Kerstin Bach

Background

About Kerstin Bach

Kerstin is a professor of Artificial Intelligence at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) and holds the role of Research Director at the Norwegian Research Center for AI Innovation (NorwAI). She commenced holds a PhD from the University of Hildesheim and worked as a researcher at the German Research Center for AI (DFKI), where she developed decision support systems for various industries. Throughout her career, Kerstin has undertaken significant responsibilities, notably as the driving force behind myCBR, an open-source tool adopted in research and industry projects across Europe. Following the completion of her Ph.D, Kerstin joined Verdande Technology, a Trondheim-based AI startup, where she held roles as both a research scientist and software engineer before eventually joining the faculty at NTNU. In recent years, Kerstin’s research has been primarily focused on crafting AI prototypes tailored for healthcare, intelligent sensing, and knowledge management. She managed an EU H2020 research grant, selfBACK, whose results are currently being developed as a product for patients with lower back pain. Beyond her research contributions, she has actively participates in organizing workshops, conferences, and symposia that discuss various aspects of AI research. Presently, Kerstin is steering multiple interdisciplinary projects funded by the Norwegian Research Council and NTNU, which are dedicated to AI-driven and patient-centered healthcare services. Her commitment to advancing AI extends to NTNU, where she promotes AI research among students, with a strong emphasis on encouraging females to pursue technology careers. As an educator, she imparts her knowledge through AI and Machine Learning courses, guiding and involving master’s and Ph.D. Her role as NorwAI research director finds her at the forefront of collaborative projects between industry and academia. Within this context, she established FEMAIS, a mentorship program tailored for aspiring female AI students, effectively bridging the gap between their final year of studies and the launch of their professional journeys. Kerstin’s commitment to AI outreach also extends to the Norwegian Open AI Lab, where she actively organizes events and seminars to propel AI research among professionals and the broader public.