Among others, the following lecturers have started their new tasks at Hof University of Applied Sciences
Prof. Dr.-Ing. Mario Schenk
Prof. Schenk already moved to Hof University of Applied Sciences for the summer semester of 2021, where he is Professor of Electrical Power Engineering and responsible for the Electrical Engineering course. Mario Schenk studied electrical engineering at the TU Dresden and graduated as a graduate engineer. His specializations within electrical power engineering were “High Voltage and High Current Engineering” and “Electrical Plants, Systems and Networks”. In 1994 he received a one-year scholarship to Virginia Tech (Electrical Power Engineering) in the USA
During his scientific work at the TU Dresden (1997-2002) and in his dissertation he investigated compact electrotechnical devices, switchgears and systems. Based on this research work, the current carrying capacity and power density of the equipment were significantly increased and their losses were reduced. From the end of 2002, he worked for Starkstrom-Gerätebau GmbHin Regensburg, first as head of research and development and later as technical manager with the departments of development, calculation and design.
Between 2004 and 2006, he earned an Executive Master of Business Administration from WHU in Vallendar/Koblenz and Northwestern University in Evanston/Chicago. At the end of 2007, he moved to Siemens AG in Nuremberg, where he was Technical Manager with responsibility for the Development, Calculation, Design and Manufacturing Technology departments for large transformers up to 1250MVA, 1200kV AC and 1100kV HVDC/HVDC.
In early 2012, he was appointed Technical Managing Director of Infineon Technologies Bipolar GmbH & Co KG, a joint venture between Infineon AG and Siemens AG. From October 2019, he worked at Siemens Energy in the Technology and Innovation area, addressing market, competitor and technical requirements for a new, smart and modular generation of medium power converters that will be used in the power grids of the future in various applications.
Prof. Dr. Thomas Meins
The father of two daughters first completed his undergraduate studies in “Polymer and Colloid Chemistry” at the University of Bayreuth, his graduate studies in chemistry and a doctorate with a focus on polymer synthesis, polymer characterization and rheology at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT). He then worked for almost 10 years at the Dr. Schneider group of companies in the areas of production (paint shop) and R&D materials technology. For the last 6 years, he was head of the company’s materials technology department.
“Polymers have fascinated me since the beginning of my studies. Even then, however, it was clear that the handling of these materials, as well as the resources used for this purpose, would have to become much more sustainable. In the last five years, this has now also become the focus of public attention in the course of the climate and environmental discussion. I am very much looking forward to working with young students in my new field of activity on possible solutions and to deepening the knowledge and understanding of sustainable plastics in the next generation of graduates,” says Prof. Dr. Meins.
According to Meins, he chose the Hof University of Applied Sciences because of its family-like character, which is particularly evident in the personal relationship between students and lecturers. Here one can still respond well to the individual needs of the students due to the appropriate class sizes, which significantly increases the quality of teaching, according to Prof. Dr. Meins. In addition, the strong involvement of Hof University and its graduates in the development of local companies is a particular advantage of the location.
In his private life, the interests of the professor, who lives in Neudrossenfeld, lie in spending time with his family and his hobby of cycling.
Prof. Dr. Florian Kupsch
The 45-year-old from Bamberg has started his work as professor for business informatics with focus on “business application systems” at the Hof University of Applied Sciences at the beginning of the winter semester. The trained industrial clerk completed his studies in business informatics at the University of Münster and earned his doctorate in this subject area under Prof. Scheer in Saarbrücken. Before moving to Upper Franconia, Prof. Kupsch spent five years as CIO at a Swiss food company and another five years in the same position at a fashion label. He also worked as a senior consultant for IT strategy (Deloitte Consulting) and as a consultant in the CIO office at Adidas. At Adidas, he subsequently also worked as a manager in the IT Management Office in Hong Kong.
What Prof. Dr. Kupsch finds particularly fascinating about his professional field is its high practical relevance and the link between the business and IT worlds – with all the resulting opportunities, but also the potential for conflict. After 20 years and several stations such as Munich, Hong Kong, Tübingen and Konstanz, he is now happy to move back to his “old home” Upper Franconia.
Prof. Dr. Kupsch has three children and is interested in analog electronics in his free time. Skiing is also one of his favorite hobbies.
