New Professors

Prof. Dr.

Thomas
Hartinger

Animal Nutrition
 

Since April 2025, Thomas Hartinger has been Professor of Animal Nutrition at the Institute of Animal Science, University of Bonn.

He studied Agricultural Sciences at the University of Hohenheim (B.Sc. and M.Sc.) and subsequently earned his doctorate at the University of Bonn on the conservation of legumes and their effects on rumen metabolism and the microbiome, complemented by a research stay at Wageningen University. He then joined the Centre for Animal Nutrition and Welfare at the University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, first as a DFG fellow and later as an assistant professor. In 2024, he completed his habilitation in Animal Nutrition there.

His research focuses on demand-oriented and sustainable nutrition of livestock, particularly ruminants. In addition to ‘classical’ approaches in animal nutrition and feed science, he employs microbiological and molecular biological methods. The overarching goal of his work is to use interdisciplinary research to enhance animal health and performance as well as resource efficiency and sustainability in the production of animal-derived food, thereby contributing to a future-proof and resilient agriculture.

Prof. Dr.

Melanie
Braun

Soil Protection and Ecosystem Health

Since April 2025, Melanie Braun has held the newly established Professorship for Soil Protection and Ecosystem Health.

Ms. Braun studied Geography at the University of Cologne and completed her doctorate in General Soil Science and Soil Ecology at the University of Bonn. She served as an academic advisor at the University of Bonn from 2021, following her role as coordinator of the nationwide BONARES project "Soil3".

Her academic career has included international research stays in countries such as Vietnam (in cooperation with UNU-EHS), Zambia, Mozambique, and Mexico, among others.

Ms. Braun’s research focuses on the behavior of environmental pollutants in soils. This includes residues of pesticides and antibiotics, combustion by-products, and plastics. She is particularly interested in the detection of nanoplastics in soils and the question of whether these particles are taken up by plants, potentially entering the human food chain.

In her practice-oriented teaching, Ms. Braun equips students with the fundamentals of pollutant assessment and guides them in conducting independent research projects—from proposal writing to publication.

Prof. Dr.

Denise
Fischer-Kreer

Entrepreneurial Behaviour
 

Denise Fischer-Kreer took over the new professorship for Entrepreneurial Behaviour in October 2023. Ms Fischer-Kreer studied industrial engineering at RWTH Aachen University and completed her doctorate in the field of sustainable entrepreneurship. She has been an Assistant Professor in the Innovation & Entrepreneurship Group (WIN) at RWTH Aachen University since 2018. After her doctorate, she gained experience in business and industry in the strategy department of a leading specialty chemicals company. International research stays have taken her to the Indian Institute of Technology Madras, India and Tsinghua University, China, among others.

In her research, Ms Fischer-Kreer focuses on mechanisms that enable entrepreneurs and managers to combine economic, social and ecological values in their companies. She is fascinated to explore how founders develop sustainable business models and how they can be change agents and drivers of innovation for the great challenges of our time. In practice-oriented courses, Ms Fischer-Kreer teaches students tools for developing their own business ideas and business models based on them. The courses offered by the Chair of Entrepreneurial Behaviour aim to empower students to develop a desire for entrepreneurship and to start their own business.