Eleven out of 400 applicants

The first professors of the Digital University Linz have been chosen

Founding President Stefanie Lindstaedt in front of the logo of the new Linz digital university IT:U.(Bild: IT:U / FOTOKERSCHI / KERSCHBAUMMAYR)

They come from countries including the USA, Japan, Brazil, Italy, Germany and the Netherlands: The first eleven professors of the Linz Digital University have been chosen. They have prevailed among 400 candidates at hearings. However, it will be a while before they start teaching at the new campus.

Founding President Stefanie Lindstaedt and her team were obviously spoiled for choice: more than 400 academics applied for the advertised professorships at the Interdisciplinary Transformation University (IT:U). Eleven of them won the race to become the founding professors of the new digital university in Linz.

International and interdisciplinary
In addition to internationality - there are also people from Austria - the professors are characterized by interdisciplinarity, says Lindstaedt: "The most important decision criteria were scientific excellence at the interface between computer science and another scientific discipline."

Focus on human-AI interaction
All IT:U founding professors would conduct research at the interfaces between artificial intelligence, network science, sensor technology and the humanities and natural sciences - including the question of how AI and big data can accelerate medical research. According to Lindstaedt, one focus is on the topic of "human-AI interaction" - research into how humans can interact with AI applications as naturally as possible using speech or gestures.

Minister sees justification for IT:U foundation
Education Minister Martin Polaschek believes that critics of the digital university have been vindicated: "The more than 400 applications received for the advertised professorships underline the attractiveness and importance of this new university."

However, it will be a while before the founding professors can teach and conduct research on the new campus. Construction work in Linz-Auhof is due to start at the end of next year and the campus should be ready by 2036.