Professor Rost studied electrical engineering at Dortmund University of Applied Sciences and Arts and earned a master’s degree in Energy Systems Engineering from Fachhochschule Gelsenkirchen (now Westfälische Hochschule - Westphalian University of Applied Sciences). In 2015, he obtained a doctorate at the Politehnica University of Timișoara (UPT) in Romania, in cooperation with the Westfälische Hochschule. He subsequently conducted research in the Hydrogen Energy Systems Group at the Westfälisches Energieinstitut (Westphalian Energy Institute) before joining ProPuls GmbH, where he served as a member of the management board responsible for acquisition and strategic research and development projects.

What aspect of your research fascinates you the most?

The topics of sustainable energy technology and hydrogen technologies, in particular, are highly relevant today. Through my research on innovative systems engineering and materials for hydrogen applications, I aim to contribute to the transformation of our energy system towards a carbon-free energy economy.

What does good teaching mean to you?

Good teaching provides the right conditions and a clear structure that enables students to gain confidence and build lasting knowledge. It inspires them to develop their own ideas by encouraging curiosity, welcoming questions, and creating space for practical experiments that motivate them to find their own solutions.

What did you want to be growing up?

My mother always likes to tell the story of how, on my way to kindergarden, I would marvel at waste collection workers as they did their job. One day, they even lifted me up and let me operate the vehicle’s levers. From that moment on, I wanted to become a waste collector.

How do you find balance outside of work?

In my free time, I enjoy spending time with my family, playing badminton and riding my motorcycle.