Michael Baldauf graduated with an M.Sc. in Transport Engineering and a diploma in business management both from the University of Rostock. He holds a Certificate of Competence (Deck Officer) and has served as a navigation officer on several cargo and container vessels. In 1992 he transitioned to the scientific field and completed work at various universities and research institutes. He obtained his Ph.D. (Dr.-Ing.) in Safety Science from Bergische Universität Wuppertal, Germany in 1999. His thesis was dedicated to the subject of traffic monitoring by VTS and he developed a method for shore-based detection of collision risks.

Prior to joining WMU, Mr. Baldauf was employed as chief coordinator for research at the Hochschule Wismar, University of Technology, Business and Design where he was involved in several European (as e.g. METNET, COMFORTABLE and MarNIS) and national projects for research and technical development. In addition to his research activities he was a co-instructor of the full mission ship handling simulator and a lecturer in training and education courses of students, captains, and chief officers. His main subject area is Maritime Safety issues but he has also covered Integrated Navigation Systems and the introduction of new technologies into the board navigation process.

In March 2009 Dr. Baldauf joined the World Maritime University (WMU), Malmö, Sweden where he is presently an Associate Professor in Maritime Safety and Environmental Administration which involves researching and lecturing on various topics. At WMU he is involved in several projects for research and technical development, namely studies into enhanced integration of new navigational equipment for enhanced applications contributing to safe navigation and particularly enhanced alert management onboard seagoing vessels. He is chief instructor at WMU for the Maritime Risk and Safety (MaRiSa) Simulation Laboratory.

Dr. Baldauf actively works in IMO and is the chairman of the international Correspondence Group developing Performance Standards for Maritime Voyage Data Recorders. He is also presently involved in the work of the IMO's Correspondence Group for INS/IBS and Bridge Alert Management. He is a member of the Nautical Institute, the German Association of Transport Sciences (DVWG), and the Society of Risk Analysis.