Rate My Professor Thomas Weik

Prof. Dr.-Ing. Thomas Christian Weik is a professor in Computer Science at Fachhochschule Münster, where he heads the Laboratory for Databases within the Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science. His academic journey began with studies in Informatik, specializing in Databases, at Technische Universität Clausthal from October 1986 to December 1991, followed by further studies at Technische Universität Ilmenau from January 1992 to November 1996. In 1994, he obtained his Dr.-Ing. degree from TU Clausthal with a dissertation titled 'Terminierung und Speicherung von Objekten in objektorientierten Datenbanksystemen' (Scheduling and Storage of Objects in Object-Oriented Database Systems). Transitioning to industry, Weik served as a Mitarbeiter at AVSG and then as Stellvertretender Abteilungsleiter (Deputy Department Head) at Deutsche Bundesbank from December 1996 to December 2001. He joined FH Münster as Professor in January 2002, holding the position continuously since 2003.

Weik's research specializations include database systems, distributed information systems, data mining, and data warehousing, reflecting his longstanding expertise in data management technologies. He teaches essential courses in the Computer Science program, such as Introduction to Computer Science, Algorithms and Data Structures, Modeling and Simulation, and Music and Computing. The Music and Computing course exemplifies his innovative teaching, developed in collaboration with Prof. Dr. Loren Rhodes from Juniata College, USA—a partnership spanning over 20 years that integrates music production software with programming and computer science concepts, even adapting to online formats during the pandemic before resuming in-person sessions. Weik leads student excursions, including a 2023 trip to Berlin tech companies alongside Prof. Dr. Jürgen te Vrugt, to showcase real-world applications. Professionally, he is a mentor for the HG Münster chapter of the Gesellschaft für Informatik (GI) and serves as GI ambassador for FH Münster/Steinfurt. His early contributions to the field include publications on object-oriented databases, such as 'Preserving and generating objects in the LIVING IN A LATTICE rule language' (ICDE 1991, TU Clausthal) and 'A Rule-Based Update Propagation Method for Distributed Object Bases' with Andreas Heuer (ARDB 1995). Through these roles, Weik impacts computer science education, research, and professional networking at FH Münster.