Excellent Research
Excellent Research at TU Dortmund University Research and researchers at TU Dortmund University are internationally well-known and recognized. More than 1000 externally funded projects and numerous personal awards illustrate the research strength of Dortmund’s scientists. You will find a selection on this web page. previous image next image Excellence Strategy TU Dortmund University is part of two Clusters of Excellence, which will be funded from 2026. Together with Ruhr University Bochum, it is applying for the title of “University Consortium of Excellence” in the second funding line. Learn more Cluster of Excellence Color Meets Flavor Spokesperson: Prof. Dr. Jochen Dingfelder, University of Bonn Funding period: starting in 2026 RESOLV Spokespersons: Prof. Dr. Martina Havenith, Ruhr University Bochum; Prof. Dr. Gabriele Sadowski, TU Dortmund University; Prof. Dr. Viktoria Däschlein-Gessner, Ruhr University Bochum Funding period: since 2019 Collaborative Research Centres und Transregios Collaborative Research Centres and Transregios (under the spokesmanship of TU Dortmund University) TRR 391 ”Spatio-temporal Statistics for the Transition of Energy and Transport” Participating institutions: Ruhr University Bochum (co-applicant), Fachhochschule Dortmund, Hamburg University of Technology, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), University of Duisburg-Essen, University of Hamburg, University of Münster and RWI – Leibniz Institute for Economic Research Spokesperson: Prof. Dr. Roland Fried Funding period: since 2024 TRR 188 “Damage Controlled Forming Processes” Participating institutions: RWTH Aachen, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT Karlsruhe), Max-Planck-Institut für Eisenforschung GmbH, Düsseldorf Spokesperson: Prof. Dr. Yannis P. Korkolis Funding period: since 2017 Participations (TU Dortmund University co-applying) SFB 1491 „Cosmic interacting matters“ Speaker University: Ruhr-Universität Bochum involved at TU Dortmund University: Prof. Dr. Wolfgang Rhode, Prof. Dr. Johannes Albrecht, PD Dr. Dominik Elsässer Funding period: since 2022 CRC/Transregio 142 “Tailored nonlinear photonics: From fundamental concepts to functional structures” Universität Paderborn (Speaker University), TU Dortmund University Deputy Spokesperson: Prof. Dr. Manfred Bayer, TU Dortmund University Funding period: since 2014 Participations (on PI level) SFB 1348: Dynamic cellular interfaces: formation and function Speaker University: University of Münster involved at TU Dortmund University: Prof. Dr. Britta Trappmann Funding period: since 2026 TRR 392: Molecular Evolution in Prebiotic Environments Speaker University: LMU Munich involved at TU Dortmund University: Prof. Dr. Hannes Mutschler Funding period: since 2024 CRC 1567 “Virtual Lifeworlds” Speaker University: Ruhr-Universität Bochum involved at TU Dortmund University: Dr. Ronja Trischler, Prof. Dr. Frauke Mörike und Dr. Anne Deremetz Förderzeitraum: since 2022 SFB 1472: Transformation of the Popular Speaker University: University of Siegen involved at TU Dortmund University: Prof. Dr. Cornelius Schubert Funding period: since 2021 SFB 1430: Molecular Mechanisms on Cell State Transitions Speaker University: University Duisburg-Essen involved at TU Dortmund University: Dr. Malte Gersch, Prof. Dr. Elsa Sánchez-García Funding period: since 2021 TRR 287: BULK-REACTION – Reacting and moving granular assemblies with gas flow Speaker University: Otto von Guerike University Madgeburg involved at TU Dortmund University: Prof. Dr.-Ing. Alba Diéguez Alonso Funding period: since 2020 TRR 150: Turbulent, chemically reactive, multi-phase flows near walls Speaker University: Technical University of Darmstadt involved at TU Dortmund University: Dr.-Ing. Marion Börnhorst (Department of Biochemical and Chemical Engineering) Funding period: since 2015 Spokespersonships for Priority Programs and Research Groups DFG Research Group with Spokesperson at TU Dortmund University FOR 5781: STIL-COCOs - STImulus-responsive Luminescent COordination COmpoundS Spokesperson: Prof. Dr. Andreas Steffen, Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology Funding period: since 2025 FOR 5250: Mechanism-based characterization and modeling of permanent and bioresorbable implants with tailored functionality based on innovative in vivo, in vitro and in silico methods Spokesperson: Prof. Frank Walther, Department of Mechanical Engineering Funding period: since 2022 DFG Priority Programs coordinated by TU Dortmund University SPP 2231: Efficient cooling, lubrication and transport - Coupled mechanical and fluid-dynamic simulation methods for the realization of efficient production processes (FluSimPro) Spokesperson: Prof. Dirk Biermann, Department of Mechanical Engineering Funding period: since 2020 SPP 1984: Hybrid and multimodal energy systems: System theoretic methods for the transformation and operation of complex grids Spokesperson: Prof. Christian Rehtanz, Department of Electrical Engineering and Information Technology Funding period: since 2017 ERC Grants Starting Grants KoOpeRaDE - Koopman-Operator-based Reinforcement Learning Control of Partial Differential Equations Principal Investigator: Prof. Dr. Sebastian Peitz Department of Computer Science Funding period: January 2025 to December 2029 Further Information on KoOpeRaDE NuRadioOpt – Optimization of Radio Detectors of Ultra-High-Energy Neutrinos through Deep Learning and Differential Programming Principal Investigator: Prof. Dr. Christian Glaser Department of Physics Funding period: April 2024 to March 2029 Further Information on NuRadioOpt CC-CHARGED: Strongly Polarized Carbon: Taming Fundamental Intermediates and Their Applications Principal Investigator: Prof. Dr. Max Hansmann Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology Funding Period: April 2023 until March 2028 Further information on CC-CHARGED DynaQuanta - Nonequilibrium Terahertz Dynamics of Interacting Quantum Spins: from Novel Driven States towards Coherent Controls Principal Investigator: Prof. Dr. Zhe Wang Department of Physics Funding period: July 2021 to June 2026 Further information on DynaQuanta DECAF: Deciphering adaptive footprints of epiC evolution on different timescales Principal Investigator: Prof. Dr. Toni Goßmann Department of Biochemical and Chemical Engineering Funding Period: February 2021 bis January 2026 Further information on DECAF BacForce - Quantifying minute forces: How mechanoregulation determines the behaviour of pathogenic bacteria Principle Investigator: Prof. Dr. Benedikt Sabaß Department of Physics Funding period: August 2020 to July 2026 Further information on BacForce Consolidator Grants UPGREAT-LHC - Ultimate Precision Generation of Recursive Events AT the Large Hadron Collider Principal Investigator: Dr. Marius Wiesemann Department of Physics, AG Stamtou Funding Period: June 2026 to May 2031 Further information on UPGEAT-LHC NanoCat - From CO2 and Nitrogen fixation to the delivery of therapeutic enzymes: Silicified DNA origami as artificial microcompartments Principal Investigator: Prof. Dr. Amelie Heuer-Jungemann Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology Funding Period: June 2024 to May 2029 Further information on NanoCat bypassNMR: Fast-MAS Solid-State NMR as a Bypass to High-Molecular-Weight Proteins in Solution Principal Investigator: Prof. Dr. Rasmus Linser Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology Funding Period: December 2023 to November 2028 Further information on bypassNMR META-LEGO – Learning to play LEGO with metamaterials! Principal Investigator: Prof. Dr. Angela Madeo Department of Architecture and Civil Engineering Funding period: September 2021 to August 2026 Further information on META-LEGO PropRT - Property-Based Modulable Timing Analysis and Optimization for Complex Cyber-Physical Real-Time Systems Principal Investigator: Prof. Dr. Jian-Jia Chen Department of Computer Science Funding period: January 2021 to December 2026 Further information on PropRT Advanced Grants InToCold - Interaction-induced topology in ultracold atoms Principal Investigator: Prof. Dr. Christof Weitenberg Department of Physics, Atomic and Molecular Physics Funding period: 2027 to 2031 Further information on InToCold MOLBEC – Molecular Bose Einstein Condensate Principal Investigator: Prof. Dr. Edvardas Narevicius Department of Physics Funding period: August 2020 to July 2026 Further informaton on MOLBEC Synergy Grants BubbleLife. From RNA-peptide coevolution to cellular life at heated air bubbles Principle Investigator: Prof. Dr. Hannes Mutschler Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology Funding period: April 2025 – March 2031 Further information on BubbleLife StuDySARCOMERE – Structure and Cellular Dynamics of the Sarcomere Principal Investigator: Apl. Prof. Dr. Stefan Raunser Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology & Max-Planck-Institute Funding period: February 2020 to January 2026 Further information on StuDySARCOMERE Proof of Concept SPIROPENT - 3D Carbon Based Tricyclic Spiropentane Building Blocks for Pharma-ceutical Applications Principle Investigator: Prof. Dr. Max Hansmann Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Organic Chemistry Funding period: 2026 to 2028 Further information on SPIROPENT BacForClimate - A potent, new anti-methanogenic compound for climate-friendly livestock farming Principle Investigator: Prof. Dr. Benedikt Sabaß Department of Physics, Professorship Experimental Physics and Medical Physics Further information on BacForClimate Heisenberg Programme Cooperation and Competition in the context of new and traditional forms of work and employment Principal Investigator: Prof. Dr. Maximiliane Wilkesmann Department of Social Sciences Type of funding: Heisenberg professorship Funding since April 2020 Precision flavour physics with leptons: Full exploitation of the LHCb dataset and future flavour violation experiments Principal Investigator: Prof. Dr. Johannes Albrecht Department of Physics Type of funding: Heisenberg professorship Funding since April 2020 Emmy Noether Programme Precision tests of the Standard Model using boosted W/Z bosons at the Large Hadron Collider Principal Investigator: Dr. Chris Malena Delitzsch Department of Physics Funding since 2022 UDNN: Scientific Understanding and Deep Neural Networks Principal Investigator: JProf. Florian J. Boge Department of Human Sciences and Theology Funding since 2022 Search for unknown phenomena in rare charm hadron decays Principal Investigator: Dr. Dominik Mitzel Department of Physics Funding since 2021 Designer photo-catalysts and multi-electron processes based on redox-active hybrid molecules and their application in synthesis and activation of small molecules Principal Investigator: Prof. Dr. Max Hansmann Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology Funding since 2020 Limiting Theories in Material Science: Mathematical derivation and Analysis Principal Investigator: Prof. Dr. Peter Bella Department of Mathematics Funding since 2019 Foundations of encrypted optimization-based control for networked systems Principal Investigator: Prof. Moritz Schulze Darup Department of Mechanical Engineering Funding since 2019 A chemical biology approach to uncover principles of system-wide regulation of proteolysis in the ubiquitin system Principal Investigator: Dr. Malte Gersch Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology Funding since 2018 Junior Research Groups in the Rückkehrprogramm NRW Junior Research Group in the Rückkehrprogramm NRW Dr. Moritz Cygorek, Department of Physics Funding since 2024 Junior Research Group in the Rückkehrprogramm NRW Dr. Sidney Becker, Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology Funding since 2022 Junior Research Group in the Rückkehrprogramm NRW Dr. Elisabeth Kreidt, Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology Funding since 2022 Junior Research Group in the Rückkehrprogramm NRW Dr. Leonhard Urner, Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology Funding since 2022 EU projects LAND4CLIMATE – Utilization of Private Land for Mainstreaming Nature-Based Solution Systemic Transformation Towards a Climate-Resilient Europe Project management: Prof. Stefan Greiving, Department of Spatial Planning Funding period: 2023-2027 HEALING BAT – advanced sensing, monitoring and self-HEALING mechanisms to self-repair BATteries Project management: Prof. Stefan Palzer, Department of Electrical Engineering and Information Technology Funding period: 2023-2027 GADMO – German-Austrian Digital Media Observatory Project management: Stephan Mündges, Prof. Christina Elmer, Department of Cultural Studies Funding period: 2022-2025 GreenSME – Driving manufacturing SME transformation towards green, digital and social sustainability Project management: Dr. Michael Kohlgrüber, Department of Social Sciences Funding period: 2022-2025 SIMPLI-DEMO – Demonstration of Sonication and Microwave Processing of Essential Chemicals Project management: Prof. Sergio Lucia, Department of Biochemical and Chemical Engineering Funding period: 2022-2026 SINFONIA – Selectively activated INFOrmation technology by hybrid Organic Interfaces Project management: Prof. Mirko Cinchetti, Department of Physics Funding period: 2021-2025 Consortial Research funded by Federal and State Ministries (selection) Lamarr Institute for Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence Board of Directors: Prof. Dr. Stefan Wrobel, Prof. Dr. Christian Bauckhage, Prof. Dr. Dr. h. c. Michael ten Hompel Funding period: since 2022 FAIR: From Prediction to Agile Interventions in the Social Sciences Coordination: Prof. Fani Lauermann, PhD und Prof. Dr. Philipp Doebler Funding period: 2021 to 2024 Silicon Economy Logistics Ecosystem (SELE) Coordination: Prof. Dr. Michael Henke, Prof. Dr. Boris Otto and Prof. Dr. Michael ten Hompel Funding period: 2020 to 2024 IGLU 2021 Coordination: Prof. Dr. Nele McElvany Funding period: 2019 to 2023 DoProfiL Coordination: Prof. Dr. Stephan Hußmann, Prof. Dr. Barbara Welzel Funding period: 2016 to 2023 Funding from Foundations (Selection) The Humboldt Foundation (Selection) Alexander von Humboldt Professorship Prof. Edvardas Narevicius, Department of Physics Henriette Herz Scouting Programme Prof. Matthias Faes, Department of Mechanical Engineering Prof. Susanne Fengler, Department of Cultural Studies Volkswagen Foundation Quantum geometric phase for animal magnetic perception Coordination: Prof. Dr. Igor Schapiro Department of Physics, Professorship for Theoretical Biophysics Funding since 2026 The Deserving Rich – A Multi-Disciplinary Analysis of the (Re-)Production of (German) Wealth Coordination: Prof. Dr. Christian Neuhäuser Department of Humanities and Theology, Professorship for Practical Philosophy Funding since 2023 Reichtum als soziale Beziehung. Intergenerationale Perspektiven auf die familiale (Re)Produktion von Reichtum Coordination: Prof. Dr. Nicole Burzan Department of Social Sciences, Professorship Sociology with a focus on social inequalities Funding since 2024 Rhine Ruhr Center for Science Communication Research (RRC) Involved at TU Dortmund University: Prof. Holger Wormer Department of Cultural Sciences, Institute for Journalism Funding since 2021 Wübben Stiftung Professorship Colloidal Nanostructures Prof. Matthias Grotevent Department of Physics Funding since 2026 Hans Böckler Foundation Four-day week at the hospital Coordination: Prof. Dr. Cornelius Schubert, Prof. Dr. Maximiliane Wilkesmann Department of Social Sciences, Professorship Sociology of Science and Technology and Heisenberg Professorship Sociology of Work and Organization Funding since 2025 Fritz Thyssen Foundation Regional educational disparities in the migration society Coordination: Prof. Dr. Aladin El-Mafaalani Department of Social Sciences, Professorship for Sociology of Migration and Education Funding since 2024 Graduate Schools at TU Dortmund University Research Training Groups of the German Research Foundation (DFG) TALENT - TolerAnt sustainabLe EfficieNT (GRK 3199) Funding period: since 2026 AMTEC-PRO – Advanced Methods and Technologies for Proton Therapy (RTG 3043) Funding period: since 2025 Biostatistical Methods for High-Dimensional Data in Toxicology (RTG 2624) Funding period: since 2021 Adaption intelligence of factories in a dynamic and complex environment (RTG 2193) Funding period: 2016 to 2025 Participation in Research Training Groups of the German Research Foundation (DFG) Regional disparities and economic policy (RTG 2484) Confinement-controlled Chemistry (RTG 2376) EU-funded Graduate Programs (Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions) Datavysts: Data2Action / Learning Network for AI and Data-Powered Social Innovation and Co-Creation of Transformative Change Funding period: since 2025 SMARTHEP: Synergies between Machine learning, Real Time analysis and Hybrid architectures for efficient Event Processing and decision making Funding period: 2021 to 2025 Advanced machine learning for Innovative Drug Discovery Funding period: 2021 to 2024 Long Acting Medicines for Complex Therapeutics Needed Now (LongActNow) Funding period: 2019 to 2024 Graduate Programs funded by VolkswagenFoundation Scripts for Postindustrial Urban Futures: American Models, Transatlantic Interventions Graduate Programs funded by MERCUR Graduate School on Political Cohesion (GSPC) Precision Proton Therapy - Practical Physics and Chemistry at the Interface with Medicine Graduate Programs funded by the Hans Böckler Foundation New challenges in aging societies Academy Memberships Leopoldina Prof. (i.R.) Dr.-Ing. Dr. h.c. Matthias Kleiner (Mechanical Engineering) Prof. (i.R.) Dr. Dr. h.c. Herbert Waldmann (Chemistry and Chemical Biology) Acatech Prof. Dr.-Ing. Dirk Biermann (Mechanical Engineering) Prof. Dr.-Ing. Uwe Clausen (Mechanical Engineering) Prof. (i.R.) Dr. Dr. h.c. Ursula Gather (Statistics) Prof. (i.R.) Dr. Andrzej Górak (Biochemical and Chemical Engineering) Prof. Dr. Michael Henke (Mechanical Engineering) Prof. (i.R.) Dr.-Ing. Dr. h.c. Matthias Kleiner (Mechanical Engineering) Prof. (i.R.) Dr.-Ing. Axel Kuhn (Mechanical Engineering) Prof. (i.R.) Dr. Katharina Morik (Computer Science) Prof. Dr. Gabriele Sadowski (Biochemical and Chemical Engineering) Prof. (i.R.) Dr. Dr. E.h. A. Erman Tekkaya (Mechanical Engineering) Prof. (i.R.) Dr. Dr. h. c. Michael ten Hompel (Mechanical Engineering) Prof. Dr. Johannes Weyer (Social Sciences) Prof. Dr. Petra Wiederkehr (Computer Science) Russian Academy of Sciences Prof. Dr. Manfred Bayer (Physics) (on hold) Academia Europaea Prof. (i.R.) Dr.-Ing. Dr. h.c. Matthias Kleiner (Mechanical Engineering) Prof. Dr. Liudvika Leišytė (zhb and Business and Economics) Prof. Dr. Thomas Schwentick (Computer Science) Prof. Dr. Susanne Fengler (Erich Brost Institute for International Journalism) North Rhine-Westphalian Academy of Sciences, Humanities and the Arts Prof. Dr. Manfred Bayer (Physics) Prof. Dr.-Ing. Dirk Biermann (Mechanical Engineering) Prof. (i.R.) Dr. Dr. Brigitte Falkenburg (Humanities and Theology) Prof. Heike Hanada (Architecture and Civil Engineering) Prof. (i.R.) Dr. Walter Krämer (Statistics) Prof. (i.R.) Dr. Katharina Morik (Computer Science) Prof. Dr. Gabriele Sadowski (Biochemical and Chemical Engineering) Prof. Dr. Metin Tolan (Physics) Prof. (i.R.) Dr. Dr. h.c. Herbert Waldmann (Chemistry and Chemical Biology) “Junges Kolleg” of North Rhine-Westphalian Academy of Sciences, Humanities and the Arts Dr. Malte Gersch (Chemistry and Chemical Biology) JProf. Max Hansmann (Chemistry and Chemical Biology) Dr. Elisabeth Kreidt (Chemistry and Chemical Biology) Dr. Leonhard Urner (Chemistry and Chemical Biology) Dr. Lena Tacke (Humanities and Theology) Berlin-Brandenburg Academy of Sciences and Humanities Prof. (i.R.) Dr.-Ing. Dr. h.c. Matthias Kleiner (Mechanical Engineering) Prof. Dr. Christian Rehtanz (Electrical Engineering & Information Technology) Academy of Sciences and Literature | Mainz Prof. (i.R.) Dr. Dr. h.c. Herbert Waldmann (Chemistry and Chemical Biology) International Academy for Production Engineering (CIRP) Prof. Dr.-Ing. Dirk Biermann (Mechanical Engineering) Prof. (i.R.) Dr.-Ing. Dr. h.c. Matthias Kleiner (Mechanical Engineering) Prof. (i.R.) Dr. Dr. E.h. A. Erman Tekkaya (Mechanical Engineering) Prof. Dr. Petra Wiederkehr (Computer Science) (Associate Member) Research Centers at TU Dortmund University Current High-Impact Publications …