Marc Langheinrich

Marc Langheinrich is a Full Professor for Computer Science at the Università della Svizzera italiana (USI) in Lugano, Switzerland, where he co-leads the People-Centered Computing Lab together with Prof. Silvia Santini. Marc received a masters degree (Diplom) in Computer Science from the University of Bielefeld, Germany, in 1997, and his PhD (Dr. sc.) from the ETH Zürich, Switzerland, in 2005. Starting in the fall of 1995, he spent a year as a Fulbright Scholar at the University of Washington, where he also completed his thesis work in the fields of information retrieval and software agents. In the fall of 1997 he joined NEC Research in Japan, where he worked on projects involving personalization and electronic commerce. From October 1999 to August 2008 he was a researcher at the Institute for Pervasive Computing at ETH Zürich, and he joined USI in September 2008.

Research interests

Marc’s main research interest lies at the intersection of privacy and ubiquitous computing. In a world full of invisible sensory systems, comprehensive digital dossiers could be easily and inconspicuously collected. This poses several challenges to the design of ubiquitous systems: Which communication protocols ensure adequate levels of privacy protection? How can user interfaces be structured to give people control over their personal information? And how feasible is comprehensive protection in a world of countless “smart” devices?

Professional service

• Editor-in-Chief (2018-2023), IEEE Pervasive Computing
• Editor, Dagstuhl Open Access Series in Informatics (OASIcs)
• Director, Master in Management and Informatics, USI Lugano
• Director, Master in Financial Technology and Computing, USI Lugano
• Member, Equal Opportunities Committee, USI Lugano