The following scientists of the Rhine-Main-Universities receive the ERC Consolidator Grant:

• Prof. Dr. Dorothee Dormann (Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz) for her research on protein aggregates that are linked to neurodegenerative diseases,
• Prof. Dr. Shuqing Xu (Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz) for his research on real-time (co)evolution in a multitrophic community under current and future climates,
• Prof. Dr. Sebastian Erdweg (Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz) for his research on Automatic Incremental Computing,
• Dr. Christian Münch (Goethe University Frankfurt) for his research on a mechanism which was discovered by him and which the cell uses to operate its recycling system,
• Prof. Dr.-Ing. Thomas Schneider (TU Darmstadt) for his research on tools for the automatic generation of software that protects personal data and functions, and
• Prof. Dr.-Ing. Christian Graeff (TU Darmstadt) for a GSI research project to improve tumor therapy.

On behalf of the European Union, the European Research Council (ERC) promotes excellent basic research in Europe on the basis of scientific excellence and innovation potential. The ERC Consolidator Grants support excellent scientists in consolidating their independent research. The funding volume is up to two million euros for five years.

With the ERC Consolidator Grant, the European Research Council (ERC) promotes excellent scientists over a period of 7 to 12 years in their postdoctoral phase. In addition to proving their excellence in their respective field of science, applicants must also demonstrate the groundbreaking nature of their approach and its feasibility in order to be awarded funding for a period of five years.

The Collaborative Research Center "Negation: A Linguistic and Extra-linguistic Phenomenon" (Goethe University Frankfurt, Eberhard Karls University Tübingen, Georg-August University Göttingen) will be newly established in 2024. It combines theoretical approaches and methods from linguistics, psychology and philosophy in order to gain new insights into the linguistic phenomenon of negation and the associated cognitive processes, making use of innovative methods such as virtual reality.

Another Collaborative Research Center newly established by the DFG is "Pushing Electrons with Protons – Unifying Multi-Electron Redox Catalysis by Proton-Coupled Electron Transfer", in which Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz is involved. The CRC addresses the question of how exactly catalysis can contribute to a shift in the fossil economy towards a sustainable energy and raw materials basis. Catalysis uses various methods to initiate or accelerate chemical reactions with the aid of a catalyst, for example in the electrolysis of water to produce hydrogen as a sustainable energy carrier. The CRC is headed by the Georg August University Göttingen; further participants are Max Planck Institute for Multidisciplinary Sciences, Goethe University Frankfurt, Ruhr University Bochum, Saarland University and TU Darmstadt.

The collaborative project "Hysteresis design of magnetic materials for efficient energy conversion (HoMMage)", a joint project of TU Darmstadt and the University of Duisburg-Essen, is entering its second funding phase. Whether super-strong permanent magnets for wind turbines and electric motors or materials for magnetic cooling – new functional materials are needed for a successful energy transition and a low-emission future. Researchers from the fields of materials science, physics, chemistry and process engineering are therefore searching for suitable materials that are also resource-saving and efficient.

The collaborative project "Molecular and Functional Characterization of Selective Autophagy", a cooperation between Goethe University Frankfurt and Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, together with the Georg-Speyer-Haus in Frankfurt and the Institute of Molecular Biology gGmbH in Mainz, is entering its third funding phase. Autophagy is an endogenous protective mechanism. If it is disrupted, serious diseases such as cancer, Parkinson's disease, infectious diseases or inflammatory reactions are favored. In order to intervene therapeutically, an interdisciplinary team of biochemists, cell biologists, structural biologists and physicians is researching autophagy.

The Collaborative Research Center "Nuclei: From Fundamental Interactions to Structure and Stars", which involves TU Darmstadt, the GSI Helmholtzzentrum für Schwerionenforschung and Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, is also entering its third funding phase. The scientists are investigating the structure of atoms and are trying to find out how these nuclei are formed. They use the latest technologies, such as laser spectroscopy or gamma spectroscopy. They also look into the cosmos and investigate supernova explosions. The project combines nuclear physics, which deals with very small structures, and astrophysics, which deals with huge structures in space.

The Collaborative Research Center/Transregio (CRC/TRR) "Spin+X – The Spin in its Collective Environment" of the University of Kaiserslautern-Landau (RPTU) and Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz is also being funded by the DFG for the third time. Its aim is to develop new fundamental concepts for magnetic components with particularly high speed and energy efficiency. As before, the work will be aimed at spin research and its potential for information technology – especially with regard to the requirements for handling large amounts of data with low energy consumption. The focus in the third funding period will continue to be on ferromagnets and antiferromagnets, but in future will also include the new class of alter magnets.

As the largest research funding organization in Germany, the DFG will support the consortia with up to three million euros per year over the next four years.

The event started with a two-part panel discussion on the topic “Shaping Science in the Rhine-Main Region: A framework for Research, Innovation and (Knowledge) Transfer”, hosted by science and education journalist Jan-Martin Wiarda. During the first panel, Denis Alt, State Secretary at the Ministry for Science and Health in Rhineland-Palatinate, emphasized: “The transfer of knowledge into society is of particular importance in order to put the knowledge that has been generated into practice, and also to foster understanding and acceptance. Nowadays, our own general knowledge is often no longer sufficient to fully understand complex situations and problems such as the Covid pandemic or climate change.”

Ayse Asar, State Secretary at the Hessian Ministry of Science und the Arts, underlined the link between promoting Early Career Researchers and successfully transferring scientific insights into society: “One of the things that make the RMU successful is the promotion of Early Career Researchers. The RMU establishes an ecosystem that helps researchers to establish contacts with the business world at an early stage. 

Michael Huth, Vice President of Goethe University Frankfurt am Main and Volker Mosbrugger, President of the Polytechnic Foundation of Frankfurt am Main, are currently working on the extension of such an ecosystem by developing a first proposal for the “Startup Factories” lighthouse project, which is initiated by the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action. Both Huth and Mosbrugger, as well as Tanja Weil from the Institute for Polymer Research Mainz highlighted the many opportunities that a strong regional network offers, especially for young researchers who come to the Rhine-Main Region from all over the world.

The second panel discussion was made up of two members of the RMU Partnership Board, the RMU’s newly established advisory committee, namely Nicole Deitelhoff from the PRIF – Peace Research Institute Frankfurt, and Dieter Fellner from the Fraunhofer Institute for Computer Graphics Research Darmstadt, and three renowned researchers from the RMU, namely Sandra Ciesek, University Hospital Frankfurt am Main, Lisa Hartung, Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, and Norbert Pietralla, Technical University of Darmstadt. The five panelists discussed how joint projects can be set up and how cooperations can be managed. They also discussed the advantages a strong scientific region offers for researchers and how, from their point of view, regional cooperation can be further developed and extended.

Concluding the panel discussion, the three presidents of the Rhine-Main Universities drew a positive balance for the RMU. They all agreed that the RMU alliance has generated considerable opportunities already: “We made it possible for students to enroll in all three universities for the RMU degree programs at no additional cost and to take advantage of what the three universities have to offer”, said Georg Krausch, Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz. Enrico Schleiff, Goethe University Frankfurt am Main, added that other groups within the universities, including technical and administrative staff, also profit from the RMU alliance. Tanja Brühl, Technical University of Darmstadt, confirmed: “Not only the people within the alliance are convinced of its merits. Local authorities, non-university research institutes and partners from the world of business are also delighted by the alliance of the Rhine-Main Universities. They all benefit from the RMU’s research strength.”

In the afternoon, delegates from the Senates of the three universities came together for the constituent session of the RMU Assembly, another newly established RMU committee. They constructively discussed how to handle joint organizational tasks in a pragmatic manner and how to efficiently reduce bureaucratic hurdles.

All other participants were invited to choose between the workshop “RMU and You – Shaping Knowledge Transfer” and three guided tours in scientific institutions on the Lichtwiese Campus – the ETA Fabrik, the Glass Competence Center and the emergenCITY eHub living lab. Members of the RMU were thus given the opportunity to learn about the various activities within the Rhine-Main Universities, to exchange ideas, to connect and to gain new impulses for their own areas of research or work.

The next Rhine-Main Universities Day will take place at Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz in fall 2024.

This networking and inspiring event for research group leaders and advanced postdocs interested in an academic career will be opened by Prof. Dr. Franziska Lang, Vice President for Academic Careers at TU Darmstadt, followed by an Appointment Ceremony for the Athene Young Investigators, who joined the AYI-Programme – TU Darmstadt’s own independent junior research group leader-programme – in 2023.

After that, Prof. Dr. Cristina Cardoso (Cell Biology and Epigenetics, Department of Biology, TU Darmstadt) and Prof. Dr.-Ing. Hauke Zachert (Institute of Geotechnics, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, TU Darmstadt) will share their experience made during the first 100 days of professorship.

Finally, participants can interchange ideas during the informal Get Together and establish networks.

The Ingenium team will organize this type of event once a year from now on as the “Young Investigator Appreciation Day”.

Further information can be found in the invitation below and on the Homepage, where you can also register for the event until 5 December 2023.

Home to numerous public and private scientific and research institutions, Darmstadt is one of only 4 cities carrying the official title “City of Science”. Since 1967, space missions have been designed and controlled in the European Space Operations Centre (ESOC) in Darmstadt. The worldwide network of ESA ground stations is also operated from here in order to maintain contact with the missions. A guided tour will lead through the premises of the Satellite Control Centre, the main control room and various satellite models.

Darmstadt is the birthplace of numerous inventions which have changed our daily life. International operating companies and research institutions have their headquarters here. An audio guide on the „Science Route 4“ informs about the particularities of the various institutions and companies, from the particle accelerator to multimedia developments, aviation and space travel.

Further information about the event and registration can be found on the links below.

The JQYA is an independent academy within Goethe University, which supports outstanding scientists at the beginning of their scientific independence and during their professional qualification.

Further information on the call for Fellows can be found in the flyer.

The event will be held at the Lecture Hall and Media Centre (HMZ) (L4|02) located on the Lichtwiese Campus of the Technical University of Darmstadt and will start with a panel discussion on the topic “Shaping Science in the Rhine-Main Region: the Environment for Research, Innovation and (Knowledge) Transfer”. The first panel, consisting of Dr. Denis Alt, State Secretary for Science and Health in Rhineland-Palatinate, Ayse Asar, State Secretary at the Hessian Ministry of Science und the Arts, Professor Tanja Weil, Institute for Polymer Research Mainz, Professor Michael Huth, Vice President of Goethe University Frankfurt am Main and Professor Volker Mosbrugger, Polytechnic Foundation of Frankfurt am Main, will discuss the framework conditions that are necessary to facilitate successful transfer of knowledge and technologies. In the second panel discussion, Professor Sandra Ciesek, University Hospital Frankfurt am Main, Professor Nicole Deitelhoff, PRIF – Peace Research Institute Frankfurt, Professor Dieter Fellner, Fraunhofer Institute for Computer Graphics Research Darmstadt, Professor Lisa Hartung, Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, and Professor Norbert Pietralla, Technical University of Darmstadt, will talk about how scientific innovations can be achieved through joint research projects, how to set up such joint projects and how to manage cooperations. The panel discussion will be hosted by science and education journalist Jan-Martin Wiarda.

In the afternoon, participants can choose between different options: a workshop, various guided tours and the constituent session of the RMU Assembly.

In the workshop “RMU and You – Shaping Knowledge Transfer” (90 minutes), the RMU’s transfer units invite participants to discuss current topics in the field of knowledge transfer: What do we need when it comes to start-ups and transfer? What type of tailor-made offers would be useful? In working groups led by experts from the transfer units, participants will talk about various aspects in more detail, depending on the participants’ focus of interest. For example, one working group will discuss how knowledge transfer works in general, how research results and topics can be shared with the world and which central questions and key points must be considered with regard to spin-offs or licensing. Another group will address the question why universities support transfer and start-up initiatives, what this has to do with basic research or the humanities and what each of us can do to support transfer. A third group will focus on sharing experiences and expectations and talk about how researchers and administrative units can cooperate efficiently with regard to transfer topics. When registering for the event, participants are offered the option to indicate additional topics of interest. A fourth working group will then be set up for the topic that is mentioned the most during the registration process.

As an alternative, participants can choose between three guided tours. The first tour is a guided tour of the ETA Fabrik model factory, which serves as a tool and demonstrator for innovations in the fields of energy efficiency, energy flexibility and resource efficiency in production. In the second guided tour, participants can visit the Glass Competence Center (GCC), a center for research into glass construction that combines all essential processes in flat glass processing – from cutting and grinding to finishing. The third guided tour introduces participants to the emergenCITY eHub living lab, an energy self-sufficient smart home that is equipped with numerous solar cells. Here, research is conducted into technology for overcoming crises and catastrophes, in particular long-lasting, nationwide power outages.

Members of the Rhine-Main Universities can also participate in the constituent session of the RMU Assembly which is composed of delegates from the Senates of Goethe University Frankfurt am Main, Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz and Technical University of Darmstadt.

Marlar Kin, managing director of the new central office of the Rhine-Main Universities established in March 2023, is looking forward to the 5th Day of the Rhine-Main Universities: “The Rhine-Main Universities aim to develop the Rhine-Main Region into a leading and highly attractive region of science. The exchange of knowledge with partner organizations and the public and the existing framework for research and innovation play a key role in this regard. That’s why I’m very pleased that we were able to win well-known personalities for the panel discussion, and I’m looking forward to the exchange of ideas in the workshop. I’m sure that at the end of the day we will have gained a lot of new and valuable insights that will help all of us to strengthen the Rhine-Main Region as a region of science.”

The Day of the Rhine-Main Universities which has been held on a rotating basis in Frankfurt, Mainz and Darmstadt since 2019, is always dedicated to the key objectives of the Rhine-Main Universities. In 2022, the Day of the Rhine-Main Universities focused on scientists in their early career phases as well as the academic mid-level faculty. Previous topics were research (2021), teaching and learning (2020) and the potential of the cross-federal state alliance (2019). The Rhine-Main Universities alliance was founded in 2015 and is based on the idea of a powerful strategic alliance, led by a team of strong independent partners. Through coordination and close cooperation, they foster improvement in research, learning and teaching, knowledge transfer and science communication. To further strengthen cooperation, a central office and a new governance with various committees such as the RMU Assembly have been established this year.

Registration for the Rhine-Main Universities Day and the afternoon program is now open until 2 November 2023 at https://eveeno.com/rmu5.

The panel discussion will be live-streamed on https://youtube.com/live/PhiI_NdkFk0?feature=share.

The CoM2Life scientists aim to revolutionize the field of soft biomaterials by integrating principles from living systems into synthetic materials. Their approach combines chemistry-centered biomaterials design and synthetic biology-centered design of regulatory circuits. This makes it possible to develop biomaterials that exhibit life-like properties, such as the sensing and processing of signals, and actuation based on the latter. The goal is to pave the way for breakthrough developments in medical research with long-term perspectives for the personalized treatment of patients. Examples include the development of feedback-controlled drug delivery devices for homeostatic regulation, tissue models that can replace animal testing, metabolic regulation systems for tumor immunotherapy, tissue repair, and the engineering of artificial organs. Experts from the field of communication studies participating in CoM2Life will work to improve trust in and understanding of this highly interdisciplinary research project and to develop strategies to address the prevalent risks of misinformation in the modern world.

In ELEMENTS scientists from the research fields of particle and nuclear physics as well as theoretical and practical astrophysics cooperate to research the origin of the heavy chemical elements, such as gold and platinum, in our universe. This means no less than facing a multitude of fundamental physical questions that have remained unanswered to this day.  What are the properties of matter when subjected to extreme conditions? What can gravitational waves tell us about merging neutron stars? Under what microphysical conditions are elements formed? What do astronomical observations tell us about the synthesis of heavy elements?

To answer these questions, ELEMENTS engages in interdisciplinary research in four working areas. Each of them includes both theoreticians and practitioners from the respective research institutions. The work of ELEMENTS intends to provide a comprehensive picture of the formation of heavy elements, starting from microscopic scales such as those studied in experiments at the electron linear accelerator of the Technical University of Darmstadt, as far as the macroscopic level in the universe which can be reconstructed through simulations. 

EMTHERA draws from interdisciplinary expertise in both fundamental and clinical research to face the major challenges to global health, as they were most recently uncovered by the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. This includes infectious, inflammatory, and immunological diseases with complex overarching patterns in the human body, which are still not well understood. The resulting lack of effective therapies often leads to the death of many patients. Leveraging recent successes in the utilization of mRNA-based drugs, a new era of proximity-inducing technologies, and advances in nanotechnology and computational applications EMTHERA seeks to remedy this. EMTHERA’s scientists want to use novel experimental tools to understand the biological mechanisms behind the diseases and define suitable therapeutic target structures in order to develop new strategies and classes of therapeutic agents for infections, inflammations, and impaired immune mechanisms. This will overcome existing barriers to holistic disease patterns and enable tailored treatments for an increasing number of patients with previously incurable diseases.