Extensions of DFG funding

In addition to the newly-approved or initiated collaborative projects, some were also extended last year, including Research Unit 1993 “Multifunctional material and energy conversion”, which has been running since 2013 and whose funding has been extended for a further two years. Prof. Dr. Burak Atakan from the Faculty of Engineering is the spokesperson of the group. The scientists are focusing on thermal machines that can release or absorb mechanical work, heat and chemicals as required.

Research Unit 2284 “Model-based scalable gas phase synthesis of complex nanoparticles”, headed by Prof. Dr. Christof Schulz, was also recommended for extension. It is focusing on the development of new inorganic nanomaterials.

RTG 1949 “Immune Response in Infectious Diseases – Regulation between Innate and Adaptive Immunity” under the direction of Prof. Dr. Astrid Westendorf (UK Essen, Faculty of Medicine) can also continue after its successful initial funding period. The programme is a cooperation with Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, and the co-spokespersons are Prof. Dr. Jörg Timm (Düsseldorf) and Prof. Dr. Mirko Trilling (also UK Essen). For decades, the UDE has been teaching outstanding students in the field of infectiology/immunology.

The mathematician Prof. Marc Levine, Ph.D., is the spokesperson for Priority Programme (SPP) 1786 “Homotopy theory and algebraic geometry”, which in 2019 entered its next phase. Its focus is on examining the links between these two pillars of modern mathematics.

Last but not least, the UDE was also successful in the DFG Review Board election: Around 150,000 researchers from German universities were called upon to decide who should represent them on the DFG’s Review Boards for the next four years. There were almost 1,700 candidates, with 43 coming from the UDE and UK Essen. 15 of them secured a majority vote in their group, the third-best result in North Rhine-Westphalia after Aachen and Cologne.