Research Experience

Since 2025: Professor, TU Dortmund University, Germany
Department of Spatial Planning

2019 – 2025: Juniorprofessor; TU Dortmund University, Germany
 Department of Spatial Planning

2018 – 2019: Assistant Professor; University of Warwick, UK 
Centre for Interdisciplinary Methodologies

2013 – 2018: Research Assistant, Research Associate; Heidelberg University, Germany
GIScience Research Group, Institute of Geography

2013: Visiting Scholar; Harvard University, USA
Center for Geographic Analysis, Institute for Quantitative Social Science

2011 – 2012: Research Assistant; STAGU Osnabrück, Germany
Steinbeis Transfer Centre for Applied Geosciences and Environmental Research

Education

2013 – 2018: Dr. rer. nat. (Ph.D.) in Geography; Heidelberg University, Germany

2010 – 2012: M.Sc. Geoinformatics; Osnabrück University, Germany

2007 – 2010: B.Sc. Geoinformatics; Osnabrück University, Germany

Practical Experience

2011 – 2017: Software Developer; Osnabrück University, Germany
Botanical Garden

2010 – 2011: Software Developer; Martin Luther University of Halle–Wittenberg, Germany
Institute of Geography

Awards and Honours

06/2024: Second Prize, Best Short Paper Competition
AGILE 2024 Conference, Glasgow, UK

03/2019: Dissertation Award Geoinformatics 2019
Runder Tisch GIS e.V., Technical University of Munich, Germany

04/2018: First Prize, CDRC Data Challenge
GISRUK’18 Conference, Leicester, UK

03/2014: Young Researchers Award 2013
North-German Society for Geoinformatics (GiN), Germany

03/2014: International Mobility Grant Funding
German Universities Excellence Initiative II, Germany

01/2013: PhD Scholarship
Talent support programme of the Federal State of Baden-Württemberg, Germany

My research interests cover a broad spectrum, which revolves around both spatial and place-related quantitative methods. Spatial analysis is my main focus, with a special emphasis on the analysis of user-generated geographical information. A second focus is place-based research, where I am particularly interested in the formalisation and methodological processing of place-based and place-related information. A third focus of my research interests is on empirical geographical studies. All these emphases are reflected in the research themes of the Lab and in the current research projects.

Please find my publications here!

Office hours for Summer Term 2025 (term time): Fridays, 2.30 pm–4 pm CEST. Please use the online appointment scheduling system to request a regular 15-mins appointment.

My teaching portfolio comprises a wide range of modules, including GIS, spatial analysis, urban analytics, and computer science. I have taught these modules both in a national and international context, in German and English, and at undergraduate and postgraduate level. A complete portfolio of my teaching activities can be found on my personal website.

I am currently teaching the following modules at TU Dortmund University:

• Digital Geographies
• Spatial Statistics
• Computer Science for Planners
• Urban Analytics

Jun.-Prof. Dr René Westerholt

TU Dortmund University
Department of Spatial Planning

Room GBIII/318

August-Schmidt-Straße 10
44227 Dortmund
Germany

Tel.: +49 (0)231 7552287
Email: rene.westerholttu-dortmundde