New at the Faculty

2026

Juliane Dziumla

Together with Prof. Edeltraud Günther, Juliane Dziumla transferred from UNU Resource Nexus to the faculty effective October 1, 2026. She will work as a research associate and doctoral student at the Chair of Business Administration, esp. Sustainability Management and Enviornmental Accounting.

1. What is the title of your dissertation? How did you come up with the idea to focus on this particular topic for your dissertation?
The title of my dissertation is Environmental Impact Assessment of Vertical Farming from a Resource Nexus Perspective. The idea arose from the question of how agriculture can be made more sustainable amid increasing resource and climate pressures, as well as the question of whether technological innovations—such as vertical farming systems—can be the solution to pressing global problems. Vertical farming is touted by the industry as a solution to water and land scarcity, but little attention is paid to the potential new resource dependencies.

2. What are the central research questions, and what methods are you using to answer them?
The central question is how the environmental impacts of vertical farming can be assessed while taking into account the interactions between individual resources. A key focus is the development of a framework that supplements environmental assessment with aspects of the social, economic, spatial, and temporal dimensions, thereby enabling a holistic analysis. This involves combining Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) with qualitative methods and scenario analyses. I am also investigating the extent to which such assessment methods can be used as a basis for decision-making processes.

2. In your opinion, what have been the most exciting findings so far?
I find it particularly exciting that vertical farming is not inherently more or less sustainable than conventional agriculture, but that this depends heavily on the framework conditions. The environmental impacts of technological components are often overlooked, as studies to date have frequently focused on only a single aspect, such as water conservation. That’s why I place a special focus on these infrastructure-related characteristics. It’s also very exciting to see how appealing the topic of vertical farming is to people who otherwise show little interest in agricultural issues. We always receive a lot of applications for our applied studies.

3. How has your time at UNU Resource Nexus shaped you so far, and what are your expectations for TUD and the faculty?
My time at UNU Resource Nexus has had a profound impact on my research because there I learned to view sustainability issues not in isolation, but from a systemic and interdisciplinary perspective. Furthermore, the international environment and the insights gained from the UN network through conferences and working groups are very inspiring and diverse. This has enabled me to learn how my academic work can be adapted and utilized in political decision-making processes. At TUD, I am particularly looking forward to teaching and inspiring students to embrace systemic thinking about sustainability.

Tobias Hatzfeld

Together with Prof. Edeltraud Günther, Tobias Hatzfeld transferred from UNU Resource Nexus to the faculty on October 1, 2026. He will serve as a research associate and doctoral student at the Chair of Business Administration, esp. Sustainability Management and Industrial Environmental Accounting.

1. What is the title of your dissertation? How did you come up with the idea to focus on this particular topic for your dissertation?
The title is From Function to Flow: Methodological Advancements in Sustainability Assessment for a Sustainability Transformation. In my research on sustainability assessment, I’ve found that many established assessment methods are primarily geared toward optimizing existing systems. In my dissertation, I explore how sustainability assessments can be further developed to not only evaluate incremental improvements to existing systems but also to identify systems with ecological disruptive potential that can contribute to a genuine sustainability transformation.

2. What are the central research questions you are addressing in your dissertation, and what methods are you using to answer these questions?
The central research question is: “In the research fields of ecology and circularity, what methodological advancements are required in sustainability assessment to evaluate disruptive technologies that enable a sustainability transformation?” I am investigating, on the one hand, how sustainability assessments can go beyond traditional approaches and, on the other hand, how the resulting trade-offs can be better identified and avoided. Methodologically, I use life cycle assessment (LCA) methods as well as assessment methods for circularity. The dissertation is structured cumulatively and comprises five scientific publications. In these publications, I develop a total of 13 methodological innovations, such as those for the prospective modeling of future technologies, the detailed assessment of environmental and resource flows, the analysis of recycling pathways, and the use of various functional units to highlight transformation potential. The methods are primarily demonstrated using case studies from the construction sector and were developed as part of the SFB/TRR 280, zPP (Circular, Sustainable Technical Textiles Made of Polypropylene for the Transportation Sector), and CARE Cluster of Excellence projects.

3. In your opinion, what have been the most exciting findings of your research so far?
I find it particularly exciting to realize that the results of a sustainability assessment can sometimes change fundamentally when the focus is not on the product itself but on its function. This allows us to identify potential that often remains hidden in traditional assessments. The question is then no longer “How can a product be improved?” but rather “How can a need be met as sustainably as possible?”

4. How has your time at UNU Resource Nexus shaped you so far, and what are your expectations for TUD and the faculty?
My time at UNU Resource Nexus has shaped me greatly. In an environment with colleagues from more than 40 countries, all of whom possess deep expertise in every possible facet of resource analysis, I’ve learned the immense value of diverse perspectives. But I’m also returning to TU Dresden with great joy. I’m especially looking forward to teaching and working with students.

2025

Fritz Seltmann

Starting July 1, Fritz Seltmann will be joining the team at the Computer Science Lab. During high school, Fritz Seltmann completed various internships at companies such as AOK Plus and Porsche. After graduating from high school, he began an apprenticeship as an IT specialist for system integration at the Center for Advancing Electronics Dresden (cfaed) at TU Dresden, which he recently completed successfully.

Looking ahead to his new role at the Computer Science Lab, Fritz Seltmann is excited to contribute his expertise in system integration and to work with the team to develop new technical solutions. He is also particularly excited about collaborating with students and colleagues, as well as supporting the faculty on exciting IT projects.

Silvia Hack

Since early June, Silvia Hack has been working in the office of the Chair of Business Administration, with a focus on logistics, as a parental leave substitute for Christin Peschel. Silvia Hack studied archaeology in Innsbruck and earned a diploma. After working primarily on project-based assignments for numerous institutions conducting archaeological excavations (universities, museums, the Office of Cultural Heritage, etc.), she transitioned into academic administration and was employed by the Austrian Academy of Sciences. In the meantime, Silvia Hack also worked as a tour guide in Spain and Portugal. Since 2018, Silvia Hack has been living in Dresden for personal reasons and worked for more than five years, until the end of May 2025, as a team assistant at a patent law firm.

Silvia Hack applied for the position at the faculty because she had a strong desire to return to the academic environment—and her application was successful. She is now looking forward to an interesting and multifaceted collaboration with the various levels of the academic community.

Prof. Dr. Patrick Zschech

Since May 1, 2025, Patrick Zschech has held the Chair of Business Information Systems, with a focus on Intelligent Systems and Services. Previously, he was a professor at the University of Leipzig and, from 2021 to 2023, held an open-topic tenure-track Chair at FAU Erlangen-Nuremberg, where he co-led the BMBF-funded early-career research group “White-Box-AI.” Patrick Zschech successfully completed his doctorate in 2020 at TU Dresden with the dissertation “Data Science and Analytics in Industrial Maintenance: Selection, Evaluation, and Application of Data-Driven Methods.”

1) I would like to convey to students that …
… Business Information Systems are far more than just the automation of routine tasks such as order processing or payroll. Rather, it is about actively shaping the digital future with the help of modern technologies such as generative AI, deep learning, IoT, process mining, robotics, augmented reality, etc. Technical expertise—such as programming, data analysis, and the development of algorithmic solutions—is, of course, of central importance. However, it is just as crucial that we never lose sight of people and their needs—because all these technologies are meant to make people’s everyday lives easier, not burden them with unnecessary complications. I therefore warmly invite students to join us in exploring a world where we not only develop computer systems that perform simple tasks for us, but rather design innovative solutions that support and inspire people—so that the digital future truly becomes a better future for everyone.

2) As I build my Chair team, it is important to me …
… that we jointly identify research topics that each individual fully believes in. My goal is to create an environment in which my colleagues can work on their topics with passion, a thirst for knowledge, and curiosity, and start each day with intrinsic motivation. For me, gaining new insights—both individually and for the entire team—is the top priority, even above the mere number of publications in high-impact journals. I also place great value on an interdisciplinary team with complementary skills—ranging from algorithmic development and programming to the design of experimental studies and an in-depth understanding of relevant social science explanatory frameworks. Furthermore, I consider it essential that we conduct research as equals within our team, which is why I aim to foster flat hierarchies, short lines of communication, and a culture of open and honest criticism.

3) My most exciting research project to date focused on …
… investigating the conditions under which people are more willing to share their personal data when using personalized sleep and health apps. In doing so, we distinguished between whether the data was processed by a human, a black-box AI, or a white-box AI. Although most users stated in a survey that they would NOT share sensitive data in particular (such as information about sexual activity, drug use, or mental health), they nevertheless disclosed a large portion of this data during the actual data collection process. This phenomenon is referred to in the literature as the “privacy paradox” and was previously unknown to me. Therefore, the project’s findings were quite intriguing. Furthermore, we observed a slight tendency for users to be more inclined to entrust their sensitive data to a black-box AI compared to a human or a white-box AI. However, since these findings were not yet statistically significant in our current setting, further research is needed to gain greater certainty about them.

4) Current research topics I am working on include …
… all questions related to the topics of “Interpretable Machine Learning (IML)” and “Explainable Artificial Intelligence (XAI).” In this context, I am interested, for example, in:

the algorithmic development of novel, transparent machine learning models and their validation in real-world applications,
the integration of IML and XAI approaches with generative AI and large language models (e.g., in the form of conversational agents as personalized dialogue interfaces between the model and the user),
the operationalization of the difficult-to-measure construct of “interpretability” from a socio-technical perspective, as well as potential links to established methods in the field of NeuroIS research,
the conduct of user-centered experimental and evaluation studies, particularly taking into account explanatory approaches from the field of behavioral economics (key point: “Thinking, Fast and Slow”),
building bridges to the field of “causal machine learning” to uncover and account for causal relationships.

However, since all these fascinating topics cannot be addressed alone, I am already very much looking forward to the numerous opportunities for collaboration within our faculty as well as with other partners in the TU Dresden network. :-)

Dr. Ann Sophie Lauterbach

Dr. Ann Sophie Lauterbach has been a member of the faculty since April 1, 2025, and works at the Chair for Business Administration, specializing in Organization and Management. She earned her Ph.D. in organizational behavior, focusing on innovative workplace design and its effects on employee behavior, at the Future of Work Lab at the University of Konstanz. Her research has been published in international journals such as *Environment and Behavior*, *PLoS ONE*, and the *German Journal of Human Resource Management*, as well as in practice-oriented publications such as the *Inequality Policy Papers*, *PERSONALquarterly*, and the journal *Führung + Organisation* (ZFO).

1) What has your academic career been like so far?
I studied political science and public administration at the University of Konstanz and earned a master’s degree in work and organizational psychology at Maastricht University. I then returned to beautiful Konstanz to complete my Ph.D. in the project “Digitalization, Automation, and the Future of Work in Post-Industrial Welfare States” at the Cluster of Excellence “The Politics of Inequality,” graduating summa cum laude. During my doctoral studies, I completed several research stays and collaborated with colleagues at institutions including the Aix-Marseille School of Economics, the Harvard School of Public Health, and the BI Norwegian Business School. I also greatly enjoy teaching—which is why I was all the more delighted to be awarded the prize for best instructor in my department (which has over 60 faculty members) in 2024.

2) What led you to decide to move to Dresden now?
I’d especially like to highlight Professor Razinskas’s selection process, which stood out positively from many others: It not only included a traditional interview and a job talk but also gave me the opportunity to get to know the team and the campus personally. It also became clear that I would have a great deal of autonomy in determining the focus of my postdoc. That made all the difference for me. In addition, the strong Faculty of Business and Economics and the Center for Demography and Diversity in Dresden won me over. And last but not least, I was thrilled by the opportunity to play for the Dresden 7s rugby team in my free time—that was a nice bonus.

3) What are your research interests?
In my doctoral dissertation, I focused on how technological changes and physical redesigns of the workplace influence employees’ behavior and well-being—particularly with regard to attendance patterns such as presenteeism and absenteeism. Currently, I’m primarily interested in three areas: First, to what extent the basic assumptions of self-determination theory can be empirically confirmed as necessary for employees’ well-being. Second, how employees develop attitudes toward artificial intelligence. And third, how the health and well-being of migrants in the workplace can be improved.

4) And what topics interest you from a methodological perspective?
I work primarily with quantitative methods and rely mainly on field studies to examine changes in organizations under real-world conditions and to derive practical implications. Methodologically, I am particularly interested in the application of both frequentist and Bayesian statistics—depending on which approach best suits the specific research question.

Linda Heinze

Linda Heinze has been working in the Dean's Office of the Faculty since March 1, 2025, and assists the Office of Academic Affairs in preparing and providing information for students and prospective students, managing academic quality, and coordinating committee meetings and faculty events.

1) What has your professional career been like so far?
After completing my training as an administrative assistant with the city administration in Plauen, I joined the Faculty of Business and Economics at TU Dresden in November 2015. For an extended period, I worked simultaneously at the Chair of Business Administration, specializing in Energy Economics, and at the Chair of Business Administration, specializing in Sustainability Management and Industrial Environmental Economics. In addition, I also “helped out” for shorter periods at the Junior Professorship for Business Administration, specializing in Strategic Management, in the faculty’s Examination Office, in research funding, and in the legal affairs office. From August 2020 to March 2023, I concurrently completed continuing education to become a certified administrative specialist at the Meissen University of Applied Sciences (FH) and its Continuing Education Center. I was also on maternity and parental leave from July 2021 to June 2023 and from December 2023 to February 2025.

2) You are now moving from the secretariat of a Chair to the secretariat of the Office of the Dean of Academic Affairs, and thus to the faculty level. What are your expectations, and what particularly interests you about your new responsibilities?
I’ve set a goal for myself to quickly familiarize myself with my new responsibilities, particularly in the area of academic affairs, even though I’ve had less experience in this field so far. I’m confident that I can acquire new skills that will help me grow both personally and professionally. I’m also looking forward to the challenges that lie ahead. What interests me most about my new role is the opportunity to contribute my own ideas, play an active role at the faculty level, and collaborate with diverse groups of people.

3) How do you think you can apply the experience you’ve gained so far to your work in the Dean's Office?
Through my previous roles, I’ve gained insights into a wide range of administrative structures, processes, and subject areas, and I’ve already built up a strong professional network. I believe both of these will benefit my work in the Dean's Office. Thanks to my experience in event management, I can contribute both my knowledge and creative ideas to enhance the faculty’s visibility and activities.

2024

Prof. Dr. Stefan Razinskas

Prof. Dr. Stefan Razinskas has held the Chair of Business Administration, with a focus on Organization and Management, at the faculty since October 1, 2024. Stefan Razinskas is moving from the Free University of Berlin to Dresden, where he has held a Junior Professorship in management since 2020. Stefan Razinskas successfully completed his doctorate in 2016 at the WHU Otto Beisheim School of Management and subsequently worked as a postdoc at LMU Munich until 2019.

1) I would like to convey to the students that …
… the skills for collaboration and constructive interaction will be of great benefit to them both now, during their studies, and in the future, in their professional lives. It is therefore particularly important to me to highlight the interpersonal aspects of modern organizational and management theory in my courses and to bring them to life through practical examples. Since organizational structures are shaped and brought to life by people, I hope to prepare students for their professional careers by encouraging them to critically question oversimplified views of complex issues and to make theory-guided use of the creative freedom available to them.

2) When building my Chair team, it is important to me to …
… not only to ensure a thematic alignment between my colleagues’ research interests and the Chair’s core topics, but also to grow together as a team on an interpersonal level. A trusting working relationship within the team is important not only for my colleagues’ independent research and teaching but also for dealing with the setbacks that typically accompany academic careers. A supportive and appreciative work environment within the team is therefore particularly conducive to maintaining the joy of working together as a team within the Chair and of teaching in the lecture hall, even during challenging times.

3) My most exciting research project to date focused on …
… the role of diversity and time pressure in teams. Through an experimental study, my co-authors and I were able to demonstrate that, in terms of performance, gender-diverse teams have an advantage over homogeneous teams due to their composition. However, when under time pressure, these teams are unable to fully leverage the benefits of their diversity. This project not only made an important scientific contribution to understanding the framework conditions for effective collaboration in diverse teams, but it also enriched me personally. For example, during our data collection—in which we observed approximately 150 teams in the experimental lab—I was able to gain a better understanding of various aspects of teamwork as an observer and draw inspiration for future research projects.

4) Current research topics I am working on include …
… still strongly influenced by my interest in successful collaboration despite conditions that are not always favorable. Using a broad spectrum of methodological approaches from organizational and management research, I focus not only on the design of team-based organizational structures but also on collaboration between leaders and followers. In particular, I am interested in how conscious (e.g., spatial and hierarchical) and unconscious (e.g., social and personal) differences among participants in team and leadership contexts affect their collaboration. I am confident that I will be able to successfully continue this interdisciplinary research together with my team at TU Dresden.

Dr. Andreas Leibing

Andreas Leibing has been working as a Research Associate and postdoc at the Chair of Quantitative Methods, Especially Econometrics, since May 2024.

1) What has your professional and academic career been like so far?
After completing my bachelor’s degree in economics in my hometown of Göttingen in 2016, I went on to pursue a master’s degree in economics at LMU Munich, where I worked for a long time as a Student Assistant at the ifo Institute. In 2019, my journey continued to Berlin, where, after one year of doctoral studies at the Berlin School of Economics, I began and recently completed my Ph.D. at Freie Universität. Since 2020, I have been employed as a Research Associate at DIW Berlin. Some particularly memorable moments during this time were my semester abroad at the Université Paris-Saclay as part of my master’s program and my research visit to Stanford last year.

2) What led you to decide to move to Dresden now?
I am convinced that TU Dresden offers me the ideal framework conditions to prepare for a Chair. On the one hand, there is excellent funding here for postdocs and in securing third-party grants; on the other hand, I have the freedom to pursue my research projects in a targeted manner. The proximity to Berlin allows me to maintain and expand my existing networks, and after many years at research institutes, I’m looking forward to developing a comprehensive teaching program. Ultimately, the beautiful campus also makes for a truly pleasant working environment. I’m delighted to be here and look forward to many collaborative projects.

3) What are your research interests?
I would like to contribute to a better understanding of the factors that influence individual educational decisions and educational success. I also want to show how the government can create optimal framework conditions that empower young people to fully realize their potential and meet the changing demands of the labor market. One current project—and perhaps the most exciting one from TUD’s perspective—examines the effects of program rankings (such as the CHE Ranking) on students’ choice of major and university.

4) And what topics interest you from a methodological perspective?
I primarily use microeconometric methods. However, I’m less interested in individual methods per se than in the question of how to select and apply the right method given the right research question and data. I’d also like to convey this knowledge to my students. Above all, however, I am also fascinated by the tension that arises from identifying local causal effects (design-based approach) and their applicability to theoretical questions and policy recommendations.

Assistant Professor Dr. Ignas Bruder

Es ist Jun.-Prof. Dr. Ignas Bruder zu sehen.

Since August 1, 2024, Ignas Bruder has held the Junior Professorship in Business Administration, specializing in strategy and business ethics. Ignas Bruder studied Management & Marketing at the Free University of Berlin (FU Berlin). In July 2020, also at the Free University of Berlin, he completed his dissertation titled “Essays on Social Entrepreneurship and Sustainable Organizing – An Ethically Focused Practice-Based Perspective.” Until his move to Dresden, Ignas Bruder had been a postdoc at the Hertie School Berlin since 2022, where he worked on the Horizon Europe-funded project REBALANCE: Investigating the Relationship between Social Enterprises and Democracy.

Being a Junior Professor means to me....
… a great honor and recognition that comes with a lot of creative freedom. I look forward to developing my own courses, which I hope students will find engaging. I also can’t wait to carry out my research projects in such an excellent environment and to contribute to the faculty.

I want to convey to students that...
… ethical questions are woven throughout business practice, and that as a manager, you’re better equipped if you have the academic tools to reflect on these questions in an informed way. I want to equip students with foundational knowledge so that later in their careers, they will not only carry out tasks but, as critical thinkers, be able to evaluate situations in a well-reasoned manner. The areas of strategy and business ethics, in particular, require that teaching go beyond the mere transfer of knowledge to include the development of competencies. My goal is for students to develop strategic competence and the ability to reflect on business ethics.

3) My most exciting research project to date was about...
… it’s really difficult to single out just one, because I’m passionate about every single one of my research projects. When I talk about my research, my ethnographic studies in social enterprises and other alternative organizations in particular resonate with the audience because they provide detailed insights into the strategic processes of these extraordinary organizations. For example, many people find it fascinating how a social enterprise in the natural cosmetics sector manages to prioritize sustainability over profit while still remaining economically viable.

Current research topics I’m working on include...
…among others, social entrepreneurship, entrepreneurial sustainability, democratic organizing, theories of practice, and integrative business ethics. In the field of social entrepreneurship, I’m interested in how social enterprises attempt to organize social transformation. For example, I’m researching how social enterprises manage to influence for-profit companies to pursue their social goals as well. With regard to corporate sustainability, I am examining, among other things, how sustainability-oriented companies can use self-reinforcing mechanisms to ensure their economic survival while, paradoxically, prioritizing social and environmental aspects over profit interests. In the area of democratic organizing, I am particularly interested in how the reproduction of democratic principles within a company generates effects outside the company, whether in business relationships or in the communities in which these companies are embedded. With regard to theories of practice, I conduct basic social science research on how practices drift unnoticed and on recursive processes of accumulation. I am currently also working on developing an integrative, business-ethics-based perspective on strategy, with a particular focus on “strategy-as-practice.”

Jun.-Prof. Dr. Jacqueline Schmidt

Jacqueline Schmidt holds the newly established Junior Professorship in Business Education and Management Training, with a special focus on digitalization in education and the workplace, and has been a faculty member since January 1, 2024. Jacqueline Schmidt studied Business Education and Management Training at the University of Leipzig and subsequently earned her Ph.D. there. She successfully completed her dissertation, titled “The Basic Knowledge of Artificial Intelligence Among (Prospective) Teachers in Vocational Education—Model-Based Test Development and Validation,” in September 2023.

1) For me, being an assistant professor means...
... both a great honor and a great responsibility. I am delighted to have the opportunity to further develop my teaching and research activities in an excellent environment while being able to set my own priorities. Equally, I feel a duty—especially toward my students—to address in my teaching the topics I consider particularly relevant and forward-looking.

2) I want to convey to students that...
...Business Education and Management Training is an incredibly exciting and multifaceted field with numerous intersections with other disciplines, and that exploring complex issues is truly fun! Especially in the field of (vocational) education, we can not only respond to transformation processes but also initiate them as a key driving force. By incorporating current research projects and findings into my teaching, I aim to share with students not only my enthusiasm for the subject but also my passion for research and scholarly work, thereby fostering a lively discourse.

3) My most exciting research project to date was about...
That’s a very difficult question, since all the projects I’ve had the privilege of working on have been—without exception—very interesting! As a rule, they deal with changes in vocational education and training that are either driven by or made possible by digitalization. For example, a very exciting collaborative project I was able to participate in through a partnership focused on the use of video vignettes, which expose students to challenging situations they will face in their future professional practice while they are still in school. This helps raise their awareness of these challenges and allows them to develop initial strategies for overcoming them in a safe environment.

4) Current research topics I am working on include...
Issues related to the digital transformation in vocational education and training contexts, driven by developments in the field of artificial intelligence. This includes, for example, the question of which AI-related competencies vocational education staff need and to what extent these competency facets are developed. So far, I have primarily focused on school-based education staff. In the future, my work will also address the specific needs and challenges in workplace training and continuing education. This research is so important because only on the basis of these findings will we be able to develop (continuing) education programs tailored to the target audience. Overall, I am also interested in questions regarding the acceptance of AI-supported systems and what measures can be taken to promote this acceptance.

2023

Dr. Philipp Richter

Dr. Philipp Richter has been a member of the faculty since October 1, 2023. He earned his Ph.D. in business administration, focusing on shared service centers, at ESCP Europe in Berlin. He has published his research projects in international journals such as the *European Management Review*, the *European Management Journal*, and the *Journal of General Management*, as well as in practice-oriented journals such as *WPg – Die Wirtschaftsprüfung*.

1) What has your professional and academic career been like so far?
I studied Business Administration in Magdeburg, Vienna, and Bielefeld, specializing in the combination of finance, accounting, controlling, and taxation (FACT). As a Research Associate, I worked at the Chair of Business Ethics and Controlling at ESCP Europe in Berlin and completed my dissertation on “The Emergence of Shared Service Centers in Multidivisional Corporations: Theoretical Considerations and Empirical Evidence,” earning a summa cum laude. I found my time as a doctoral candidate to be immensely enriching, as it allowed me to gain a broader perspective beyond the FACT field, which has strongly influenced my research interests.

After completing my doctorate, I wanted to get a taste of the professional world. So I worked at two Berlin-based startups (most recently as Head of Finance) and helped establish their finance and accounting departments. Despite the exciting—and often time-consuming—projects, I remained committed to academia throughout my time in the professional world, participating in various research projects. Here in Dresden, I am now very much looking forward to engaging in an intensive exchange of ideas and beginning my habilitation.

2) What led you to decide to move to Dresden now?
I was particularly drawn to the strong research profile of the new Chair in Management Accounting and Control . I see excellent opportunities here to further develop my expertise in both content and methodology. The framework conditions also played an important role for me. As a University of Excellence, the TU enjoys an outstanding reputation. Moreover, as a native of Saxony, I know that Dresden is a beautiful city!

3) What are your research interests?
I’m interested in topics related to both management and accounting, which is why I find this area of business administration so appealing. I’m particularly interested in issues that arise from the interaction between the CFO and the CEO. Specifically, my research focuses on issues related to corporate governance, aspects of sustainability performance, and non-market strategies (i.e., CSR and lobbying) employed by companies. A current example: Do differing preferences regarding sustainability between shareholders and board members lead to the inclusion of sustainability goals in CEO compensation systems? Or, in other projects: Does effective corporate governance influence a company’s non-financial capabilities?

4) And what topics interest you from a methodological perspective?
Methodologically, I have undergone a process of development. For instance, the research projects I included in my dissertation were quite heterogeneous in terms of methodology. There, I worked with conceptual, qualitative, and quantitative methods. In my current research, I use quantitative-empirical methods; in particular, I employ archival-empirical and survey-based methods to answer my research questions.

Prof. Dr. Kamila Cygan-Rehm

Prof. Dr. Kamila Cygan-Rehm has held the Chair of Quantitative Methods, with a focus on Econometrics, since October 1, 2023. Kamila Cygan-Rehm completed her Ph.D. in 2013 at the University of Erlangen-Nuremberg (FAU) and subsequently worked there for several years as an assistant professor. Until she moved to TU Dresden, she led the research group “Outcomes of Education Across the Lifespan” at the Leibniz Institute for Educational Trajectories (LIfBi) in Bamberg.

1) I would like to convey to students that …
a correlation between certain phenomena by no means implies a causal relationship. Understanding this principle is fundamental to decision-making processes in business, science, and politics. A central question here is how to design an analysis using available data so that a causal interpretation is possible. I offer tips on this in my courses, to which I warmly invite you. Starting next winter semester, I will be expanding the course offerings in econometrics and empirical methods. Hopefully, I can also convey my passion for empirical research to students along the way.

2) As I build my Chair team, it is important to me to…
to create a work environment of mutual respect. Everyone on the team should receive both the necessary support and sufficient freedom to develop their individual skills and interests. There are many exciting and varied activities in research and teaching that we will work on together. This requires commitment and mutual support. I am currently looking for dedicated Student Assistants. Please contact me if you’re interested in economic and social policy issues.

3) My most exciting research project to date was about…
I find all of my research projects to date exciting. Otherwise, I probably wouldn’t have started them. Most of them focus on the econometric evaluation of various policy interventions. From the impact of parental leave benefits to reforms of part-time jobs and school enrollment regulations—I examine the direct and indirect effects of policy decisions on the individuals or organizations affected. The main goal is to gain a better understanding of their consequences for our society in order to derive a solid foundation for evidence-based policy.

4) Current research topics I’m working on include …
Currently, my work focuses on two core areas. First, I examine the financial and non-financial effects of education policy regulations across the life cycle. For example, I am analyzing the lifelong consequences of missed school days on labor market success, using the example of shortened school years in Germany in the 1960s. Second, I am researching how policy interventions set the course for early childhood inequalities and children’s later life trajectories. A new project in this area examines the consequences of universal screening for gestational diabetes.

Dr. Ilka Weissbrod

Ilka Weissbrod has been working as a postdoc at the Junior Professorship in Sustainability Assessment and Policy since September 1, 2023. She brings a wealth of international and practical experience to her new position, as she describes in more detail in this interview.

1) What has your professional and academic career been like so far?
I am a sustainability scientist with a passion for business. My focus is on innovation processes, and fortunately, over the years I’ve been able to explore various facets of sustainability in depth, such as systems thinking, metrics, learning alliances, and transitions. At Imperial College London, I earned my Ph.D. at the Center for Environmental Policy on the topic of “Business Experimentation for Sustainability,” with close research ties to the Institute for Manufacturing at the University of Cambridge. In Germany, I was a postdoc at the Leuphana University Center for Sustainability Management. At the same time, I held exciting positions in the private sector, for example, spending the last two years as “Director of Sustainable Circularity” at an industrial design and innovation agency in Hamburg and, as part of a secondment, as a “Sustainable Circular Economy Systems Expert” in a national research-oriented innovation project for the manufacturing industry in Ireland.

2) What led you to decide to move to Dresden now?
As a visiting scholar, I was impressed by Samanthi Dijkstra-Silva’s national and international collaborative approach and her multidisciplinary research methodology. The scope and framework conditions of this fixed-term postdoc position were simply perfect. I’m really excited to get to know a second German university and the Faculty of Business and Economics.

3) What are your research interests?
I summarize my research interests as “learning for sustainable innovation processes,” specifically entrepreneurial experimentation for sustainability. I’m particularly interested in incorporating a sense of urgency into the implementation of sustainable innovations. Two other research interests are defining the effects of operationalizing a circular economy on innovation processes in companies and industry, as well as applying systems thinking to scale sustainable innovations.

4) And what topics interest you from a methodological perspective?
It is very important to me that research in the field of sustainability in business is relevant to the “research subjects.” That is why I follow the action research approach and primarily use qualitative methods. In the UK, I experienced the value of the action research approach at renowned universities during my Ph.D., and this has deeply shaped my research methodology. For example, I am a research collaborator at the innovation agency where I have worked for the past two years: This means we’re interested in answering a shared research question, and I’ll address this question using data from and within the agency, while independently deciding on the research design, data collection methods, and outputs.

Prof. Dr. Peter Schäfer

Auf dem Bild ist Professor Peter Schäfer zu sehen.

Effective July 1, 2023, Prof. Dr. Peter Schäfer will hold the Chair in Business Administration, with a focus on Management Accounting & Control. Prof. Dr. Peter Schäfer comes from the Technical University of Munich. His research and teaching focus on topics such as executive compensation, top management incentives, and management controls.

1) I want to convey to students that …
… there is a lot that can go right—and a lot that can go wrong—when selecting and designing controlling systems within a company. Small changes can have major effects. It is important to first clarify what goal you want to achieve with a controlling system. Do I want to support decisions such as pricing or product design? Do I want to create incentives? Do I want to support non-financial goals, such as environmental or social goals? What is good for one goal can be harmful to another. A key question, therefore, is how to select and design the most appropriate system. To this end, I cordially invite you to my lectures and seminars. Starting in the winter semester, I will supplement the existing course offerings in the field of controlling, which are already provided by Prof. Günther and his team.

2) As I build my Chair team, it is important to me to …
… to instill in my colleagues a passion for our field and to provide them with the best possible support. There are many exciting questions we want to explore through our shared commitment to research. This enthusiasm also shapes our teaching. Regular exchange and a vibrant culture of scholarly dialogue and discussion form the foundation for our shared success. To this end, I am currently seeking staff members who are passionate about their work.

3) My most exciting research project to date was about …
I find the vast majority of research projects exciting. We work on new questions that are important for business practice. In our field, we focus on how companies can best design their management control systems. For example, some companies evaluate their executive boards not only based on their own success but also in comparison to competitors. How well have we performed compared to other companies in our industry? We’ve found that executives who use this type of relative performance measurement tend to align their strategies more closely with those of other companies. They’re less likely to choose innovative strategies that would differentiate their company from standard industry approaches—a highly relevant insight, especially for innovation-driven companies.

4) Current research topics I’m working on include …
... compensation systems and the evaluation of executive board members, as well as other controlling systems such as transfer pricing and budgets. A current example: Do supervisory boards learn particularly a lot during crises about whether their executive board members are suited for the job? Or, in another project: How can companies reduce budget slack—that is, the buffer that managers sometimes build into their budget figures? In addition to traditional topics in management accounting, I’m also interested in questions at the intersection with other research areas. I’m looking forward to exchanging ideas with my new colleagues here at TU Dresden.

Prof. Dr. Lars Hornuf

Since March 1, 2023, Lars Hornuf has held the Chair of Business Administration, with a focus on Finance, at the faculty. He moved to Dresden from the University of Bremen, where he had held the Chair of Financial Services and Financial Technology since 2017.

1) I would like to convey to the students that …
… finance is undergoing a fundamental transformation and represents one of the most exciting areas of Business Administration and Economics.

2) As I build my Chair team, it is important to me that…
… the team is passionately committed to research and teaching.

3) My most exciting research project to date was about….
Every research project is exciting! Otherwise, you wouldn’t start it. But the questions that were particularly fascinating were: under what circumstances do people donate their data for a good cause; whether East or West Germans generally cheat more or less; and whether celebrities are better investors.

4) Current research topics I’m working on include…
- Financial Technology (FinTech), particularly crowdfunding, blockchain technology, and robo-advice
- Sustainable finance
- Data economy and data protection
- Crowdworking