New at HNU: Prof. Dr. Jo­hannes Scho­bel

From my uncle, who is also a computer scientist, I got my first own computer as a small child. He also showed me that you can do more with it than just play computer games (even though the games were much more interesting to me at the time). Since my uncle was always a great role model for me, I also wanted to do something with computers. After my Matura (high school diploma) I came to Ulm to study computer science (bachelor and master) with focus on medicine. Somehow I got stuck at the Institute for Databases and Information Systems (DBIS) and had the opportunity to do my PhD there. As part of my doctorate, I developed a framework that enables specialist users from the fields of medicine or psychology to independently create mobile applications for data acquisition. In other words, a kind of "app generator" for medical data acquisition. Via various digitization projects (in business and research), I finally ended up back at the University Hospital in Ulm, where I worked on a digital platform that records psychological aspects of cancer patients (and their relatives) and processes them for medical staff. Since March 2021, I am here at HNU and researching the topic "Digital Medicine & Care".

As part of my dissertation, I did a lot of research in the area of "mobile data acquisition" and developed applications for it. This is very exciting - especially for me as a computer scientist – because I always need other people and their requirements for this work. After all, we have to collect data for someone – for a psychological or clinical study, for example. And through these projects, I always get to know other research areas and domains – which I personally enjoy immensely.

Currently, I offer an (elective) lecture on "Mobile Applications in Healthcare". In the long run, however, I would also like to offer a more technical event in which I work together with interested students on a medical application or platform from a real application scenario and implement it. There are plenty of ideas for that!

During my doctorate, I already invested a lot of time in teaching and supervising students' project work and theses. For example, I held accompanying exercises or supported my doctoral supervisor in lectures. Even after my doctorate – when I was no longer employed at the institute – I continued to work for the University of Ulm as a "freelance lecturer". In addition, I supervised a great many final theses at the university. I always enjoyed working with young people – and also the freedom to "look left and right" and learn about new exciting topics. It was also always clear to me that I would like to contribute to imparting knowledge, motivating young people, awakening interests and accompanying them for a part in their own development and learning process. In addition, I really enjoy dealing with new exciting topics and thinking about how (possibly rusty) processes could be improved through digital technologies.

Very varied, as I have gotten to know a lot of new things. But the colleagues I have come into contact with so far (even if it was only via video chat) are all super nice and very helpful. Since I'm directly involved in teaching right away, I have to create lecture slides on the side. This is sometimes very exhausting, but it's also a lot of fun.

I already came to Ulm during my studies and really like the region and feel at home here. In this respect, I think it's great that I've been given a great opportunity to do research and teach here "on my own doorstep". HNU's profile – linking science and industry – is very exciting. After all, research should also find its way into practice at some point.

We recently had a baby, so I spend my free time with my family.