Back to the roots for KLU Dean of Research Jan Fransoo
After serving the Kühne Logistics University (KLU) for almost three years, Professor Jan Fransoo will take on a research professorship at Tilburg University in the Netherlands in the fall of 2020. He looks back on a great success record at KLU, including ramping up the PhD program to around 40 PhD students these days as well as navigating the KLU to one of the top positions in research performance across Germany, Austria, and Switzerland in the most recent WirtschaftsWoche ranking.
“I am extremely proud of what we have achieved at the KLU over the last years. This year marks the tenth anniversary of the university and looking at what it has achieved is nothing short of remarkable”, comments Jan Fransoo.
Keno Theile, the speaker for the PhD students, agrees “The KLU offers a superb research environment for any aspiring academic. It offers a structured PhD program but also repeatedly hosts some of the most renown researchers in the world in its research seminar series. Jan is one of the keenest spokespersons for young academics. As such, Jan not only shaped the formal side of the PhD program but we are grateful that he was also always approachable for personal council for each one of us.”
The president of the KLU, Prof. Thomas Strothotte, chimes in thanking Jan Fransoo for his outstanding service “The KLU occupies a top spot in research on logistics and leadership. This accomplishment is in no small part also due to Prof. Jan Fransoo and his engagement within and outside of the KLU. It was a privilege to work with Jan, and his enthusiasm and foresight will be sorely missed.”
Come September 2020, Jan Fransoo will commence a professorship at Tilburg University that will allow him to pursue his various research projects in greater depth, for instance, on the importance of nanostores, intermodal container supply chains, or the behavior of human planners. It will further allow him to expand his already ongoing collaboration with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).
“The KLU and Germany were a great adventure. I don’t want to miss it. And Hamburg is certainly one of the loveliest cities that will always keep a special place in my heart. But there is also something to be said for moving back to one’s home country. Life is a journey, but every now and then it is also good to come back to one’s home harbor”, Jan commented on his move.
The KLU community wishes Jan all the best for this new chapter in his professional life.