Christina Stodt is conducting research at Furtwangen University on trustworthy AI solutions for critical infrastructure — an award from the Universités de l’Académie de Strasbourg
Christina Stodt is conducting research at Furtwangen University on trustworthy AI solutions for critical infrastructure − and has now been awarded the “Prix de Thèse des Universités de l’Académie de Strasbourg 2026” (Doctoral Thesis Award of the Universities of the Strasbourg Academy) for her work. The award recognises outstanding doctoral work at the universities of the Académie de Strasbourg and highlights the high quality of her research. “I feel deeply honoured. This award is a significant milestone in my academic career and a recognition of the work I have done as part of my doctoral studies,” says Christina Stodt. Her dissertation was written as part of a collaborative doctoral programme at the Université de Strasbourg and Furtwangen University (HFU) and was supervised at HFU by Christoph Reich.
Her research currently focuses on AI security and AI safety, particularly on the question of how AI systems can be developed and deployed safely, reliably, and responsibly. Stodt is investigating how AI-based and agent-based systems can be protected against attacks such as prompt injection while simultaneously ensuring that their behaviour remains safe, traceable and aligned with human needs. The overarching goal is to develop trustworthy AI solutions that protect critical and industrial infrastructure while reducing potential risks to people. “My goal is to design AI systems so that they effectively protect critical infrastructure while remaining safe for the people who work with them or depend on them,” explains Christina Stodt.
Christina Stodt is developing her own independent research and teaching profile with the goal of securing a professorship at a university of applied sciences; she is part of our “HFU ProProf” project aimed at recruiting early-career professors. She is currently working on scientific publications, research proposals and industry-oriented projects in the field of AI security and AI safety, while also continuing to expand her experience in teaching and mentoring. Her next step is to establish her own research projects that combine scientific research, industrial application and the responsible use of AI. “ProProf gives me the opportunity to combine research, industrial practice and teaching to develop solutions that make AI both secure and responsible,” says Stodt.