Theses

Writing a thesis with us

If you are interested in writing your theses in the area of mathematical optimization or related topics, please contact Peter Ochs by eMail (German or English). In the eMail, please mention your interests and list the relevant courses that you have taken.

Possible topics include, but are not limited to, the following ones: theoretical or practical relations between optimization algorithms for smooth, non-smooth, convex, or non-convex optimization problems; applications of continuous optimization algorithms in computer vision, machine learning, image processing/analysis, or other linear or non-linear inverse problems; non-smooth analysis; convex analysis; bilevel optimization; parameter optimization; and many more.

List of ongoing and finished theses

Master Theses

• Matthew Chu: Conformal Prediction for Learnable Optimization Algorithms, ongoing.
• Senjuti Dutta: Fast Step-Size Selection via Neural Predictors: A Comparison Against Classical Line Search Methods, 2026.
• Michael Sonntag: Data-driven Optimization Algorithms with Provable Convergence Guarantees: From Energy Dissipation to Momentum Methods, 2026.
• Nils Müller: Optimization of Sums of Bivariate Functions, 2024.
• Yassir Janah: Theoretical Analysis of the Bayesian Learning Rule, 2024.

Bachelor Theses

• Fabian Ludwig: Distribution-Aware Sorting with Probabilistic Guarantees, ongoing.
• Niels Goedicke: Flow Matching with Optimal Transport, 2026.
• Oğuzhan Şanlıtürk: Design and Testing of a Self-learning Micromagnetic Anomaly Sensor on a Multidimensional Feature Space (in cooperation with Fraunhofer IZFP), 2025.

Master Theses (at University of Tübingen)

• Severin Maier: Accelerated Continuous Optimization Dynamics with Lyapunov Function damping, 2023.
• Gabriel Müller: Finitely Parametrized Continuous Images and their Regularization, 2023.
• Michael Sucker: Data-Adaptive Acceleration of First-Order Algorithms, 2022.
• Hafsa Kaleli: A Penalty Function Method for a Class of Bilevel Optimization Problems, 2021.

Bachelor Theses (at University of Tübingen)

• Lorenz Mammen: Optimization-based Volume Reconstruction for Light Field Microscopy Imaging, 2023.
• Milan Bacchetta: Local Linear Convergence of Forward-Backward Splitting under Partial Smoothness, 2022.
• Armin Beck: Accelerated Proximal Quasi-Newton Methods, 2022.
• Nadia Vohwinkel: Entropic Approximation of Wasserstein Barycenters, 2021.

Master Theses (at Saarland University before 2020)

• Anu Goel: Convergence of Inertial Descent Methods, 2021.
• Ishwar Mudraje: Learning Variational ISTA, 2020.
• Andrei Sirazitdinov: Inpainting with Local Binary Constraints, 2019.
• Sheheryar Mehmood: Differentiation of Fixed-Point Iterations for Bi-level Optimization, 2019.
• Jón Arnar Tómasson: Finding Optimal Smoothness Operators for Inpainting with Bilevel Optimization, 2017.
• Timo Florian Adam: Optical Analysis of High Pressure Diesel Sprays Using Image Segmentation Methods, 2016.
• Hanan Abou Hamdan: Coupling Models for Image Denoising, 2016.
• Lilli Kaufhold: Cell Tracking in 3D-Videos, 2016.

Master Theses (at University of Freiburg)

• T. Rinklin: Motion Segmentation with Track Repair, 2014.

Master- and Team Projects (at University of Freiburg)

• L. Striet: Gradient Descent on a Modified Objective, 2017.
• N. Holland: Optimally Parametrized Regularization for Image Segmentation, 2015.
• T. Rinklin: Continuation of Point Trajectories Through Occlusions, 2014.
• A. Alfaro: Hierarchical (multi level) Diffusion-based Interpolation on the GPU, 2012.
• A. Alfaro: Hierarchical (single level) Diffusion-based Interpolation on the GPU, 2011.

Bachelor Theses (at University of Freiburg)

• R. Smolik: Segmentierung von Graphen mithilfe von primal-dualen Algorithmen auf der GPU, 2015.
• G.-E. Nandzik: Optimizing the Interpolation Points for Linear Diffusion Based Image Compression Using Bilevel Optimization, 2015.