In 1988, Oliver Günther was among ICSI’s first postdoctoral fellows. Today, he’s President of the University of Potsdam. In a recent conversation, Günther discussed why he’s maintained close ties with ICSI throughout his esteemed career.
‘An Incredible Coincidence’
You could say Oliver Günther was in the right place at the right time. He was just wrapping up his PhD in computer science at the University of California, Berkeley, and looking for something to fill about eight months before starting a faculty position. Meanwhile, just down the street, ICSI co-founders Ron Kay and Norbert Szyperski were busily building up a research team for their fledgling institute. A funding stream was in place to support German postdoctoral fellows; all the institute needed was the right people for the role.
“This was an incredible coincidence,” Günther said. “I just put two and two together and I thought, maybe there’s a space for me?”
Indeed there was. After one conversation with Kay, it was clear to both parties that Günther — an enterprising young computer scientist from Stuttgart, Germany — was an excellent fit for ICSI. He would become one of the institute’s first postdoctoral fellows.
“It was a great postdoc experience, and it was the beginning of a long relationship,” said Günther, who moved on to a series of academic positions in the U.S. and back home in Germany, but never lost touch with ICSI. In the mid-1990s, he chaired an organization dedicated to promoting the fellowship program to German students and researchers. He continued to visit frequently, spending several sabbaticals at ICSI and most recently flying back to celebrate Ron Kay’s 100th birthday.
ICSI’s Lasting Impact
Today, Günther continues to support the program by identifying promising candidates for the fellowship within his university network.
“This is a wonderful place to go. I would strongly recommend it,” Günther said. “Being networked with UC Berkeley, with UC San Francisco, with Stanford — you’re right in the middle of it. And, you get assistance; they’re very good at providing help with housing, transportation, and visas.”
Even as our ways of learning and working continue to evolve, Günther says that ICSI’s position as a place for international exchange and cross-disciplinary collaboration continues to benefit emerging computer scientists and established researchers alike.
“Many people think that a lot of things can be done online and you don’t need to meet or go to conferences anymore. I strongly disagree — I think it’s important to move around physically for those cultural and personal experiences, and that’s why ICSI still has a role,” Günther said. “It’s important to have space for getting together and to work together physically.”
Over the past 35 years, hundreds of researchers have spent time at ICSI and gone on to fruitful careers in research, technology startups, or, in Günther’s case, the highest echelons of academic leadership. Each ICSI experience leaves an impression on the people involved, as well as their broader community.
“ICSI has had a very lasting impact on German computer science, in both academia and industry research. It really cemented this connection between the Bay area on the one hand, and German computer scientists on the other,” Günther said.
Now, having hosted over 600 postdocs from five continents, ICSI has fulfilled the vision of its founders—and then some.
This story was published in January 2026 as part of a retrospective series highlighting ICSI’s accomplishments and impacts over the years. To learn about our ongoing work, explore our Core Research Themes.