About
A researcher.
A designer.
An educator.
I am an Information Systems researcher studying how digital and AI-based artifacts are designed, used, and embedded in social and organizational contexts.
Academic profile
Dr. Timo Strohmann
I am an Assistant Professor (Akademischer Rat) at the European Research Center for Information Systems (ERCIS), University of Münster, where I lead the AI & Products flow field at the Flow Factory.
My work combines the design of digital technologies with questions about how people use, experience, and relate to them. Alongside research on conversational agents and virtual companions, I develop approaches for creating and accumulating design knowledge.
Before joining Münster in May 2025, I worked as a postdoctoral researcher and research project lead at TU Braunschweig and held a part-time professorship in Business Information Systems at IU International University of Applied Sciences. I completed my doctorate in Business Information Systems at TU Braunschweig in 2020, with summa cum laude.
My experience in web development and digital entrepreneurship also informs how I approach research: through the practical work of designing, building, and studying digital artifacts.
Collaboration & leadership
Research in real contexts.
At the Flow Factory, I work with research and industry partners on the design and integration of AI-based products and services, with applications in the financial industry, including our collaboration with the Sparkassen-Finanzgruppe.
Earlier project work includes leading the design-oriented development of StudyBuddy, a BMBF-funded virtual companion for continuing professional learning, and project leadership in PartComp, a VolkswagenStiftung-funded project on virtual companions for civic participation, including participation on campus. I led proposal development and contributed to consortium coordination and the translation of research into working artifacts.
Awards & honours
Recognised work.
- 2025
AIS Best Information Systems Publications Award
AIS Senior Scholars
For “Design Knowledge for Virtual Learning Companions from a Value-centered Perspective”, Communications of the AIS. Read about the paper.
- 2024
Paul Gray Award for Most Thought Provoking Paper
Communications of the Association for Information Systems
For “Design Knowledge for Virtual Learning Companions from a Value-centered Perspective”. Read about the paper.
- 2024
Outstanding Reviewer Award
Americas Conference on Information Systems (AMCIS)
- 2022
Best Paper Award
Pre-ICIS Workshop on Education and Research
For “Design Knowledge for Virtual Learning Companions”, the workshop paper that preceded the CAIS article.
- 2022
Best Idea Award
Paperthon, Wirtschaftsinformatik-Nachwuchs (WINT)
For the idea “Design Knowledge Aggregation”.
- 2017
Best Paper Nominee
DESRIST
For “brAInstorm: Intelligent Assistance in Group Idea Generation”.
- 2014
Award for Achievements in the Bachelor’s Programme
Hochschule für Telekommunikation Leipzig
Ranked among the top five of 180 students.
Teaching
Learning through inquiry & design.
I teach across bachelor’s, master’s, and PhD programmes, from Information Systems foundations and industry project seminars to research-led design labs and doctoral courses on design science research. I supervise theses and mentor doctoral researchers.