“When we develop software this should be of a top quality. But it is precisely this that is the most difficult aspect. Regardless of whether we are using our smart phones, cars of even just the television, we encounter deficiencies or errors“, is the diagnosis of the Humboldt scholarship holder Dr. Daniel Graziotin. That is why the Italian engineering scientist wishes to ensure that software specialists have the maximum of quality information at their disposal while they are developing.
Successful networking
Daniel Graziotin met the managing director of the Institute for Software Technology at the University of Stuttgart, Professor Stefan Wagner, four years ago at a conference in Cyprus. Professor Wagner offered him a post shortly before completing his PhD. The scientist also received a commitment for a scholarship from the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation. He will now be able to research in Stuttgart for two years without any worries.
Behavior-based software engineering
Software engineering, human-computer-interaction and psychology are his playing fields. “I am searching for the science behind developing.“ His research field is relatively new, the approach multi-disciplinary. In the meantime Daniel Graziotin no longer develops software programs himself. It is rather the case that the 30-year old does basic research on what can be done to organize the working conditions for developers as ideally as possible.
Human factor
Daniel Graziotin is convinced that the working conditions of software engineers are very important. “They are intellectuals who design models in their heads and then convert this information by developing a program." Ideally the cognitive-empiric surveys by the Italian will lead to companies like Bosch or Daimler having a program running in the background while the software developers can pursue their work. This program supports the developer during the entire development process emotionally as well as in terms of content in order to enable him or her to perform in ideal working conditions.
Publishing tirelessly
As a Humboldt scholarship holder, he wouldn’t really need to give lectures but he does so anyway: “It is useful for my later habilitation and apart from this the institute can make good use of my teaching work here.“ “Of course the foundation expects the scholarship holder to do research work and to present his or her research at conferences or publish them in scientific publications. But we are given a free hand and great trust is placed in us”, said Daniel Graziotin, who has produced many publications over the years. “I would like to make my relatively new research field public”, is how the restless postgraduate described it.
Successful and at home in Stuttgart
“Part of me is German, even if my knowledge of German is poor“, laughed Daniel Graziotin, the man from the Free University of Bozen-Bolzano in South Tyrol. Up to now everything is going according to plan in his life, professionally as well as in his private life. After obtaining his doctoral degree in January 2016 he got married one month later. “Then we looked for and found an apartment in Stuttgart and then I started working at the Institute in May. My wife found a job in October”, is how the satisfied Italian summarized the situation. His next goal: in four to five years, Daniel Graziotin wants to have qualified as a university lecturer.
“We feel at home here, the people are friendly. Stuttgart is not huge but far larger than Bozen and more modern.“ The important thing is that you can really speak German here. “Not a problem for my absolutely bilingual wife and not for me, but I still have a lot to catch up on.“
Stefan Wagner
Prof. Dr.Executive Director