Ute Schmid

Prof. Dr. Ute Schmid is Chair of Cognitive Systems and Executive Director of the Bamberg Center of Artificial Intelligence (BaCAI) at the University of Bamberg. She also leads the Fraunhofer IIS project group Comprehensible AI (CAI), serves on the Bavarian AI Council and the Bavarian Institute for Digital Transformation (bidt), and is a fortiss Research Fellow. Her interdisciplinary work bridges computer science, psychology, and education.

Education:

• Diploma in Psychology, Technical University Berlin (TUB)
• Diploma in Computer Science, Technical University Berlin (TUB)
• Dr. rer. nat. in Computer Science, TUB (1994)
• Habilitation in Computer Science, TUB (2002)

Ute Schmid's research centers on explainable and interpretable machine learning, with a focus on inductive programming, interactive human-in-the-loop learning, and neuro-symbolic integration. She investigates how human expertise—both explicit and implicit—can guide machine learning models to improve transparency and trust. Her work spans cognitive modeling, intelligent tutoring systems, and AI for education, especially in primary schools. Applications include medical diagnostics, industrial quality control, and AI literacy for non-experts.

Her recent publications highlight a consistent trend toward human-centered AI, emphasizing explainability, interactivity, and cognitive plausibility. Topics include explanation generation in relational domains, hybrid learning systems, and educational tools for AI literacy. These reflect her commitment to making AI accessible, trustworthy, and educationally meaningful.

Scientific Awards:

• EurAI Fellow (2022)
• GI Fellow (2023)
• Minerva Gender Equality Award (2018)
• Rainer-Markgraf-Preis (2020)
• fortiss Research Fellow

Ute Schmid actively mentors students and leads multiple funded research projects, including DFG, BMBF, and BayVFP initiatives. She is deeply involved in public outreach, teacher training, and gender equality in computer science. She leads the FELI research group (Computer Science for Kids) and organizes Girls' Day and youth programs. Her leadership extends to national and international initiatives such as Plattform Lernende Systeme, KI Campus, and the Human-Like Computing Network+.

Labs and Teams:

• Cognitive Systems Research Group, University of Bamberg
• Fraunhofer IIS Project Group Comprehensible AI (CAI)
• FELI: Elementary Computer Science Research Group
• Bamberg Center of Artificial Intelligence (BaCAI)