He studied mathematics and physics at the University of Cologne (1968 to 1974), specializing in numerical mathematics with a diploma thesis on numerical optimal control1 guided by Prof. Dr.Dr.h.c.mult. R.Z. Bulirsch (January 30,1974). From 1974 to 1984, he worked as scientific assistant with Prof. Dr. R. Burkard at the Institute of Mathematics of the University of Cologne, where he finished his Ph.D. thesis on combinatorial optimization problems2 (December 8, 1976).
In 1979, the DFG supported his stay at the Stanford University with a grant for habilitation. After his habilitation thesis on algebraic optimization3 (November 13, 1980, University of Cologne) he worked as private lecturer of mathematics at the University of Cologne. He was professor of mathematics at Kaiserslautern University from 1984 to 1986 and at Trier University in 1986.
From 1986 to 2015, he hold a chair of applied mathematics at the Technical University of Braunschweig and directed the Institute of Mathematical Optimization until his retirement in March 2015.
At the Technical University of Braunschweig, he served as Speaker of the Mathematical Institutes (1987 to 1989), as Dean of the former “Fachbereich für Mathematik, Informatik und Wirtschaftswissenschaften” (1989 to 1991) and as member of the Senate (1991 to 1993).
His mathematical research centered in Linear, Combinatorial and Discrete Optimization, partially in connection with algebraic ordered structures. Over time his motivation for applications of mathematics grew, with special emphasis on Transport und Logistics. For applied joined projects with various partners in industry, his working group continuously received funding in the BMBF program “Mathematik für Innovationen in Industrie und Dienstleistungen”, e.g.:
Theses: PhD (Dr.rer.nat.), Diploma, Master and Bachelor supervised by Prof. Dr. Uwe Zimmermann [PDF]
For the International Federation for Information Processing (IFIP) he chaired the former Working Group 7.4 (Discrete Optimization) from 1995 to 2001. For the Deutsche Mathematiker-Vereinigung (DMV), he chaired the Special Interest Group on Optimization from 1997 to 1999. For the Mathematical Programming Society (MPS), he served as Council Member-at-large (1998-2000).
For the “Gesellschaft für Operations Research” (GOR), he served as member of the scientific advisory board from 1997 to 2000 and from 2003 to 2011, and as chairman of the management board from 2001 to 2002.
He was editorial board member of the journal “Mathematical Methods of Operations Research” from 1986 to 2006, associate editor of the journal “Operations Research” from 2000 to 2011 and department editor of the journal “Zeitschrift für Betriebswirtschaft” from 2004 to 2011.
Until retirement, he was member of MPS and SIAM. He is member of DMV and GOR. In 2014, the GOR awarded him their honorary membership.
1 Numerical calculations of optimal control using the Multiple Shooting Method for multiple constraints in phase space with examples in trajectory optimization (in German): Zimmermann, Uwe T. (1974). Numerische Berechnung optimaler Steuerungen unter Verwendung der Mehrzielmethode bei mehrfacher Beschränkung im Phasenraum mit Beispielen aus der Flugbahnoptimierung. Diploma thesis. Supervisor: Prof. Dr. R.Z. Bulirsch, Advisor: Dr. P.J. Deuflhard. Mathematisches Institut, Universität zu Köln; pp. 1–176.
2 Boolean optimization problems with separable objective functions and matroidal constraints (in German): Boolean optimization problems with separable objective functions and matroidal constraints (in German): Zimmermann, Uwe T. (1976). Bool'sche Optimierungsprobleme mit separabler Zielfunktion und matroidalen Restriktionen. PhD thesis. Supervisor: Prof. Dr. R. Burkard: Mathematisch-Naturwissenschaftliche Fakultät, Universität zu Köln; pp. 1–174.
3 Zimmermann, Uwe T. (1981). Linear and combinatorial optimization in ordered algebraic structures. Ann. Discrete Math., 10 Elsevier, Amsterdam.