The focus is on investigating the fundamental mechanisms of perception and flexible behavioural adaptation in a complex, constantly changing environment. Using interdisciplinary methods from psychology, neuroscience, and artificial intelligence, the underlying neural and computational processes, as well as their disruptions in mental disorders, are examined.
Read moreInterdisciplinary research investigates how demographic changes, environmental factors, antibiotic resistance, and zoonotic pathogens affect lung development, immune function, and susceptibility to infections across the lifespan, aiming to enable targeted prevention and treatment strategies as well as improved pandemic preparedness.
Read moreFoundations for energy, information, and space technologies are being developed, and new materials and processes are being investigated. This includes sustainable energy materials, electrochemical storage technologies, and quantum materials for photonics and optoelectronics. Interdisciplinary methods enable in-depth understanding and promote innovation, knowledge transfer, and international collaboration.
Read moreMicroorganisms and ecosystems are at the heart of research on global biogeochemical cycles and their impact on climate, agriculture, and biodiversity. Interdisciplinary studies investigate how microbes convert CO₂, enhance ecosystem resilience, and provide innovative solutions for climate change and sustainable agricultural systems, aiming to balance environmental health, productivity, and global well-being.
Read moreThe focus is on contemporary and historical conflicts, their escalation, coping strategies, and cultural notions of security. Research examines how societies, institutions, and actors perceive and manage conflicts, and how they are influenced by social change as well as technological, ecological, or geopolitical developments—with the aim of gaining insights into conflict dynamics and democratic resilience.
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