Wil van der Aalst

Professor Dr. Ir. Wil van der Aalst is a distinguished university professor at Eindhoven University of Technology and one of the most cited computer scientists globally, recognized for his groundbreaking contributions to business process management, process mining, and data science. As the scientific director of the Data Science Center Eindhoven (DSC/e) and chair of the AIS group, he leads innovative research that bridges traditional process analysis with modern data-centric techniques. His extensive academic career includes honorary appointments at prestigious institutions such as Queensland University of Technology, Tsinghua University, and the National Research University in Moscow. With over 275 journal papers, 35 books, and numerous conference publications to his name, his work has significantly influenced both academia and industry, earning him the title "Godfather of Process Mining." Van der Aalst's research has led to the development of numerous commercial and open-source process mining tools, shaping the landscape of workflow automation and business intelligence. His accolades include being an IFIP Fellow, IEEE Fellow, ACM Fellow, and a member of several esteemed academies, alongside receiving honorary degrees from leading universities. In 2018, he was awarded the prestigious Alexander-von-Humboldt Professorship, further cementing his status as a leader in his field. Through his innovative research and thought leadership, Professor van der Aalst continues to drive advancements in understanding and optimizing complex processes in various domains.