Sebastian Proksch discovered his passion for software at an early age. As a teenager, he developed his first websites and discovered how programming could turn ideas into working applications. This fascination with the creative possibilities of computers gave rise to an academic interest in a central challenge of computer science: how can the complexity of large software systems be managed?
Today, Proksch’s research focuses in particular on collaborative software development and the reuse of software components. He is particularly struck by the importance of open-source software for the digital world. Many projects are maintained by relatively small teams of developers, yet they form the basis for large parts of the internet and modern IT infrastructures. The fact that software developed by just a few people is used on such an enormous scale worldwide continues to fascinate him to this day.
A key focus of his current research is on how dependencies between software components can be modelled more effectively. Reusing existing software reduces development effort and accelerates innovation. At the same time, new challenges arise: components in use must be continuously maintained and updated to avoid security risks. Time and again, security incidents demonstrate the consequences that outdated or vulnerable software components can have. Proksch is therefore developing methods and tools designed to simplify updates and improve the maintainability and security of software systems. In this way, his research contributes to a reliable digital infrastructure.
In addition to traditional issues in software engineering, Proksch focuses intensively on the potential of artificial intelligence in software development. He regards advances in language models and agentic systems as a major opportunity to significantly boost the productivity of experts. At the same time, he advocates a thoughtful approach to using these new tools. After all, only those who have a firm grasp of the technical fundamentals can properly contextualise and critically evaluate the results produced by AI systems. As Proksch emphasises, “AI does not replace expertise; it enhances it”. That is why it is particularly important for students to take the time to master the fundamentals and understand the underlying principles behind the technology.
Before joining the University of Bayreuth, Christoph Proksch was an Assistant Professor at Delft University of Technology from 2020, holding a permanent position from 2023. Other positions took him to the University of Zurich and TU Darmstadt, where he completed his doctoral degree and had previously studied computer science. A native of Hesse, he is married and has two children. In his spare time, he enjoys cooking, adding to his film collection and listening to rock and heavy metal music.
