Kerstin is a professor of Artificial Intelligence at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) and is Research Director at the Norwegian Research Center for AI Innovation (NorwAI). She 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. After completing her Ph.D., Kerstin joined Verdande Technology, a Trondheim-based AI startup developing real-time case-based reasoning (CBR) technology for the oil and gas, financial services, and healthcare industries. At Verdande, she was both a research scientist and software engineer, working closely with partners exploring CBR in their technology stack. In 2015, Kerstin joined NTNU’s computer science department.

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. Presently, Kerstin is steering multiple interdisciplinary projects funded by the Norwegian Research Council and NTNU dedicated to AI-driven and patient-centered healthcare services.

Beyond her research contributions, she actively organizes workshops, conferences, and symposia that discuss various aspects of AI research. Throughout her career, Kerstin has undertaken responsibilities such as being the driving force behind myCBR, an open-source tool adopted in research and industry projects across Europe, and is a board member of the Norwegian AI Society and the German AI Society.

Her commitment to advancing AI extends to NTNU, where she promotes AI research among students and strongly emphasizes 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 organizes events, gives talks, and participates in panels and seminars to discuss AI research among professionals and the broader public.