Prof. Michael Backes

This page summarises Prof. Backes' academic appointments, major research collaborations, professional memberships, and education. Details on research, teaching, leadership, and awards are available under the corresponding profile pages.

Appointments

•    since 10/2025    | Professor of Physics, Univ. of Namibia _NAM
•    since 03/2025    | Inaugural UNAM Research Chair in Astronomy, Univ. of Namibia _NAM   
• 09/2021–09/2025 | Associate Professor of Physics, Univ. of Namibia _NAM
• 04/2016–08/2021 | Senior Lecturer, Univ. of Namibia _NAM
• 04/2013–03/2016 | Lecturer, Univ. of Namibia _NAM
• 01/2011–03/2013 | Research Associate, Collaborative Research Center SFB 876, TU Dortmund Univ. _D
• 02/2008–12/2010 | Research Assistant, TU Dortmund Univ. _D
• 10/2006–01/2008 | Graduate Teaching Assistant, TU Dortmund Univ. _D
• 10/2003–08/2004 | Undergraduate Teaching Assistant, Univ. of Dortmund _D

Other Academic Appointments

•    since 12/2025    | Extraordinary Professor, North-West Univ. _RSA
•    since 01/2024    | Regular Associate, International Centre for Theoretical Physics _I
•    since 10/2020    | Founding Head: Virtual Institute for Scientific Computing and Artificial Intelligence, Univ. of Namibia _NAM
•    since 03/2018    | Academic Visitor, Univ. of Oxford _UK
•    since 10/2015    | Co-Principal Investigator of the AMT and AMT Group Leader at Univ. of Namibia _NAM
•    since 09/2015    | H.E.S.S. Group Leader at Univ. of Namibia _NAM
• 12/2021–11/2025 | Extraordinary Associate Professor North-West Univ. _RSA
• 11/2017–11/2021 | Extraordinary Senior Lecturer, North-West Univ. _RSA

Collaboration Memberships

•    since 06/2023    | Event Horizon Telescope Collaboration
•    since 10/2015    | AMT Collaboration, Founder Member
  • ^{Member: Collaboration Board (since 10/2015)}
•    since 04/2013    | H.E.S.S. Collaboration
  • ^{Member: Collaboration Board, Member: Steering Committee (both since 09/2015)}
  • ^{Runner-up: Chair of Collaboration Board (2022 & 2025)}
  • ^{Member: Director Search Committee (2025)}
•    since 04/2013    | CTA/CTAO Collaboration
•      2007–2013      | MAGIC Collaboration
•      2006–2013      | DWARF/FACT Collaboration, Founder Member
  • ^{Responsible for International Relations}

Professional Memberships

•  since 2019   | European Astronomical Society (EAS)
•  since 2017   | Astronomical Society of Southern Africa (ASSA)
•  since 2015   | International Astronomical Union (IAU)
•  since 2013   | African Astronomical Society (AfAS)
•  since 2010   | German Astronomical Society (AG)
•  since 2002   | German Physical Society (DPG)
• 2010–2015   | Royal Astronomical Society (RAS)

Education

• 02/2008–01/2012 | Ph.D. in Physics, TU Dortmund Univ. _D
  • ^{Degree: Dr. rer. nat. (equiv. to Ph.D.)}
  • ^{Thesis: Long-term observations of the TeV blazar 1ES 1959+650 – Temporal and spectral behavior in the multi-wavelength context}
• 01/2006–03/2010 | Certificate in International Studies, International Office, TU Dortmund Univ. _D
• 10/2004–01/2008 | M.Sc. in Physics TU Dortmund Univ. _D
  • ^{Degree: Dipl.-Phys. (equiv. to M.Sc.)}
  • ^{Thesis: Long-term Observations of TeV Blazars – Source Analysis with MAGIC and Conception of a Dedicated Telescope (in German)}
• 01/2006–03/2006 | Studies Abroad in Astrophysics, Univ. of Birmingham _UK
• 10/2002–09/2004 | Undergraduate Studies in Physics, Univ. of Dortmund _D