Dr. Pooja Rani: New professor in Mannheim for sustainable software development!

Dr. Pooja Rani: New professor in Mannheim for sustainable software development!

On October 17, 2025, Dr. Pooja Rani was appointed to the Faculty of Business Informatics and Business Mathematics at the University of Mannheim. Prof. Dr. Claus Hertling, the dean of the faculty, praised their technical excellence and the social relevance of their research. Rani's appointment was made possible by the Wübben Foundation's Appointment Accelerator funding program, which aims to support and promote German universities in recruiting international scientists.

Dr. Rani's research specializes in design decisions in software development that specifically aim to promote sustainability. She investigates how user interfaces can be designed to efficiently inform finite users about the energy consumption of digital processes. Rani sees the University of Mannheim as an ideal place to combine her interests in research, sustainability and software development.

Background to the Wübben Foundation and international research

The Appointment Accelerator funding program, which was launched in 2024, has already taken bold steps to accelerate appointment processes at German universities. The Wübben Science Foundation, based in Berlin, aims to strengthen Germany as a science location and thus increase the chances of recruiting highly qualified talent from all over the world.

The international recruitment of specialists has become particularly important for German universities as the USA's attractiveness for researchers is gradually decreasing and at the same time China's scientific influence is increasing. Cathleen Fisher, an expert in international mobility, emphasizes the need to develop strategic approaches to increase the attractiveness of German universities and implement effective onboarding processes.

Future visions in the areas of sustainability and software engineering

Dr. Rani plans to focus on green software engineering, artificial intelligence and natural language processing over the next five years. These technologies are intended to help automate quality assurance in software development. The focus on sustainable practices is becoming increasingly important not only for software development, but also for other industrial sectors.

The importance of efficient use of resources in production is underlined by the current environmental challenges. The development of a digital product passport, for example, could be crucial in making products and the resources used for them transparent. This supports the idea of ​​a circular economy in which recycling and the use of renewable energies are becoming increasingly important, which is also relevant in the areas of software and hardware development.

Overall, it shows that the connection between software design and sustainability can play a future-oriented role, not only within the software industry, but also in the broader perspective of sustainable production and resource use. The approaches and programs presented help to position Germany as a leading location for research and innovation and to effectively meet the challenges of the future.