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Overview of Profiles

Prof. Dr. Tristan Barczak steht vor dem Universitätsgebäude HK16.

Professor Tristan Barczak

researches constitutional and administrative law with a special focus on public security law.

How resilient are the state and administration in times of crisis?

How resilient are the state and administration in times of crisis?

Professor Tristan Barczak, LL.M., studied law at the University of Münster, earning his doctoral title (Dr. iur.) in 2011 at the Institute of Public Law and Politics located on the university's premises. After completing a master’s degree in medical and health law (LL.M.) and the mandatory practical clerkship at the Higher Regional Court of the Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg, he was employed as a research assistant at the Federal Constitutional Court (BVerfG) from 2014 to 2017. Since 2020, he holds the Chair of Public Law, Security Law and Law of New Technologies at the University of Passau.

Profilbild von Prof. Dr. Christoph Barmeyer, Inhaber des Lehrstuhls für Interkulturelle Kommunikation, Universität Passau

Professor Christoph Barmeyer

researches intercultural organisations and skills

How can intercultural negotiation and development processes lead to cultural synergies?

How can intercultural negotiation and development processes lead to cultural synergies?

Professor Christoph Barmeyer has been holder of the Chair of Intercultural Communication at the University of Passau since 2008. The emphasis in his research is on management in cultural comparison, intercultural communication and the development of intercultural skills.

Professor Stefan Bauernschuster

researches empirical evaluation of political measures

How do political measures influence decisions made by individuals and families?

How do political measures influence decisions made by individuals and families?

Professor Stefan Bauernschuster has held the Chair of Public Economics of the University of Passau since 2013. Moreover, he is a research professor at the ifo Institute in Munich, CESifo Affiliate and a member of the Social Policy Committee of the German Economic Association. He is also one of the principal investigators of the DFG Research Training Group 2720.

Prof. Dr. Michael Beurskens steht in einem Uni Gebäude und lächelt freundlich in die Kamera.

Professor Michael Beurskens

researches digital economy and legal tech

How can global internet giants be regulated by the law?

How can global internet giants be regulated by the law?

Professor Michael Beurskens holds the Chair of Civil Law, German, European and International Business Law. He is interested in questions relating to the direct and indirect regulation of the digital economy, especially by way of antitrust law, and in questions regarding licence and liability law, for example in intellectual property law, in data protection law or in relation to non-compliant digital products and services.

Prof. Dr. Bernhard Bleyer.

Professor Bernhard Bleyer

researches the methodology of Catholic-theological ethics, the identity of Christian charity in a society of plurality, and normative issues of sustainable development

"How does a theological ethics arrive at scientific knowledge?“

"How does a theological ethics arrive at scientific knowledge?“

Professor Bernhard Bleyer has been with the Chair of Theological Ethics at the University of Passau since 2021. He heads the master's programme in Charity Studies and Values-Based Management as well as the Institute for Applied Ethics in Business and Education. After obtaining his doctorate in moral theology at the University of Regensburg in 2007 he went on to helm the Institute for Sustainability and Ethics at East Bavarian Technical University Amberg-Weiden. He then transferred to the Deggendorf Institute of Technology, joining the Professorship of Applied Ethics and Sustainable Development in Health Science. In 2019, he completed his habilitation at the Catholic Private University Linz.

Frau Professorin Suleika Bort, Inhaberin des Lehrstuhls für Betriebswirtschaftslehre mit Schwerpunkt Internationales Management und Soziales Unternehmertum an der Universität Passau.

Professor Suleika Bort

researches globally active organisations, networks, sustainability, and social entrepreneurship

How can globally active organisations be designed and managed in a socially responsible and sustainable way?

How can globally active organisations be designed and managed in a socially responsible and sustainable way?

Professor Suleika Bort has been holder of the Chair of International Management and Social Entrepreneurship at the University of Passau since 2020. In addition, she is Chair of the Advisory Board of the Institute of Applied Ethics of the University of Passau and has been Vice Dean of the School of Business, Economics and Information Systems at the University of Passau since autumn 2023. Previously, Professor Bort was employed at the University of MannheimChemnitz University of Technology, and the University of Sydney in Australia.

Professor Oliver Decker

Professor Oliver Decker

conducts research in modern German literature and media semiotics

What cultural patterns do people use online to present themselves?

What cultural patterns do people use online to present themselves?

Professor Dr. Oliver Decker has held the Chair of Modern German Literature/Media Semiotics at the University of Passau since 2011. He has been chairman of the German Semiotic Society (DGS) from 2014 until 2017.

Prof. Dr. Hans-Georg Dederer.

Professor Hans-Georg Dederer

does research in the fields of constitutional law, public international law and life sciences law

How does German, European and international law regulate new technologies?

How does German, European and international law regulate new technologies?

Professor Hans-Georg Dederer studied law at the University of Tübingen and at the University of Konstanz. He completed his doctorate, being conferred the title of  Doctor iuris, at the University of Bonn in 1997. In 2003, he completed his habilitation at the same university. Professor Dederer has held the Chair of Constitutional and Administrative Law, Public International Law, European and International Economic Law at the University of Passau since 2009. Furthermore, he has been acting as a member of the Permanent Senate Commission on Genetic Research of the DFG since 2018 and serving as a member of the Standing Committee "Life Sciences" of the Leopoldina since 2023.

Prof. Andreas Eberth, Lehrstuhl für Bildung für Nachhaltige Entwicklung, auf dem Flur zum Philosophicum der Uni Passau.

Professor Andreas Eberth

conducts research on Education for Sustainable Development

How can educational programs be devised in a forward-looking way in light of the challenges that come with Global Change?

How can educational programs be devised in a forward-looking way in light of the challenges that come with Global Change?

Professor Andreas Eberth has held the Professorship for Geography with a focus on Education for Sustainable Development at the University of Passau since March 2023. After working as a research assistant at the Institute of Science Education at Leibniz University Hannover, he served as Interim Professor of Geography Education at the Justus Liebig University in Giessen. In his capacity as chairperson of the Academic Association for Geography Education (HGD – Hochschulverband für Geographiedidaktik) he is committed to representing the interests of geography education across Germany.

Professor Robert Esser

researches European and international human rights protection in criminal law

What do human rights require of due process in criminal law, what are the limits of "effective" criminal prosecution?

What do human rights require of due process in criminal law, what are the limits of "effective" criminal prosecution?

Professor Robert Esser has held the Chair of German, European and International Criminal Law, Criminal Procedure Law and White-Collar Crime since 2007. He has been heading the Research Centre for Human Rights in Criminal Proceedings (HRCP) affiliated with the Chair since 2010. A particular focus of his work is basic research at universities and continuing judiciary and bar education on specific issues of human rights protection in international policy advice, specifically in Eastern and Southeastern Asia (China, Japan, Nepal, Taiwan, Vietnam).

Prof. Dr. Peter Fonk, Lehrstuhlinhaber für Theologische Ethik

Professor Peter Fonk

researches theological ethics, medical and corporate ethics

What ethical principles do the managers of tomorrow need?

What ethical principles do the managers of tomorrow need?

Professor Peter Fonk has been holder of the Chair of Theological Ethics at the University of Passau since 1994/95. He is director of the masters study programme Science of Charity and Value-Oriented Management and of the Institute of Applied Ethics in Economy, Education and Training. The emphasis in his research is on Christian social ethics, economic and corporate ethics.

Prof. Dr. Jin Gerlach steht auf dem Campus der Universität Passau und lächelt freundlich in die Kamera.

Professor Jin Gerlach

studies the challenges that come with increasing digitalization

How are digital technologies changing humans and organisations?

How are digital technologies changing humans and organisations?

Professor Jin Gerlach holds the Chair of Internet and Telecommunications Business at the University of Passau. He earned his doctoral degree at the Technical University of Darmstadt.

Professor Daniel Göler

Professor Daniel Göler

conducts research on European integration

Where is the European Union going?

Where is the European Union going?

Professor Daniel Göler holds the Jean Monnet Chair of European Politics at the University of Passau. His research focuses on all matters concerning European integration. Naturally, this involves academic networking across the globe. At the same time, the chair makes European political topics accessible to the general public by organising events and publishing the Jean Monnet Papers.

Professor Michael Granitzer

conducts research in data science

How can contexts of meaning be identified in a deluge of digital media?

How can contexts of meaning be identified in a deluge of digital media?

Professor Michael Granitzer holds the Chair of Data Science. His research focuses on the use of machine-based learning methods and intelligent human-machine interfaces.

Prof. Dr. Michael Grimm, Inhaber des Lehrstuhls für Development Economics

Professor Michael Grimm

studies technological change in developing countries, among other topics

What are the measures that enable developing countries to participate in global market processes?

What are the measures that enable developing countries to participate in global market processes?

Professor Michael Grimm has held the Chair of Development Economics of the University of Passau since 2012. He is also one of the Principal Investigators of the DFG Research Training Group 2720 "Digital Platform Ecosystems (DPE)". Prior to this, he held the posts of Professor of Applied Development Economics at Erasmus University Rotterdam, Visiting Professor at Paris School of Economics and Advisor for the World Bank in Washington, D.C. (United States).

Prof. Dr.-Ing. Christian Hammer, Inhaber des Lehrstuhls für Software Engineering I, steht argumentierend auf einem Flur.

Professor Christian Hammer

researches language-based software security

How to identify security gaps using information flow control?

How to identify security gaps using information flow control?

Professor Christian Hammer holds the Chair of Software Engineering I. Language-based software security is one of his main research interests. His particular focus is on the security of mobile and web applications, Internet-of-Things devices and concurrent systems. After earning his doctorate at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), he did research at IBM Research and Purdue University. He then went on to become a professor at Utah State University, Saarland University and Potsdam University.

Professor Siegfried Handschuh

Professor Siegfried Handschuh

conducts research on the processing of natural language and on knowledge graphs

How can methods used in the humanities be translated into algorithms?

How can methods used in the humanities be translated into algorithms?

Professor Siegfried Handschuh coordinates numerous international research and development projects funded, among others, by the EU, Science Foundation Ireland and Enterprise Ireland.

Prof. Dr. Christina Hansen (ehemals Schenz)

Professor Christina Hansen

researches diversity and giftedness in an international context

How do layout and re-figuration processes work in (educational) spaces?

How do layout and re-figuration processes work in (educational) spaces?

Professor Christina Hansen holds the Chair of Education (Primary) with a focus on diversity at the University of Passau. Since August 2020, she has been the Vice-President for International Affairs, Europe and Diversity.

Portrait von Prof. Dr. Tobias Harks auf den Gängen des ITZ International House der Uni Passau.

Professor Tobias Harks

conducts research in mathematical optimization, game theory and AI

How to model and optimize distributed systems with strategically acting users?

How to model and optimize distributed systems with strategically acting users?

As of October 2022, Professor Tobias Harks holds the Chair of Mathematical Optimization at the University of Passau. Prior to his appointment in Passau he held professorships at Maastricht University  and Augsburg University. He obtained his doctoral degree at the Zuse-Institute in Berlin followed by a postdoc position at TU Berlin. His research interests contain discrete and continuous optimization with a focus on distributed optimization, algorithmic learning and game theory and mathematics of AI.

Professor Rüdiger Harnisch

Professor Rüdiger Harnisch

researches communication spaces

Which spaces do we use to communicate online and offline?

Which spaces do we use to communicate online and offline?

Professor Rüdiger Harnisch holds the Chair of German Language of the University of Passau. He is a member of two project advisory boards of the Bavarian Academy of Sciences and Humanities and is a former member of the DFG Review Board for Linguistics.

Portrait von Prof. Dr. Susanne Hartwig, Inhaberin des Lehrstuhls für Romanische Literaturen und Kulturen, auf einem der Flure innerhalb der Universität Passau.

Professor Susanne Hartwig

researches images and concepts of disability in literature, theater, and film

How do fictional and documentary texts influence our images and concepts of disability?

How do fictional and documentary texts influence our images and concepts of disability?

Professor Susanne Hartwig has held the Chair of Romance Literatures and Cultures at the University of Passau since 2006. She studied classical philology and romance studies at the University of Münster. Today, she heads the DFG project "Narration, expectation, experience. Disability in contemporary European theater and film". Hartwig also acts as a scout for the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation in the Henriette Herz Scouting Programme (2020-2023). In 2010, she was included in the database academia.net – The Portal to Excellent Women Academics. Since 2014, she has been a member of the academic advisory board of the Specialised Information Service for Romance Studies.

Professor Harry Haupt

Professor Harry Haupt

researches data complexity

What modern statistical methods are there to analyse complex data?

What modern statistical methods are there to analyse complex data?

Prof. Dr. Harry Haupt has held the Chair of Statistics and Data Analytics at the University of Passau since 2012. From 2014 to 2020, he was Vice President for Research, Promotion of Young Researchers and International Affairs. Previously, he held the Chair of Econometrics and Statistics at Bielefeld University from 2007 to 2012 and was spokesperson of the Center for Statistics there from 2011 to 2012. He has been a member of the Board of the German Statistical Society since 2012, chairs the Committee on Statistical Theory and Methodology there from 2012 to 2020, and has been Editor of AStA - Advances in Statistical Analysis since 2023.

Prof. Dr. Carolin Häussler

Professor Carolin Häussler

researches co-operation and innovation

How can we use and increase the innovative strength of fluid organisations?

How can we use and increase the innovative strength of fluid organisations?

Professor Carolin Haeussler has held the Chair of Organisation, Technology Management and Entrepreneurship since 2011 and has been bringing researchers from all over the world to Passau with the International Centre for Economics and Business Studies. She is also one of the principal investigators of the DFG Research Training Group 2720 "Digital Platform Ecosystems (DPE)".

Prof. Dr. Annette Hautli-Janisz, die seit 2022 die Juniorprofessur Computational Rhetoric and Natural Language Processing an der Universität Passau innehat, in ihrem Büro.

Professor Annette Hautli-Janisz

researches computational linguistics

How to process and interpret natural language using automated methods?

How to process and interpret natural language using automated methods?

Professor Annette Hautli-Janisz has been Junior Professor of Computational Rhetoric and Natural Language Processing at the University of Passau since 2022. She is also an Associate Member of the Centre for Argument Technology at the University of Dundee and heads the Steinbeis Transfer Center for Linguistic Data Analysis. Before that, she had worked as a junior research group leader at the University of Konstanz. Her research is funded by the German Research Foundation (the excellence cluster "Politics of Inequality" at the University of Konstanz) and the Volkswagen Foundation (funding line "AI and the Future of Society").

Professor Dirk Heckmann

Professor Dirk Heckmann

conducts research in IT law

Which data merits protection and why?

Which data merits protection and why?

Professor Dirk Heckmann holds the Chair of Law and Security of Digitization at the Technical University of Munich and heads the Research Centre for IT Law and Network Policy at the University of Passau. He is also a member of the federal government's Data Ethics Commission and serves, among other functions, as a constitutional judge in the Bavarian Constitutional Court. From 1998 to 2019 he held the Chair of Public Law, Security Law and Internet Law at the University of Passau.

Professor Horst-Alfred Heinrich

Professor Horst-Alfred Heinrich

conducts research on methods of empirical social research

How do collective interpretations of cultural events emerge?

How do collective interpretations of cultural events emerge?

Professor Horst-Alfred Heinrich has held the Chair of Empirical Social Research at the University of Passau since 2010. His research focuses on a number of areas, including national identities as well as memory politics and politics of history.

Professor Christoph Heinzl

researches the scientific visualisation of complex data

How to analyse and visualise complex data in an intuitive and easy-to-understand way?

How to analyse and visualise complex data in an intuitive and easy-to-understand way?

Dr Christoph Heinzl has been Professor of Cognitive Sensor Systems at the University of Passau since September 2021. As such, he also heads the research group for knowledge-based image processing at the Fraunhofer Development Center X-ray Technology (EZRT). His research interests are found in scientific visualisation, visual analytics, virtual and augmented reality in visualisation, machine learning and X-ray computer tomography.

Prof. Dr. Anna Henkel, Inhaberin des Lehrstuhls für Soziologie mit Schwerpunkt Techniksoziologie und nachhaltige Entwicklung an der Universität Passau

Professor Anna Henkel

researches materiality, sustainability and digitalisation

How are relationships of responsibility changing in modern society?

How are relationships of responsibility changing in modern society?

Professor Anna Henkel has been holder of the Chair of Sociology of Technology and Sustainable Development at the University of Passau since 2019. The emphasis in her research is on sociological theory, research into knowledge, materiality and sustainability and research in the field of digitalisation. Since August 2021, Henkel has been a substitute member of the "Committee for Health and Safety at Work" of the Federal Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs.

Prof. Dr. Moritz Hennemann lächelt freundlich in die Kamera.

Professor Moritz Hennemann

researches developments in data law

Which regulatory models for digital interaction should we be following in the 21st century?

Which regulatory models for digital interaction should we be following in the 21st century?

Professor Moritz Hennemann has held the Chair of European and International Information and Data Law and headed the Research Centre for Law and Digitalisation (FREDI) of the Faculty of Law at the University of Passau since 2020. His research revolves around the global development of data and data protection law as well as the legal and regulatory framework of the digital economy.

Prof. Dr. Steffen Herbold, Lehrstuhl für AI Engineering

Professor Steffen Herbold

researches AI engineering

How can AI be used in software development?

How can AI be used in software development?

Professor Steffen Herbold has held the Chair of AI Engineering at the University of Passau since 2022. Prior to his appointment as Professor of "Methods and Applications of Machine Learning" at Clausthal University of Technology, he had served as stand-in data analysis professor on various occasions, including at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology. He studied, completed his doctorate and earned his habilitation in computer science at Göttingen University.

Prof. Dr. Oliver Hidalgo vor dem Hans-Kapfinger-Gebäude 16.

Professor Oliver Hidalgo

researches democratic theory and democracy's structural defects

What are the strengths and weaknesses, the opportunities and risks of democracy?

What are the strengths and weaknesses, the opportunities and risks of democracy?

Professor Oliver Hidalgo holds the Chair of Political Theory at the University of Passau. His main research interests are in democratic theory, the political history of ideas, and the relationship between politics and religion. He serves in a variety of capacities, including as spokesperson of the research group "Politics and Religion" at the German Political Science Association and as an active member of the ECPR Standing Group Democratic Innovations and the research group "Democracy Research" (DVPW).

Prof. Dr. Ralf Hohlfeld steht in schwarzem T-Shirt auf einem Gang der Universität.

Professor Ralf Hohlfeld

researches editorial convergence and disinformation on the internet

What challenges for raising public awareness arise as a result of digitisation?

What challenges for raising public awareness arise as a result of digitisation?

Professor Ralf Hohlfeld has held the Chair of Communication Studies at the University of Passau since September 2008. He established the bachelor’s degree programme “Journalism and Strategic Communication” and ran it from 2017 to 2021. He is also the spokesman for the Collegial Management of the Passau Centre for Digitalisation in Society (CeDiS). His research focuses are in the field of empirical journalism research, media change and disinformation in the digital society.

Prof. Dr. Stefan Katzenbeisser

Professor Stefan Katzenbeisser

researches cyber security and technical data protection

How can critical infrastructures in a networked world be protected against cyber attacks?

How can critical infrastructures in a networked world be protected against cyber attacks?

Professor Stefan Katzenbeisser holds the Chair of Computer Engineering at the University of Passau. He conducts research on cyber security in embedded systems, on secure critical infrastructures and on technical data protection. He is spokesperson of the new research cluster "ForDaySec - Security in everyday digitalisation", which is funded by the Bavarian Science Ministry and where researchers from computer science, law and sociology have come together to develop new types of technical procedures to provide security in day-to-day digital life. Besides participating in research projects on secure mobility, he is also involved in the research initiative "6G Research and Innovation Cluster (6G-RIC)" which is coordinated by Fraunhofer HHI and aims to develop mobile telecommunication systems of the sixth generation by pushing back the limits of technology.

Prof. Dr. Elif Bilge Kavun lächelt freundlich in die Kamera

Professor Elif Bilge Kavun

conducts research on secure intelligent systems

How can artificial intelligence methods be used to make IT systems more secure?

How can artificial intelligence methods be used to make IT systems more secure?

Professor Elif Bilge Kavun is Assistant Professor for Secure Intelligent Systems at the University of Passau. Before this, she was "Lecturer" for Cybersecurity at the University of Sheffield (Great Britain) and Digital Design Engineer for Crypto Cores at Infineon (Munich). She completed her doctorate on "Embedded Security" at Ruhr University Bochum in 2015. Professor Elif Bilge Kavun researches the security of novel intelligent systems as well as traditional computer and embedded systems. Among other things, she devotes herself to physical attacks and countermeasures.

Professor Thomas Knieper

researches in digital communication

What are the underlying strategies of digital communication phenomena?

What are the underlying strategies of digital communication phenomena?

Professor Thomas Knieper has held the Chair of Digital and Strategic Communication at the University of Passau since 2010. He is director of the non-profit organisation Jugend Film Fernsehen e.V. (JFF) in Munich. Before taking up his position in Passau, he had served as full professor for communication and media studies at TU Braunschweig, as managing director of IWF Wissen und Medien gGmbH in Göttingen and as assistant professor at the Institute of Communication and Media Research at LMU in Munich. In his research, he studies media change with a special focus on online communication.

Prof. Dr. Andreas König

Professor Andreas König

researches organisational change and executives’ personalities and communications

How do established organisations and their leaders respond to the discontinuities that emerge with digitalisation?

How do established organisations and their leaders respond to the discontinuities that emerge with digitalisation?

Professor Andreas König holds the Chair of Strategic Management, Innovation, and Entrepreneurship and is deputy spokesperson of the DFG Research Training Group 2720: "Digital Platform Ecosystems (DPE)" at the University of Passau. His research output is published in leading international journals such as Administrative Science Quarterly, the Academy of Management Review and Research Policy.

Professor Harald Kosch

Professor Harald Kosch

conducts research on distributed and multimedia systems

How can intelligent systems source information from across various media?

How can intelligent systems source information from across various media?

Professor Harald Kosch has held the Chair of Distributed Information Systems at the Faculty of Computer Science and Mathematics since 2006. He is the German director of DFH/UFA Doctoral College, which brings together INSA de Lyon and the University of Passau. The main purpose of this exchange is to facilitate cooperation projects in intelligent digital systems.

Professor Hans Krah

Professor Hans Krah

researches media semiotics

How credible is the worldview created by the digital and analogue media?

How credible is the worldview created by the digital and analogue media?

Professor Hans Krah holds the Chair of German Literature and Film at the University of Passau. He generates ideas for the DFG-funded Research Training Group 1681/2 ‘Privacy and Digitalisation’, which is currently in its second funding term.

Prof. Dr. Jan Krämer

Professor Jan Krämer

researches the regulation of the Platform Economy

What conditions are required on the internet to create competition and innovation?

What conditions are required on the internet to create competition and innovation?

Professor Jan Krämer holds the Chair of Internet and Telecommunications Business and is spokesperson of the DFG Research Training Group 2720: "Digital Platform Ecosystems (DPE)" at the University of Passau. He is a Research Fellow at the Centre on Regulation in Europe (CERRE), a Brussels-based think tank.

Prof. Dr. Martin Kreuzer, Inhaber des Lehrstuhls für Mathematik mit Schwerpunkt Symbolic Computation, lächelt freundlich.

Professor Martin Kreuzer

researches computer algebra

 How do you check the security of encryption systems using computer algebra?

 How do you check the security of encryption systems using computer algebra?

Professor Martin Kreuzer has held the chair of Mathematics with a focus on Symbolic Computation since 2007. His main research areas are computer algebra, commutative algebra, algebraic geometry and their applications. He is particularly interested in algebraic cryptography, which deals with the construction of new cryptosystems and the security analysis of existing cryptosystems using algebraic methods. The DFG project "Algebraic Error Attacks", which investigates the protection of cryptographic hardware against fault injections, is his most important activity in this field.

Professor Franz Lehner

Professor Franz Lehner

researches current issues of digitalisation in companies 

What business models are viable for regional cloud service providers?

What business models are viable for regional cloud service providers?

Professor Franz Lehner has held the Chair of Information Systems (Information and IT Service Management) at the University of Passau since 2004. He is the founder and creator of the European Conference on Software Maintenance and Reengineering (CSMR) and the International Association of Knowledge Management (IAKM). He was the founding President of the Danube University Krems.

Prof. Dr. Kai von Lewinski

Professor Kai von Lewinski

researches the collision of jurisdictions in information exchange

What does the internet mean for geographically limited legal systems?

What does the internet mean for geographically limited legal systems?

Kai von Lewinski is Professor of Public Law, Media Law and Information Law at the University of Passau and chairs the DFG-funded Research Training Group 1681/2 ‘Privacy and Digitalisation’. Prior to this, he was the Academic Director of the Foundation for Data Protection in Leipzig.

Professor Johann-Mattis List

researches computer-assisted language comparison and multilingual computer linguistics

How to compare the over 6 000 languages spoken around the world, and how do computer-based methods help?

How to compare the over 6 000 languages spoken around the world, and how do computer-based methods help?

Comparative Linguist Johann-Mattis List has held the Chair for Multilingual Computational Linguistics at the University of Passau since January 2023 and heads the ERC-funded research group "ProduSemy". Before that, he served as stand-in professor at Bielefeld University and as senior researcher at the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology in Leipzig and the Max Planck Institute for the Science of Human History in Jena where he headed another ERC-funded research group on computer-assisted language comparison. Professor List earned his doctorate at the Heinrich Heine University in Düsseldorf and wrote his habilitation at the Friedrich Schiller University in Jena.

Prof. Dr. Sebastian Martens

Professor Sebastian Martens, M.Jur. (Oxon.)

researches civil law and European private law and law history

How can the law contribute to a fair distribution of burdens in times of crisis?

How can the law contribute to a fair distribution of burdens in times of crisis?

Professor Sebastian Martens, M.Jur. (Oxon.) has been holder of the Chair of Civil Law, Roman Law, European Private Law and European Legal History at the University of Passau since 2015.

Prof. Dr. Susanne Mayr

Professor Susanne Mayr

researches psychology and human-machine interaction

How does being connected online affect us as humans?

How does being connected online affect us as humans?

Professor Susanne Mayr has held the Chair of Psychology and Human–Machine Interaction of the Faculty of Social and Educational Sciences since 2015.

Prof. Dr.-Ing. Hermann de Meer

Professor Hermann de Meer

researches smart electricity networks

How can we make the electricity network safe and stable using digitalisation?

How can we make the electricity network safe and stable using digitalisation?

Professor Hermann de Meer holds the Chair of Computer Networks and Computer Communications at the University of Passau and is Honorary Professor at University College London. Previously, he held positions as Junior Professor at the University of Hamburg and Visiting Professor at Columbia University in New York City, USA. His research interests include cloud computing, energy systems, network virtualisation, IT security, smart grid, smart city, Industry 4.0, the digitalisation of energy systems, computer networks, and computer communication, as well as distributed computing.

Prof. Dr. Ulrike Müßig

Professor Ulrike Müßig

researches European legal history

How have Human Rights evolved in Europe

How have Human Rights evolved in Europe

Professor Ulrike Müßig is head of the Chair for Civil Law, German and European Legal History at the University of Passau. She served as Professeur invité at Paris II (Panthéon-Assas, 2019/20), as Advanced Grantee (ReConFort, 2014-18) and is corresponding member of the Austrian and Andalusian Academy of Sciences.

Prof. Dr. Bettina Noltenius

Professor Bettina Noltenius

researches criminal law and philosophy of law

Under what conditions should the state be allowed to restrict citizens' rights to freedom with the aid of coercive measures?

Under what conditions should the state be allowed to restrict citizens' rights to freedom with the aid of coercive measures?

Professor Bettina Noltenius is holder of the Chair of Criminal Law, Criminal Proceedings Law, Criminology and Philosophy of Law at the University of Passau. The emphasis in her research is on German and European (criminal) law, philosophy of law and German criminal law in modern times.

Prof. Dr. Alena Otto

Professor Alena Otto

researches data-based corporate and production planning

How should management strategies be designed in the digital age?

How should management strategies be designed in the digital age?

Since 2019, Professor Alena Otto has been holder of the Chair of Business Administration with a focus on Management Science/Operations and Supply Chain Management at the University of Passau. Prior to her academic career, Professor Otto worked as a strategy consultant in Ukraine, Germany and Russia.

Prof. Dr. Robert Obermaier, Vizepräsident für Forschung an der Universität Passau

Professor Robert Obermaier

researches controlling, enterprise assessment and Industry 4.0

How can enterprises be steered through a crisis?

How can enterprises be steered through a crisis?

Professor Robert Obermaier is vice-president of research at the University of Passau and holder of the Chair of Accounting and Control. His work is concentrated on the areas of controlling, enterprise assessment, production and decision theory.

Professor Martina Padmanabhan

researches sustainable institutions

What opportunities and problems does digitalisation pose for the disadvantaged?

What opportunities and problems does digitalisation pose for the disadvantaged?

Professor Martina Padmanabhan has held the Chair of ComparativeDevelopment and Cultural Studies with a focus on Southeast Asia since 2012, where she implements new methodologies for interdiciplinarity.

Prof. Dr. Joachim Posegga ist Inhaber des Lehrstuhls für IT-Sicherheit an der Universität Passau. Er trägt ein blau kariertes Hemd und argumentiert.

Professor Joachim Posegga

researches IT security

How to make IT applications secure in everyday life?

How to make IT applications secure in everyday life?

Professor Joachim Posegga holds the Chair of IT Security at the University of Passau. He earned his doctorate at Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) and conducted industrial research in the field of security for a period of ten years before he was appointed head the Research Group "Security in Distributed Systems" of the Department of Informatics at the University of Hamburg. In 2009, he moved on to Passau and was appointed head of the Institute for IT Security and Security Law (ISL). In his research, he focuses on web security, security architectures and protocols, placing a special emphasis on the Internet of Things.

Professor Joscha Prochno

does research in functional analysis, geometry and probability theory.

How do geometrical structures behave when the spatial dimension tends to infinity?

How do geometrical structures behave when the spatial dimension tends to infinity?

Professor Joscha Prochno was awarded his doctorate in 2011 at Kiel University, where he had previously earned his Diplom degree. His academic career then took him to the University of Alberta in Canada, the Johannes Kepler University of Linz in Austria and the University of Hull in England. He has been professor at the University of Passau since April 2021 and holds the Chair of Functional Analysis. Professor Prochno also serves as co-editor of the two journals Mathematische Nachrichten and Journal of Complexity. In 2021, Professor Prochno was awarded Austria's most prestigious mathematics prize.

Professor Malte Rehbein

Professor Malte Rehbein

conducts research in digital humanities

How can historical sources be digitalised and assessed with the assistance of computers?

How can historical sources be digitalised and assessed with the assistance of computers?

Professor Malte Rehbein has held the Chair of Digital Humanities at the University of Passau since 2013. He is a member of both the board of Digital Humanities in German Speaking Countries and the Scientific Advisory Board of Deutsches Museum.

Professor Karoline Reinhardt

works on ethical questions regarding AI, algorithms, and migration

What kind of ethical questions are raised by of social and political transformation?

What kind of ethical questions are raised by of social and political transformation?

Professor Karoline Reinhardt is Junior Professor for Applied Ethics at the University of Passau. Before taking on her position at the University of Passau, she was a PostDoctoral fellow at the Ethics & Philosophy Lab of the DFG Cluster of Excellence “Machine Learning: New Perspectives for Science” and the International Center for Ethics in the Sciences and Humanities at the University of Tübingen. Previous to that, she held research and teaching positions at universities in Ankara, Graz, New Orleans, and Munich. She is a member of the Young Academy of the Heidelberg Academy of Sciences.

Professor Lars Rensmann

researches crises of democracy, right-wing populism, authoritarianism and how they compare globally

What new and old risks does democracy face in the digital age?

What new and old risks does democracy face in the digital age?

Professor Lars Rensmann has held the Chair of Political Science with a focus on Comparative Government since the summer semester of 2022. Before that, he served as professor for European policy and society at the University of Groningen, as associate professor of political science at John Cabot University in Rome and as DAAD assistant professor of political science at the University of Michigan. In his research, Professor Rensmann studies crises of democracy, authoritarianism, antisemitism, populism and right-wing radicalism around the world using a comparative approach. He is currently conducting a "darkfield study" in North Rhine-Westphalia to shed light on the spread of antisemitic prejudice and resentment in society.

Professor Ursula Reutner

Professor Ursula Reutner

researches cultural patterns

Where will digitalisation take us: towards a unified culture or ever greater diversity?

Where will digitalisation take us: towards a unified culture or ever greater diversity?

Professor Ursula Reutner has held the Chair of Romance Languages and Cultures of the University of Passau since 2009; since 2014 she has held the post of Vice President for International Relations.

Prof. Dr. Thomas Riehm, Foto: Stefan Schmuck

Professor Thomas Riehm

researches contract and liability law as well as conflict resolution, including issues regarding digitalisation

What does digitalisation mean for the application and development of laws that are over 100 years old?

What does digitalisation mean for the application and development of laws that are over 100 years old?

Professor Thomas Riehm holds the Chair of German and European Private Law, Civil Procedure and Legal Theory and is the speaker of the Institute for Digital Society Law (IRDG) as well as a member of the Passau Institute for Digital Security (PIDS). His main research interests are contract and liability law with a focus on IT matters but also civil dispute resolution, including their digitalisation. Among other areas, he focuses on the legal issues that arise from the digitalisation of civil law proceedings, the use of AI, contract law for digital services, and the adaptation of form requirements to digitalisation needs.

Professor Tomas Sauer

Professor Tomas Sauer

conducts research on digital image processing

How can strategies of image processing and deep learning be combined?

How can strategies of image processing and deep learning be combined?

Professor Tomas Sauer holds the Chair of Digital Image Processing. In addition, he heads the Fraunhofer research group 'Knowledge-based Image Processing' at the University of Passau and the Institute for Software Systems in Technical Applications of Computer Science (FORWISS Passau).

Professor Wolfram Schaffar

researches democratisation and de-democratisation in Southeast Asia

How can the authoritarian turn be recognised?

How can the authoritarian turn be recognised?

Professor Wolfram Schaffar has held the Chair of Development Policy at the University of Passau since April 2021. Previously, he was, among other things, Professor of Japanese Studies at the University of Tübingen and Professor of Political Science and Development Research at the Institute for International Development at the University of Vienna.

Professor Stefanie Scherzinger

conducts research on the structuring of large data volumes

How to bring order to large data volumes?

How to bring order to large data volumes?

Professor Stefanie Scherzinger holds the Chair of Scalable Database Systems at the University of Passau. Passau is where she had studied Computer Science and embarked on her academic career. After gaining experience in the field as a software developer with IBM and Google, she was professor at OTH Regensburg for eight years before she was offered a position at the University of Passau in April 2020.

Prof. Dr. Hannah Schmid-Petri, Inhaberin des Lehrstuhls für Wissenschaftskommunikation an der Universität Passau.

Professor Hannah Schmid-Petri

researches public debates – both online and off.

How are digitalisation issues publicly discussed and what consequences does that have for political processes?

How are digitalisation issues publicly discussed and what consequences does that have for political processes?

Professor Hannah Schmid-Petri is the holder of the Chair of Science Communication at the University of Passau and leads the Fraunhofer 'Science Communication' research group, which is based at the Fraunhofer Cluster of Excellence 'Integrated Energy Systems' CINES. She is also one of the principal investigators of the DFG Research Training Group 2720. She analyses public discussions on political issues such as digitalisation and climate change.

Prof. Dr. Christine Schmitt im Portrait vor dem Panorama des Inns und der Stadt Passau.

Professor Christine Schmitt

researches vegetation geography and human-environment relationships

How can I reconcile the conservation and utilisation of natural resources and biodiversity?

How can I reconcile the conservation and utilisation of natural resources and biodiversity?

Professor Christine Schmitt has been Chaired Professor of Physical Geography with a focus on Human-Environment Research at the University of Passau since April 2021. She is an active member of the scientific advisory board of the Society for Tropical Ecology (gtö) and of the BayWISS Joint Academic Partnership Life Sciences and Green Technologies and has experience in policy support at an international level.

Prof. Dr. Meinhard Schröder steht auf dem Campus und lächelt freundlich in die Kamera.

Professor Meinhard Schröder

researches in public and IT law

How can law ensure IT security?

How can law ensure IT security?

Professor Meinhard Schröder holds the Chair of Public Law, European Law and IT Law. He is a member of the Passau Institute of Digital Security (PIDS) and the Institute for Digital Society Law (IRDG). His research focuses not only on traditional legal fields like municipal law and administrative procedural law but also on digital economy law, data protection law and e-government law.

Professor Jan Schumann

Professor Jan Hendrik Schumann

researches consumer behavior in B2C relationships

How does it affect people when firms pass on their data?

How does it affect people when firms pass on their data?

Professor Jan Hendrik Schumann has held the Chair of Marketing and Innovation of the University of Passau since 2012. He is also one of the principal investigators of the DFG Research Training Group 2720. Since July 2013, he has also worked a director of the Institute of Market and Economic Research.

Professor Andrea Sieber

researches medieval literature and media history

What image of the Middle Ages do the modern media give us?

What image of the Middle Ages do the modern media give us?

Professor Andrea Sieber has been holder of the Professorship of Medieval German Literature at the University of Passau since 2016. The emphasis in her research is on the history of literature and media and the reception of the Middle Ages. Since September 2019 she has been a board member at the Association of German Philologists (DGV).

Professor Malte Steinbrink †

researched urban & regional development and migration and translocality in Africa

How can we explain the geographical dimensions of social inequalities?

How can we explain the geographical dimensions of social inequalities?

Professor Malte Steinbrink was holder of the Chair of Social and Cultural Geography. This social and cultural geographer was a member of the interdisciplinary Institute for Migration Research and Intercultural Studies (IMIS) and a Senior Research Fellow at the University of Johannesburg (South Africa). His research interests included geographical development, migration and tourism research and empirical scientific observation.

Prof. Dr. Christian Thies

Professor Christian Thies

researches practical philosophy

What can classical philosophy contribute to the digital society?

What can classical philosophy contribute to the digital society?

Professor Christian Thies has been holder of the Teaching Professorship of Philosophy at the University of Passau since 2009. The emphasis in his research is on practical philosophy and, seen historically, in particular classical German philosophy.

Prof. Dr. Florian Töpfl

Professor Florian Töpfl

studies digital communication in Russia

How does Moscow influence media audiences abroad using internet-based technologies?

How does Moscow influence media audiences abroad using internet-based technologies?

Professor Florian Töpfl holds the Chair of Political Communication with a Focus on Eastern Europe and the Post-Soviet Region at the University of Passau. He heads the ERC Consolidator project "The Consequences of the Internet for Russia’s Informational Influence Abroad (RUSINFORM)" at the University of Passau. Before Dr. Töpfl was appointed professor at the University of Passau in 2020 he conducted research as the head of an Emmy Noether Research Group at Freie Universität Berlin (2014-2019) and as Marie Curie Postdoctoral Fellow at the London School of Economics and Political Science (2012-2014).

Prof. Dr. Brian Valerius steht in einem Universitätsgebäude, lehnt an einem Geländer und blickt freundlich in die Kamera.

Professor Brian Valerius

Professor Valerius researches digitalisation from the criminal law and criminal proceedings perspective.

How transparent does artificial intelligence have to be?

How transparent does artificial intelligence have to be?

Professor Brian Valerius took up the Chair of Artificial Intelligence in Criminal Law at the University of Passau in October 2022. In his research, he focuses on the entire gamut of criminal law and of criminal procedural law. More specifically, he studies the challenges that come with digitalisation and notably with artificial intelligence. Further priorities include medical criminal law as well as international and intercultural issues.

Professor Daniela Wawra

Professor Daniela Wawra

conducts sociolinguistic and cross-cultural research

How do culture and language shape analogue and digital interactions?

How do culture and language shape analogue and digital interactions?

Professor Daniela Wawra has held the Chair of English Language and Culture of the Faculty of Arts and Humanities since 2010. From 2018 to 2020 she was Vice President for Study, Teaching and Internationalisation at the University of Passau. 

Prof. Dr. Thomas Widjaja

Professor Thomas Widjaja

researches on IT architecture management, data-based business models, and privacy

What changes when companies develop new services using customer data?

What changes when companies develop new services using customer data?

Professor Thomas Widjaja has held the Chair of Business Information Systems since 2016. He is also one of the principal investigators of the DFG Research Training Group 2720. Previously, he gained his doctoral and postdoctoral degrees at TU Darmstadt.

Prof. Dr. Thomas Wünsch

Professor Thomas Wünsch

researches the modern and contemporary history of Eastern Europe and its culture

What defines history and culture in Ukraine?

What defines history and culture in Ukraine?

Professor Thomas Wünsch holds the Chair of Modern and Contemporary History of Eastern Europe and its Cultures. In his research he focuses on the history and culture of Poland, Czechia, Ukraine, Russia, Central Asia and the Balkans. He heads a branch of Südosteuropa-Gesellschaft and the Perspektive Osteuropa initiative at the University of Passau.

Prof. Dr. Jens Zumbrägel steht mit weißem Hemd und Jacket an ein Geländer gelehnt vor dem ITZ Gebäude..

Professor Jens Zumbrägel

researches algebra and cryptography

How can abstract maths be used to enhance the security of encryption?

How can abstract maths be used to enhance the security of encryption?

Professor Jens Zumbrägel has been Professor of Mathematics with a focus on Cryptography since 2017. He is all enthusiastic about algebra and its applications in public key cryptography and communication technology. His research focus is on the discrete logarithm problem, and currently also on post-quantum cryptography and codes over rings.

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