Wojciech Samek
Wojciech Samek works on explainable artificial intelligence for neural networks. He studied computer science at Humboldt University of Berlin, Heriot-Watt University, and the University of Edinburgh, and received a doctorate from the Technical University of Berlin in 2014. In 2015 he co-authored a PLOS ONE paper on layer-wise relevance propagation, and in 2019 he edited a Springer book on explainable AI. He is a professor of machine learning and communication at the Technical University of Berlin and heads the Artificial Intelligence department at the Fraunhofer Heinrich Hertz Institute.
- Now at
- Technische Universität Berlin, Heinrich Hertz Institute, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin and European Laboratory for Learning and Intelligent Systems
- Works
- 345
- Citations
- 30,309
- h-index
- 61
Publication numbers from OpenAlex, as of 17 October 2026.
Timeline
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2014
A doctorate in Berlin
He studies computer science at Humboldt University of Berlin, Heriot-Watt University, and the University of Edinburgh, and visits NASA Ames Research Center in Mountain View. In 2014 he receives the Dr. rer. nat. degree with distinction from the Technical University of Berlin. During his studies he holds scholarships from the German Academic Scholarship Foundation and the DFG Research Training Group GRK 1589/1.
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Since 2014
A group at Fraunhofer
Since 2014 he expands the machine learning research group at Fraunhofer Heinrich Hertz Institute, and the group becomes a regular department. Explainability and interpretability of deep learning models are a core topic of the team.
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2015
Layer-wise relevance propagation
In 2015 he co-authors a PLOS ONE paper on pixel-wise explanations for non-linear classifier decisions by layer-wise relevance propagation.
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2019–2022
Two explainable AI books
In 2019 he edits the Springer book Explainable AI: Interpreting, Explaining and Visualizing Deep Learning, and in 2022 he edits xxAI – Beyond Explainable AI.
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2020–2025
Best paper awards
Best paper awards come from Pattern Recognition in 2020, from Digital Signal Processing in 2022, and from the IEEE Signal Processing Society in 2025.
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May 2022
Professor at TU Berlin
The Technical University of Berlin appoints him professor of machine learning and communication in May 2022. He heads the Artificial Intelligence department at Fraunhofer Heinrich Hertz Institute.
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2026
A Berlin science list
In 2025 Clarivate names him a Highly Cited Researcher, and Tagesspiegel includes him among the 100 most important figures in Berlin science for 2026. Since May 2022 he is professor of machine learning and communication at the Technical University of Berlin and heads the Artificial Intelligence department at Fraunhofer Heinrich Hertz Institute. He is a fellow at BIFOLD and a scholar at ELLIS Unit Berlin.
Sources and credits
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- Prof. Dr. Wojciech Samek | Department of Artificial Intelligence - Fraunhofer HHI
- Prof. Wojciech Samek (Fraunhofer, HHI) – Future of Wireless
- Wojciech Samek appointed Professor of Machine Learning and Communication at TU Berlin
- On Pixel-Wise Explanations for Non-Linear Classifier Decisions by Layer-Wise Relevance Propagation | PLOS One
- Prof. Dr. Wojciech Samek - Zuse School ELIZA
- Wojciech Samek – DeepLearn 2024
- Prof. Dr. Wojciech Samek
- Wojciech Samek named one of Berlin’s 100 leading scientists by Tagesspiegel
- Wojciech Samek zählt zu den 100 wichtigsten Köpfen der Berliner Wissenschaft 2026