With over 270 degree programs, FAU is among the 15 largest and leading universities for research in Germany. Over 6,000 employees and more than 39,000 students promote a culture of innovation, diversity and passion.
Get to know our newly-appointed professors who are driving forward research with their fresh ideas and creative approaches. Find out more about the people behind our research projects and their career paths, visions, and motivation for a successful academic future.
Prof. Dr.João Paulo Cardoso de Lima – Professorship for Embedded AI
As a child, he wanted to become a singer, and today he conducts research into energy-efficient computer systems – Prof. Dr. João Paulo Cardoso de Lima introduces himself.
What is your main area of research?
My research focuses on exploring how computers can process data more efficiently, especially for artificial intelligence. Traditional computers constantly shift data between the memory and the processor, which costs a lot of energy. I develop tools and optimization techniques that process data directly in the memory (processing in memory). This makes AI applications quicker and more energy- efficient. At the same time, I also work on methods aimed at making these new systems more reliable, even in the event that errors occur in individual components.
Why did you choose these topics?
Energy is a fundamental resource. The way in which we design computer architectures today is wasteful, especially due to their practice of moving data between the memory and processor. I work on hardware/software co-design to shift these boundaries and make intelligent systems more energy-efficient.
Where were you before coming to FAU?
A postdoctoral research position at TU Dresden / ScaDS.AI (Chair for Compiler Construction, led by Prof. Jeronimo Castrillon)
Where did you study and what subjects?
I did my BSc in Computer Science at the Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina and my MSc and PhD in Computer Science at the Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, both in Brazil.
Which events and activities would you like to take part in in Erlangen and the surroundings?
I would like to explore the Erlangen-Nuremberg region and the towns in Franconia. I am particularly interested in festivals and cultural events in Nuremberg as a way to relax at the weekend and get to know the local culture. I am also very keen to go on trips to the Alpine region and visit other Bavarian cities.
What is your most useful tool as a professor?
There is no one single tool. Instead, the intelligent combination of various teaching methods is the most important thing. People learn in different ways, so we need to take different teaching approaches to reach all students effectively.
What did you want to be when you were growing up?
I wanted to become a singer. Although I wasn’t talented at all and there were no musical connections in my family. I enjoyed watching television and loved music television shows and bands.
Do you have a role model? If so, did they influence your academic or professional career?
My role models are not famous people, but rather my former teachers and professors who really listened to me and took me seriously. People who taught without having any expectations about which career I would choose.
Have you got any hidden talents?
Unfortunately not. I think I am average at nearly everything – not good enough to be talented, but interested enough to give a go at lots of different things. I have diverse interests, but don’t always pursue everything in more depth.
Is there something you’ve always wanted to do?
I always wanted to play an instrument, like the piano or the harp. I am also interested in adventure sports such as bungee jumping, but I haven’t actually tried my hand at any of them. I do generally have a lot of things on my to-do list that I would like to try out and could pursue as a hobby.