DFG Funding

Using cutting edge technology and integrated in international projects, the MARUM research center aims at unraveling the role of oceans in the Earth’s system – with a special focus on global processes of change. Researchers investigate interactions between the marine geosphere and biosphere and provide insights into the sustainable use of the oceans. MARUM encompasses a DFG Research Centre and a cluster of excellence entitled "The Ocean in the Earth System". More

SFB 747: Micro Cold Forming – Processes, Characterization, Optimization
The main objective is the supply of processes and methods for the manufacturing process of cold forming metallic micro components, encompassing all important aspects of the forming process – from materials development to component testing. The SFB covers a broad scope of research, ranging from component development, through process optimization, up to aspects of planning of microform manufacturing. More

TR 8: Spatial Cognition: Reasoning, Action, Interaction
This Transregional Collaborative Research Centre embedded in the University of Bremen and the Albert-Ludwigs University Freiburg was set up on 1 January 2003. Research focuses on cognitive agents in spatial environments. One of the main objectives is to provide assistance in the performance of spatial tasks such as spatial reasoning and navigation, and to gain a better understanding of actions and behavior in spatial environments. A further research focus is on the communication of spatial environments in connection with assistance tasks. More

SFB 186: Status Passages and Risks in the Life Course (1988-2001)

SFB 261: The South Atlantic in the Late Quaternary: Reconstruction of material budget and current system (1989-2001)

SFB 372: Sprayforming (1994-2004); subsequently continued in TFB 58: Transfer Area Supreme Materials: Spray Compacting Materials in Application (2005-2008)

SFB 517: Neural Cognition (1996-2004), in cooperation with the university of Oldenburg

SFB 570: Distortion Engineering – Distortion Control in the Production Process (2001-2011)

SFB 637: Autonomous Cooperating Logistic Processes - A Paradigm Shift and its Limitations (2004-2012)

The following Priority Research Programs are run by a spokesperson being member of the University of Bremen. Scientists of the University of Bremen are participating in 19 other SPPs.

SPP 1243: Quantum transport at the molecular scale
Molecular electronics – i.e. micro electronics in which the individual components make use of atomic interactions in molecules – is generally perceived as the most likely candidate to succeed silicon-based technologies. The main goal is to investigate the insufficiently understood basic requirement for exploiting these technologies, viz. how electrical current flows through a single molecule. More

SPP 1266: Integrated analysis of interglacial climate dynamics (Interdynamik)
The Priority Research Program “Integrated analysis of interglacial climate dynamics” examines the paleoclimate. The goal is to arrive at more accurate predictions of climate change. In order to do this, existing climate archives (terrestrial and marine as well as ice cores) are combined in order to yield a comprehensive and quantitative analysis of global environmental variations. More

SPP 1292: Survey Methodology
The Priority Research Program "Survey Methodology" entered its second stage in spring 2010. It examines surveys as a central method of empirical social research. Despite their widespread use, surveys – like other research methods – are still less than perfect. The objective of this Priority Research Program is to advance survey methodology and reduce its susceptibility to error. More

SPP 1423: Process Spray: Production of Functional Solid Particles by Spraying
The Priority Research Program "Process Spray" examines the production of solid materials by spraying processes. Research focuses on the properties of powders as well as on the development of suitable manufacturing methods. A further step involves investigating applications for the subsequently developed spraying processes. More

SPP 1505: Mediatized Worlds: Communication in Medial and Societal Change
Research within the context of the SSP "Mediatized Worlds: Communication in Medial and Societal Change " focuses on mediatization, which is grasped as the growing shaping of society and culture by media communication. Societal practices in various fields of action like politics and the public sphere, but also everyday life, are inextricably intertwined with media. The main goal is to examine the consequences of this mediatization and its impact on the social life of populations. More

The previous Priority Research Program 1161 “Panel Analysis of Intimate Relationships and Family Dynamics (pairfam)” is in the meantime funded as long-term project by the German Research Foundation (DFG). It is a multi-disciplinary, longitudinal study for researching partnership and family dynamics in Germany. More

Research Unit 1224: Construction Methods for Lightweight CFK-Aluminium Junction Structures
Set up in 2010, the DFG Research Unit "Construction Methods for Lightweight CFK-Aluminum Junction Structures" investigates new ways of binding materials made of aluminum and carbon fibers. This is of particular significance in production processes where weight is a critical criterion, such as aircraft manufacture, for instance.

FOR 736: The Precambrian-Cambrian Biosphere (R)evolution: Insights from Chinese Microcontinents
FOR 736 forms the German part of a German-Chinese binational research group financed by DFG and NSFC (National Natural Science Foundation of China). The research focus is on the reconstruction of global biogeochemical cycles of the Precambrian-Cambrian transition and the identification of environmental conditions that might have catalysed the advent and radiation of metazoan. 

Participation of the University of Bremen: Prof. Simone Kasemann with the project “Reconstruction of Ediacaran to Early Cambrian ocean pH and weathering conditions” More

FOR 1095: Stratospheric Change and its Role for Climate Prediction
The primary objective of the DFG Research Unit SHARP (Stratospheric Change and its Role for Climate Prediction) is to improve our understanding of global climate change and the accuracy of climate change predictions. The emphasis is on the relevance of the stratosphere for climate change, particularly feedback processes with the troposphere. SHARP will provide answers to the question of how the stratosphere is likely to respond to climate change, and how the changes stratosphere will influence tropospheric climate and weather. 

Participation of the University of Bremen: Prof. John Burrows with two projects:
1) SHARP OFC I and II: How is the evolution of stratospheric ozone affected by climate change, and how strong is the feedback? 
2) SHARP WV I and II: How is the stratospheric water vapour affected by climate change, and which processes are responsible?
More

FOR 1616: Dynamics and Interactions of Semiconductor Nanowires for Optoelectronics

FOR 1616 is a research group combining the project areas "Photonic" and "Electronic".

Participation of the University of Bremen: Prof. Jürgen Gutowski with the project "Ultrafast dynamics of light-matter-coupling processes in functionalized semiconductor nanorod structures" and Prof. Thomas Frauenheim with the project "Surface modification and doping of nanowires from density-functional theory calculations" More

FOR 1539: Horizontal Europeanization

The research group aims at a further consolidation of a sociology of European integration. The seven projects investigate the scale and scope of horizontal Europeanization. 

Participation of the University of Bremen: Prof. Steffen Mau with the project “Professionalization of EU-Expertise” More

Reinhart Koselleck Projects enable outstanding researchers with a proven scientific track record to pursue exceptionally innovative, higher-risk projects. For a period of five years funding from €500,000 up to €1.25 million is granted.

"Computer Architecture and Embedded Systems" – Prof. Dr. Drechsler
In modern circuit and system design the modeling of hardware and (hardware-dependent) software for embedded systems becomes increasingly important. For decades the complexity of systems increased resulting in systems with several hundred millions of components. Design productivity enhancements are only possible with increasing design reuse or modeling on a higher level of abstraction. Thus, the design starts at the Electronic System Level (ESL) and no longer at the Register Transfer Level (RTL). Here, the correctness of the systems becomes the center of attention. However, no continuous methodology exists so far. In this project a continuous verification flow for ESL will be developed. Besides new verification methods the flow will include approaches to automatically generate properties and algorithms to check their completeness. In addition, it will be possible to relate the ESL-properties with properties at lower levels of abstractions (such as RTL). This allows ensuring the correctness from the system-level description down to the logic level. More

"Development of new metalworking fluids generated in microbial processes" – Prof. Dr.-Ing. habil. Dr.-Ing. Brinksmeier
This project deals with the development of new metalworking fluids, which are based on chemical components generated in microbial processes. Metalworking fluids (MWF) fulfil several tasks such as lubrication of the contact zone between tool and workpiece, cooling of the surfaces and removal of the chips in machining processes. Most of nowadays MWF are based on mineral-oil, so substitution of those MWF components carry a high potential to increase resource-efficiency in metalworking processes. In this project an approach is chosen which aims on a completely new composition of MWF including substances from microbial processes replacing the components of currently available MWF. Many bacteria are able to produce or accumulate molecules with comparable properties as those in conventional MWF. Lipids, fatty acids, waxes, biotensides as well as sulphurous and phosphoric equivalents to commonly used MWF components can be synthesized by micro-organisms. After identification of suitable micro-organisms, the potential of the application of MWF based on microbial products in industrial use will be analyzed in this project. More

"Experiments on the couplings and feedbacks between reaction and permeability in water-rock systems" – Prof. Dr. Bach
In a novel experimental approach, fractured rocks are subjected to hot aqueous solutions, while reactions and associated changes in permeability are being monitored. Particular focus is on elucidating the couplings and feedbacks between reaction and permeability in water-rock systems. The results will help improve the modeling of processes critical in earth's geochemical cycles as well as in assessing and using resources, such as mineral deposits and geothermal energy. More

Currently, a total of six Emmy Noether Junior Research Groups are being funded at the University of Bremen.

The DFG is currently funding one national and three international research training groups at the University of Bremen.

The Bremen International Graduate School of Social Sciences (BIGSSS) and the Center for Marine Environmental Sciences (MARUM) are presented on the pages of the Excellence Initiative.