Interview with Thomas Nikolaus

<p>Thomas Nikolaus is a professor in the University of Münster, working in algebraic K-theory and homotopy theory. In this interview Thomas talks, among other things, about non-standard approaches to math seminars, the importance of branching out and asking questions, and the lack of feedback in the mathematical community.</p> <p><br></p> <p><a href="https://www.uni-muenster.de/FB10srvi/persdb/MM-member.php?id=1304">Thomas' homepage</a>.</p> <p><br></p> <p>0:00​ teaser</p> <p>0:50​ changing research areas</p> <p>3:22​ learning vs working</p> <p>5:44​ teaching advice</p> <p>6:53​ branching out</p> <p>8:15​ advising PhD students</p> <p>10:09​ writing skills</p> <p>11:31​ lack of feedback in the math community</p> <p>15:06​ the famous Bonn seminar</p> <p>17:15​ the feeling of not good enough in math</p> <p>19:55​ interesting jobs outside academia</p> <p>21:25​ Thomas interviews me… oops!</p> <p>27:10​ the right definition of K-theory</p> <p>29:50​ taking care of your research group</p> <p>31:15​ seminar where speakers aren’t allowed to prepare</p> <p>33:50​ asking questions at talks</p> <p>36:31​ choosing whom to hire</p> <p>38:28​ getting over math frustration</p> <p>39:35​ don’t be afraid</p> <p><br></p>