# Anja Feldmann

> German computer scientist and Director of the Max Planck Institute for Computer Science

**Wikidata**: [Q92913](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q92913)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anja_Feldmann)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/anja-feldmann

## Summary
Anja Feldmann is a prominent German computer scientist and a Director at the Max Planck Institute for Informatics. She is a leading expert in networking and Internet technologies, recognized for her pioneering work in traffic engineering, network measurements, and the data-driven analysis of operational networks.

## Biography
- **Born:** March 8, 1966, in Bielefeld, Germany
- **Nationality:** Germany
- **Education:** Dipl.-Inf. from the University of Paderborn (1990); Master of Science (1991) and Ph.D. (1995) from Carnegie Mellon University.
- **Known for:** Contributions to Internet traffic engineering, network measurements, and protocol analysis.
- **Employer(s):** Max Planck Institute for Informatics, Technische Universität Berlin, Technical University of Munich, Saarland University, Bell Labs, AT&T Labs, Telekom Innovation Laboratories.
- **Field(s):** Computer Science, Networking, Internet Technologies.

## Contributions
Anja Feldmann has made significant contributions to the field of computer networking by developing methodologies for the data-driven analysis of operational networks. Her research focuses on understanding how the Internet functions at scale, specifically through the study of traffic engineering and network measurements. 

Throughout her career, she has held influential roles in both industry and academia. In 2002, she was appointed as the first female professor of informatics at the Technical University of Munich. She has also served as a principal investigator at the Weizenbaum Institute and a Director at the Max Planck Institute for Informatics. Her work has provided critical insights into Internet protocols and the optimization of network traffic.

Feldmann has a extensive record of academic mentorship, having supervised numerous doctoral students at institutions such as the Technical University of Munich and the Technische Universität Berlin. Her research has been recognized with several of the highest honors in the field, including the 2024 IEEE Koji Kobayashi Computers and Communications Award for her contributions to Internet technologies and the 2023 Konrad Zuse Medal.

## FAQs
### Q: What is Anja Feldmann's primary area of research?
A: Her research focuses on computer networking and Internet technologies, with a specific emphasis on network measurements, traffic engineering, and the analysis of Internet protocols.

### Q: What are some of her most prestigious awards?
A: She has received the Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz Prize (2011), the Konrad Zuse Medal (2023), and the IEEE Koji Kobayashi Computers and Communications Award (2024). She was also named an ACM Fellow in 2023.

### Q: Which major institutions has she been affiliated with?
A: She is a Director at the Max Planck Institute for Informatics and has held professorships at the Technical University of Munich, TU Berlin, and Saarland University. Her industry experience includes work at Bell Labs and AT&T Labs.

## Why They Matter
Anja Feldmann is a central figure in the development of modern Internet measurement techniques. Her work transitioned the study of networking from theoretical models to the rigorous analysis of real-world, operational data. This shift has been vital for improving the reliability and efficiency of global Internet infrastructure.

As the first woman to hold a chair in informatics at the Technical University of Munich, Feldmann has been a significant trailblazer for women in German computer science. Her leadership within the Max Planck Society and her memberships in the Leopoldina and Academia Europaea position her as a key influencer in European scientific research. Her contributions ensure that as Internet traffic grows, the protocols and engineering strategies governing it remain robust and data-informed.

## Notable For
* **First Female Informatics Professor at TU Munich:** Appointed in 2002, marking a milestone for gender representation in German engineering.
* **Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz Prize (2011):** Received Germany's most prestigious research award for her work in networking.
* **Konrad Zuse Medal (2023):** Awarded for outstanding scientific contributions to the field of computer science.
* **ACM Fellow (2023):** Recognized for her contributions to the data-driven analysis of operational networks.
* **Director at Max Planck Institute:** Serves as a primary leader at the Max Planck Institute for Informatics.

## Body
### Academic Background and Education
Anja Feldmann pursued her early studies in computer science at the University of Paderborn from 1985 to 1990, earning a Dipl.-Inf. degree. She continued her education at Carnegie Mellon University in the United States, where she earned a Master of Science in 1991 and a Ph.D. in 1995. Her doctoral research was supervised by computer scientists Daniel Sleator and Bruce Maggs.

### Professional Career and Professorships
Feldmann's career includes several high-profile academic appointments in Germany:
* **Saarland University:** Appointed professor in 2000.
* **Technical University of Munich (TUM):** Appointed in 2002 as the university's first female professor of informatics.
* **Technische Universität Berlin:** Served as a professor and collaborated with Telekom Innovation Laboratories.
* **Max Planck Institute for Informatics:** Currently serves as a Director.

### Industry and Research Affiliations
Beyond academia, Feldmann has worked with leading global research organizations:
* **Bell Labs:** Affiliated with the research and scientific development company in Murray Hill, New Jersey.
* **AT&T Labs:** Conducted research in industrial telecommunications.
* **Weizenbaum Institute:** Serves as a principal investigator.

### Scientific Memberships and Honors
Feldmann is a member of several prestigious scientific academies:
* **German Academy of Sciences Leopoldina:** Member since July 15, 2009.
* **Academia Europaea:** Member since 2013 (Informatics section).
* **Berlin-Brandenburg Academy of Sciences and Humanities.**
* **German Academy of Science and Engineering (acatech).**

In addition to the Leibniz Prize and Zuse Medal, she received the Berlin Science Award in 2011 and the Schelling Price in 2018. Her 2024 IEEE Koji Kobayashi Award specifically cited her contributions to traffic engineering and Internet protocols.

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## References

1. Integrated Authority File
2. Mathematics Genealogy Project
3. [Internet-Spezialistin als erste Informatik-Ordinaria : Prof. Anja Feldmann an die TU München berufen. 2002](https://portal.mytum.de/pressestelle/pressemitteilungen/news-276)
4. [Informatikerin Anja Feldmann erhält internationale Auszeichnung für ihre Internet-Forschung. 2023](https://saarland-informatics-campus.de/piece-of-news/informatikerin-anja-feldmann-erhaelt-internationale-auszeichnung-fuer-ihre-internet-forschung/)
5. [Source](https://www.ieee.org/content/dam/ieee-org/ieee/web/org/about/awards/recipients/kobayashi-rl.pdf)
6. [Konrad-Zuse-Medaille für Saarbrücker Professorin Anja Feldmann. 2023](https://saarland-informatics-campus.de/piece-of-news/zuse-medaille-feldmann/)
7. [Konrad-Zuse-Medaille geht an Anja Feldmann. 2023](https://idw-online.de/de/news820518)
8. [Source](https://awards.acm.org/award-recipients/feldmann_3643361)
9. [Source](https://www.acm.org/media-center/2024/january/fellows-2023)
10. [Source](https://www.ae-info.org/ae/User/Feldmann_Anja)
11. [Source](https://www.weizenbaum-institut.de/portrait/p/anja-feldmann-phd)