Good news at the start of the winter semester at Osnabrück University of Applied Sciences: The endowed professorship "Autonomous, Collaborative Agricultural and Sensor Systems" has been filled. With Prof Dr Mario Theers, the university has been able to recruit a proven expert for this subject area, which plays a significant role in modern agricultural technology.
After positions in research and practice now at the University of Applied Sciences Osnabrück
After studying physics at RWTH Aachen University, the 34-year-old worked as a doctoral student at the Jülich Research Centre. He then developed algorithms for automated driving at ZF Automotive in Düsseldorf and was involved in several research and development projects. What appeals to him about the endowed professorship? - "Of course, the teaching and the exchange with the students. In addition, Osnabrück University of Applied Sciences, with its success story of interdisciplinary research in agricultural engineering and its innovative Agro-Technicum, offers an excellent environment for exciting research projects," says Theers.
New Agro-Technicum is one of the most modern research infrastructures in Europe
The Agro-Technicum, which opened a few months ago, is one of the most modern research infrastructures for agricultural systems engineering and field robotics in Europe. Developed at the Faculty of Engineering and Informatics (IuI) at the Westerberg campus, it houses a research hall with five laboratories and an experimental field where, for example, autonomous field robots are tested in long-term use.
For many years, Osnabrück University of Applied Sciences has enjoyed a high reputation in the field of agricultural robotics and sensor systems - throughout Germany and internationally. Prof Dr Arno Ruckelshausen, who has been setting standards in this field for decades with projects in research, development and transfer, has played a decisive role in shaping this good reputation. Mario Theers will succeed him in the medium term.
Five regional foundations enable the establishment of the professorship
The establishment of the endowed professorship was made possible thanks to five regional foundations. Together, the Aloys & Brigitte Coppenrath Foundation, the CLAAS Foundation, the Dieter Fuchs Foundation, the Friedel & Gisela Bohnenkamp Foundation and the Stiftung Stahlwerk Georgsmarienhütte Foundation have supported Lower Saxony's largest university of applied sciences in further expanding its strong position in agricultural engineering through the new professorship. The five foundations have made a total of 625,000 euros available for this purpose.
Success story to continue
"I would like to sincerely thank the founders for their remarkable commitment," says University President Prof Dr Andreas Bertram. The establishment of the endowed professorship illustrates anew: the university and the region stick together and strengthen each other.
The Dean of the Faculty IuI and Vice President for Studies and Teaching, Prof Dr Alexander Schmehmann, is also grateful for the support of the regional players: "And with Prof Dr Mario Theers, our endowed professorship is first-class: His outstanding professional know-how in theory and practice, his teaching competence and also international experience speak for this. I am looking forward to our new colleague and with him to a new chapter in our success story," says Schmehmann.