Dr. Katharina Drechsler was appointed as Junior Professor for Digital Transformation and Innovation at the Faculty of Management, Economics and Social Sciences at the University of Cologne on 1 April 2025. On behalf of the entire WiSo faculty, WiSo Dean Ulrich Thonemann ‘welcomed’ Jun. Prof. Dr. Katharina Drechsler.

Dr. Katharina Drechsler was previously a postdoc at the professorship for information systems. She received her doctorate in information systems with summa cum laude from the University of Bamberg. Her dissertation was awarded the renowned Wolfgang Ritter Prize. She completed her studies with a master's in information systems at the University of Frankfurt. Katharina Drechsler has been awarded several prizes and scholarships during her studies.

The research of the WiSo digitisation expert focuses on the dynamics and effects of the development of digital technologies such as Industry 4.0, blockchain and artificial intelligence. She is particularly passionate about researching the role of employees, managers and entrepreneurs in the development of digital technologies and the promotion of digital transformation. Her research innovatively combines quantitative, qualitative and design research methods and includes interdisciplinary work that combines issues in information systems with topics in finance and innovation management. Her work has been published in leading journals such as the Journal of Information Technology, Information and Management, IEEE Transactions on Engineering Management, Communications of the AIS and the International Journal of Innovation Management, as well as at internationally renowned conferences such as the International Conference on Information Systems (ICIS) and the European Conference on Information Systems (ECIS). We look forward to her continuing her successful work at the WiSo.

We are delighted to have succeeded in keeping such a committed and already renowned colleague at the faculty. We are very pleased to continue to welcome Jun. Prof. Dr. Katharina Drechsler at the WiSo.

• Jun. Prof. Dr. Katharina Drechsler