Summary
With over 25 years of experience across various academic and leadership positions at international research institutions, Prof. Schaefer is a visionary leader and expert in Higher Education strategy and change management with a wealth of experience.
Prof. Schaefer currently serves as Dean of the Faculty of Science and Engineering at the University of Hull and is a member of the University Leadership Team. He provides strategic vision and academic and operational leadership in delivering the University’s Strategy 2030 across the Faculty. A crucial part of his role is to engage with industrial partners, local and national authorities, and international academic institutions to enable new research and education partnerships and growth in strategic areas.
Prior to his current role, Prof. Schaefer held leadership positions at the Universities of Lincoln and Liverpool, establishing a track record of effective leadership and management in Higher Education at scale. His academic journey further includes positions at the University of Bath, the University of Durham, the Georgia Institute of Technology in the US, and the University of Stuttgart in Germany.
Prof. Schaefer is an elected Fellow of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers (FIMechE), the Institution of Engineering Designers (FIED), the British Computer Society (FBCS), the Institute of Mathematics and its Applications (FIMA), the Royal Society of Arts (FRSA), the Higher Education Academy (FHEA), and the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (FASME). He is a Chartered Engineer (CEng), Chartered Technological Product Designer (CTPD), Chartered Scientist (CSci), and Chartered IT-Professional (CITP).
With a PhD in Computer Science and interdisciplinary expertise in Mathematics and Engineering, Prof. Schaefer is internationally renowned for his pioneering research on Cloud-Based Design and Manufacturing (CBDM), which has been instrumental in shaping the landscape of Industry 4.0.
Prof. Schaefer’s engagement as a reviewer for more than 60 scholarly journals and funding organisations, including the UK EPSRC Peer Review College, the European Commission, and the US National Science Foundation, underscores his commitment to advancing academic scholarship and securing external funding. He has authored over 200 peer-reviewed publications, including 10 books, and has delivered numerous presentations globally, enhancing his academic impact. Through mentorship, he has guided and supervised more than 150 students on PhD, MS, and other research projects, nurturing the next generation of scholars.