Stefan Wagner

Prof. Dr. Stefan Wagner is a Full Professor of Software Engineering at the Technical University of Munich (TUM), where he leads the Chair of Software Engineering within the TUM School of Computation, Information and Technology. Based at the TUM Campus Heilbronn, Prof. Wagner joined TUM in 2024 after serving as Professor of Empirical Software Engineering at the University of Stuttgart since 2011. His research has significant practical relevance, often conducted in collaboration with industry partners, particularly in automotive and AI-based software domains.

Prof. Wagner's educational background spans multiple disciplines:

• Computer Science studies at Augsburg and Edinburgh
• Psychology studies at Hagen
• Doctorate in Computer Science from TUM (2007)

His primary research interests focus on software engineering with particular emphasis on software quality, human factors in development processes, AI-supported engineering methods, and empirical studies. Prof. Wagner's work bridges theoretical foundations with practical applications, especially in automotive software systems and AI-based domains. His interdisciplinary approach, combining computer science with psychology, enables unique insights into developer behavior and software quality assessment. The research conducted at his chair addresses critical challenges in modern software development, including quality assurance in complex systems and the integration of artificial intelligence into engineering processes.

Prof. Wagner's extensive publication record demonstrates evolving research trends from traditional software quality models toward increasingly sophisticated integration of AI and human factors in software development. His recent work shows a growing emphasis on empirical studies of developer behavior, AI-assisted programming, virtual reality applications in software engineering, and the psychological aspects of technical debt. The publications reveal a consistent focus on practical applicability while maintaining scientific rigor, with strong industry collaboration evident throughout his career.

Prof. Wagner has received numerous prestigious awards recognizing his contributions to software engineering:

• Class of IEEE Computer Society Distinguished Contributors (2022)
• Best Full Paper Award, ACM/IEEE International Symposium on Empirical Software Engineering and Measurement (2020)
• IEEE Computer Society TCSE Distinguished Paper Award, IEEE International Conference on Software Maintenance and Evolution (2019)
• Most Influential Paper Award, IEEE International Conference on Software Maintenance and Evolution (2017)
• Google Research Award (2009)

Prof. Wagner actively mentors students and researchers, with several PhD candidates and master's students working under his supervision. His research is supported by various grants, including industry collaborations and competitive research funding. He serves on multiple editorial boards including IEEE Software and Empirical Software Engineering, contributing significantly to the academic community. At TUM, he chairs the aptitude assessment committee for the M.Sc. Information Engineering program and serves on the scientific board for the TUM Global Postdoc Fellowship.

The Chair of Software Engineering at TUM Heilbronn maintains strong connections with industry partners, particularly in the automotive sector. The research group actively participates in multiple collaborative projects focusing on AI in software development, software quality assessment, and empirical studies of development practices. The team combines expertise in software engineering, psychology, and artificial intelligence to address complex challenges in modern software systems.