New professorship for data science and AI at Hof University of Applied Sciences
Hof University of Applied Sciences welcomes a new professor: 35-year-old Dr. Julia Meister comes from Mannheim and will take over the professorship for Data Science and Artificial Intelligence at the start of the 2026 summer semester.
Her academic career is closely linked to the University of Mannheim. She completed both her Bachelor’s and Master’s of Science in Business Mathematics there and then successfully completed her doctorate in Mathematics as Dr. rer. nat.
Most recently, she was Professor of Business Mathematics at the Technical University of Central Hesse. Her focus was on stochastic optimization and multivariate statistics. Her teaching responsibilities included courses on multivariate data analysis and mathematics for computer scientists and business mathematicians. Prior to this, she gained valuable experience as a critical path manager at the Ludwigshafen University of Business and Society. There, she worked intensively on the causes of dropout and academic success and was involved in the development of an early warning system to predict impending dropouts. She also analyzed student data and developed target group-specific measures to improve student success.
Her first impressions of the campus in Hof are consistently positive: she describes the university as a modern and friendly place where she was warmly welcomed by her colleagues right from the start.
She is particularly looking forward to the opportunity to actively contribute her own ideas, interests and experience to teaching and research. The freedom to set her own research priorities and the interdisciplinary exchange with colleagues from different disciplines are also at the heart of her new role.
With her expertise in data science and artificial intelligence, she will strengthen Hof University of Applied Sciences in a forward-looking area and provide important impetus for studies, research and innovation.
University career move: computer scientist Dr. Johannes Doleschal takes up professorship in Hof
At the age of 32, Immenreuth-born Dr. Johannes Doleschal is taking up a professorship in the fundamentals of computer science at the university’s Faculty of Computer Science. He not only has sound academic qualifications, but also extensive practical experience in the IT sector.
Johannes Doleschal completed his studies in computer science at the University of Bayreuth, where he obtained both his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees. He then completed his doctorate in the field of data-intensive computing at the University of Bayreuth and Hasselt University in Belgium (Cotutelle doctorate).
Before moving to Hof University of Applied Sciences, he worked as a software architect at DATEV eG in Nuremberg and was responsible for coordinating the work of a total of ten development teams as technical lead. In this position, he gained valuable experience in the implementation of complex software projects and in team leadership.
Prof. Doleschal, how would you describe your first impressions of our campus?
The atmosphere on campus is pleasant and informal, and I have found my colleagues to be open and helpful right from the start. I am starting my new role with great motivation and am particularly looking forward to the intensive exchange with the students and to working on exciting projects – both within the university and with external partners.”
We wish you a good start at the university and a warm welcome to the university family!
