Rate My Professor Michael Bruenig

Professor Michael Brünig is the Head of School of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science in the Faculty of Engineering, Architecture and Information Technology at The University of Queensland, a role he assumed in 2016 with an interruption from 2019 to 2021 when he led UQ Business School as Academic Dean and Head of School. He earned a Doctor of Philosophy and a Masters of Science from RWTH Aachen University in Germany. Brünig commenced his professional career conducting research and development in the automotive sector in Germany and Silicon Valley, United States, prior to advancing to executive management positions at CSIRO. There, he spearheaded the creation of a $140 million National Research Flagship on Digital Productivity and facilitated the merger that established Data61, focusing on data innovation.

His research specializations include research translation, innovation, robotics, artificial intelligence, automation, data analytics, cybersecurity, Internet of Things, wireless sensor networks, terahertz technology, digital health, sensing, and advanced technologies. Notable publications are "Terahertz nanoscopy: advances, challenges, and the road ahead" (Applied Physics Reviews, 2024), "Terahertz in vivo imaging of human skin: toward detection of abnormal skin pathologies" (APL Bioengineering, 2024), "Under-canopy navigation using aerial lidar maps" (IEEE Robotics and Automation Letters, 2024), "Estimating fire weather indices via semantic reasoning over wireless sensor network data streams" (International Journal of Web and Semantic Technology, 2014), and "DTLS based security and two-way authentication for the Internet of Things" (Ad Hoc Networks, 2013). Brünig has driven key UQ initiatives such as UQ Cyber, the National Industry 4.0 Energy Testlab, the AI Initiative, and the Queensland Government AI Hub. He has influenced curriculum development, launching the Bachelor of Computer Science, Master of Cyber Security, Master of Business Analytics (UQ's first fully online), and Graduate Certificate in Clinical Informatics and Digital Health, and established UQ Ventures and UQ Innovate to promote entrepreneurship.