Professor Dr Joybrato Mukherjee

Joybrato Mukherjee completed his studies in English, Biology and Educational Science at RWTH Aachen University in 1997. He is a fully qualified teacher for secondary levels I and II. In 2000, he received his doctorate from the University of Bonn, where he also completed his habilitation in English philology in 2003. In the same year, he was appointed Professor of English Linguistics at Justus Liebig University Giessen (JLU). He declined other subsequent appointments, including at the Universities of Zurich and Salzburg.

Professor Dr Mukherjee was President of JLU Giessen from 2009 to 2023. Prior to this, he was already a member of the Executive Board as First Vice President. From 2012 to 2019, he also held the office of Vice President of the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) and has been Honorary President of the DAAD since 2020. He is a member of a number of academic advisory boards and boards of trustees, including of various non-university research institutions.

He has received numerous awards for his academic achievements and his commitment to international academic exchange, such as honorary doctorates from several universities in Georgia, Colombia and Romania. He was appointed Grand Officer (‘Gran Oficial’) of the Order of Merit of San Carlos by the President of the Republic of Colombia for his many years of commitment to the Colombian peace process.

Joybrato Mukherjee has been Rector of the University of Cologne since 2023 and Deputy Chairperson of the Supervisory Board of University Hospital Cologne since 2024.