich Martin Schneider, fostering academic exchange in his field.

Dr. Kurkofka teaches courses including Algorithmic and Structural Graph Theory II and has been involved in various teaching activities across multiple semesters. He supervises Master's theses through his seminar on infinite graph theory, preparing students for advanced research in the field. His teaching spans from undergraduate to graduate levels, including specialized topics like Bass-Serre Theory and Graph Minors.