Curriculum Vitae | Sebastian Denef

Experience

10/2006–

Research Fellow, Fraunhofer Institute for Applied IT (FIT), St. Augustin, Germany

Fraunhofer is Europe’s largest application-oriented research organization and ranks among the top 25 research centers worldwide. My work in the field of human factors in computing systems focuses on methods for technology design in complex social configurations. My tasks comprise the acquisition of research funds, the management of interdisciplinary teams in concerted, international studies, hands-on fieldwork, consultancy and training as well as the dissemination of research results in scientific and public media. At Fraunhofer Academy I additionally teach business professionals in usability engineering and user experience design.

01/1999–

Founder, denef.design

In my independent ICT consultancy and design business, I currently consult iconmobile group on their enterprise resource planning (ERP) system. Previously, I have worked for a diverse set of companies such as Merck’s VWR International, Lufthansa Flight Training, and Tiffany & Co.

11/2005–09/2006

Project Manager, iconmobile group, Berlin, Germany

iconmobile is an international design firm and technology provider for mobile applications with clients such as T-Mobile, Nokia and BBC. I led an interdisciplinary team newly set up to drive innovations at iconmobile group. I also led the development of iconmobile’s ERP system.

08/2004–04/2005

Volunteer, Ghana New Ventures Competition, Accra, Ghana

I worked remotely and on-site in Accra (02/2005–03/2005) to support the organization’s efforts in promoting entrepreneurship in Ghana.

09/2003–02/2004

Intern, San Francisco Bicycle Coalition, CA, USA

In close collaboration with the COO, I designed, implemented and introduced the current content management system and membership database of San Francisco’s most vibrant NGO that has grown by 400% since 2003 to 12,000 members today.

08/2000–06/2001

Alternative National Service, Holistic Hospital Lahnstein, Germany

I supported nursing staff in the first six months. Promoted as an assistant to the CEO, I was later responsible for online communications and supported the introduction of an hospital information system.

Education

12/2011

Delft University of Technology, the Netherlands

As an external doctoral candidate in the interdisciplinary studio lab of the industrial design engineering faculty, I have developed and applied user-centered technology design methods for organizational transformations that are sensitive to social complexity. In my thesis, I propose pattern language of human practice to inform the design of ubiquitous computing. I applied the concept to the work of frontline firefighters, a domain that is characterized by its long-rooted practice and lack of IT support.

Supervision: Prof. Dr. D. V. Keyson, Prof. Dr. R. Oppermann

Degree: Doctor (Ph.D.)

10/2001–10/2005

University of Applied Sciences, Darmstadt, Germany

The interdisciplinary program combined design, computer science and economics.

Degree: Diplom Media System Designer (FH), 1.2

04/2005–07/2005

Institute of Post and Telecommunications, Xi’an, China

Research for my final thesis on international project-based learning in higher eduction.

07/1991–07/2000

Ricarda-Huch High School, Dreieich, Germany

Degree: Abitur, 1.1

Languages

German (mother tongue), English (fluent)
Basic courses in Spanish, Russian and Mandarin

Scholarships & Awards

11/2011

4th Prize Essay Competition Global Peter Drucker Forum

Essay Competition “Management, what is it good for?”
Awarded by the Peter Drucker Society, Vienna, Austria

03/2006

1st Prize “Future in the work environment”

Award for research projects targeting a humane and sustainable work environment. Awarded by the cooperation for sciences and work environment, Darmstadt, Germany.

04/2004–10/2005

Scholarship of the e-fellows Group

Scholarship for outstanding results in studies, internships, periods spent abroad and extracurricular activities. Supported by companies like Deutsche Telekom, Deutsche Bank and McKinsey & Company.

01/2003–10/2005

Scholarship of the German National Academic Foundation

Scholarship for outstanding academic abilities, initiative and sense of responsibility. In 2005, the foundation supported approx. 0.25% of all German students.

06/2003

Scholarship of the Mühlfenzl Foundation

Scholarship for an internship at the San Francisco Bicycle Coalition.

Invited Talks & Lectures

10/2011

Lecture: “Tweeting in Times of Crises: Twitter Use During the 2011 UK Riots”

Expert trainer at the seminar ‘Social Media and Policing’ of the European Police College in Lisbon, Portugal.

09/2011

Talk: “ICT Visions in a Messy World”

Presentation and panel discussion at the European Security Research Conference 2011 in Warsaw, Poland on the future of border security and information technology. Among other panelists: Ilkka Laitinen (Executive Director, FRONTEX) and Peter J. Burgess (Head of Security Programme at Peace Research Institute, Oslo, Norway).

07/2011

Talk: “European Approaches to Social Media as a Tool for Police Communication”

International conference on cyber security, cybercrime and social networks in Madrid, Spain.

Further Activities

03/2008–

Selection Commissioner, German National Academic Foundation

11/2008–11/2009

Associate, think tank “Stiftung neue Verantwortung”

This think tank brings together leading young professionals from sciences, industry, politics, sports and arts to consult the federal government.

My work focused on the future of Germany’s political parties and the democratic system.

09/2009

Volunteer Chair, ACM MobileHCI 2009

Conference for Human-Computer Interaction with mobile devices.

06/2007–07/2007

Convivio Summer School in Bollnäs, Sweden

6th international summer school on people-centred interaction design, “Nurturing ideas in local Communities”. Organized by KTH Stockholm and the Institutet för Human Teknologi, Bollnäs.