Leadership Transition at RC Trust

The Research Center Trustworthy Data Science and Security (RC Trust) announces a change in leadership. Professor Nicole Krämer, one of the founding members of the Center, has been appointed as the new Director, following the tenure of founding director Professor Emmanuel Müller. The Scientific Board elected her for this position, and the RAR Board has now confirmed the appointment.

In her message to the RC-Trust team, Professor Krämer expressed her gratitude and optimism:
“I am looking forward to doing this service for RC Trust and to work in this role with all of you. I sincerely thank Manuel for the great work he did in building the Center and hope to continue the successful path.”

Professor Emmanuel Müller, who served as the founding Director from 2022 to October 2025, played a pivotal role in establishing RC Trust within the University Alliance Ruhr. Under his leadership, the Center has become a hub for interdisciplinary research in trustworthy data science and security, bringing together expertise from computer science, psychology, and the social sciences.

As a professor for Data Science and Data Engineering at TU Dortmund University, Professor Müller’s research focuses on unsupervised machine learning, algorithm design, and explainable artificial intelligence. Beyond his scientific contributions, he initiated and coordinated several interdisciplinary graduate schools and programs, fostering collaboration and talent development in the field of trustworthy AI.

Professor Nicole Krämer, Professor of Social Psychology – Media and Communication at the University of Duisburg-Essen, brings her longstanding expertise in human-technology interaction and computer-mediated communication to the leadership of the Center. Her research addresses the social and psychological dimensions of digital transformation, including the effects of social media, misinformation, and human interaction with robots and intelligent agents, with particular attention to human-AI-teams.

With Professor Krämer’s appointment, RC Trust continues its mission to advance interdisciplinary research on the foundations of trustworthy data science and security — building on the strong foundation established under Professor Müller’s directorship.