What are the core competencies of a research leader? Interview with Prof. Marcin Grzegorzek from the University of Lübeck (Germany)

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As part of our work at the Interdisciplinary Center for Human Resources Development at the end of 2021, we conducted the first in a series of interviews on the topic of competencies in university management and the broader science sector. Our first guest was Prof. Dr.-Ing. habil. Marcin Grzegorzek, who is an active leader of research groups and projects at the University of Lübeck.

Prof. Dr.-Ing. habil. Marcin Grzegorzek answered our questions related to the development of research competence and the competence of a research project leader based on his experience working with international research teams at the University of Siegen and the University of Luebeck.

In his work, he emphasizes the involvement of graduate students in scientific work, and supports his doctoral students in developing their research competencies at foreign universities in the framework of so-called post-docs. Prof. Dr.-Ing. habil. Marcin Grzegorzek emphasized that the potential in the creation of research projects and their results come directly from cooperation in a research team and the social competence of the members of this team.

He argued that every leader of a research team should enable the all-round development of his subordinates, work with them on a partnership basis based on trust and good communication. He gives examples of how he takes such initiatives in his research teams and shares good practices in this regard.

The interview with Prof. Dr.-Ing. habil. Marcin Grzegorzek can be seen on our YT channel:

Information about the research activities of our interviewee:

Prof. Dr.-Ing. habil. Marcin Grzegorzek has established a laboratory at the University of Luebeck called the APPS Lab (Assessment of Physical and Psychological Signals), where he and his dozens of collaborators conduct interdisciplinary research in pattern recognition and machine learning, based on sensors and signals from the human body. Meanwhile, the Medical Data Science Team, headed by Prof. Dr.-Ing. habil. Marcin Grzegorzek, also analyzes human behavior from multiple perspectives: the physical, cognitive, emotional and social state of the human being. By integrating them, this is done within a coherent module for holistic monitoring of human activity. The purpose of the system is both to automatically recognize patterns in human behavior in real time and to cumulatively evaluate them based on a longer period of observation.

Prof. Dr.-Ing. habil. Marcin Grzegorzek has published more than 150 scientific articles in the field of data analysis by pattern recognition methods, directed 9 scientific research projects selected for funding in domestic and foreign competitions, was the main promoter in 7 completed doctoral dissertations, delivered 4 keynote lectures at conferences (keynotes) and more than 40 other scientific lectures at the invitation of scientific institutions. Prof. Marcin Grzegorzek is active in scientific bodies, e.g. as Associate Editor in Chief of the journal Pattern Recognition (Elsevier) and performing reviews for more than 10 other journals. With his international employment history, Prof. Marcin Grzegorzek skillfully integrates international scientists into his team.