Current projects

This project examines an important aspect from the fields of art, archaeology and cultural inheritance – iconography and narrative images. Since we are now able to detect objects and styles using computer vision to a great extent, the next challenge is to understand the semantic level of images. The aim is to enable interaction between scientists and machines, not only in the form of applied science, but also as an interdisciplinary exchange of methods and image theory.

Project coordination: Prof. Dr. Peter Bell, peter.bell@fau.de

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The aim of this project is to develop a comprehensive model for the integration of migrants in new socio-cultural environments. A particular focus is placed on aspects such as violence and trauma. The combination of expertise from political science, linguistics, medicine and psychology enables the researchers to investigate the interplay between socio-cultural experiences and biophysical reactions. Particular emphasis is placed on hidden forms of exclusion and symbolic violence in institutions.

Project coordination: Prof Dr. Petra Bendel, petra.bendel@fau.de and Prof. Dr. Yesim Erim, yesim.erim@uk-erlangen.de

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The aim of this project is to analyse the time series of Earth observation (EO) data with innovative ‘deep learning’ methods in order to develop efficient algorithms for dealing with the large amounts of data involved. The value of these EO products is further increased by advanced interpolation techniques and assimilation in geophysical models from applied mathematics.

Project coordination: Prof. Dr. Matthias Braun, matthias.h.braun@fau.de

Digital transformation is posing a challenge for the concept of sovereignty on various levels. These challenges and possible reactions are being discussed in discourses about ‘digital sovereignty’. In order to understand these discourses as well as their practical, political, legal and technical consequences, it is necessary to combine expertise from social sciences and economics, ethics, law and technology and computer science. This project does so by carrying out exploratory interdisciplinary studies and will thus promote the academic investigation of ‘digital sovereignty’.

Project coordination: Prof. Dr. Georg Glasze, georg.glasze@fau.de

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The latest technological developments in MR spectroscopy and high magnetic field MRI enable metabolites in tissue to be measured using non-invasive methods. These techniques are being used to establish an MR-based immunometabolic profiling platform (MR-IPP) in animal models of arthritis. MR-IPP is then implemented in order to detect disease-specific changes in metabolism in patients with rheumatoid arthritis and psoriatic arthritis.

Project coordination: Prof. Dr. Gerhard Krönke, gerhard.kroenke@uk-erlangen.de

Body odours are collected from healthy participants of varying ages and the volatile compounds of these odours are analysed using chromatographic and olfactometric methods. The microbiome of the samples is also determined. In addition to demographic information and other mediators, the data are analysed using machine learning or other suitable modelling techniques.

Project coordination: Dr. Helene Loos, helene.loos@fau.de

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This project involves manufacturing biopolymer hydrogels and cataloguing their mechanical properties. They serve as replacement materials in order to understand and model the highly-complex behaviour of soft biological tissue. The aim is to generate a catalogue of replacement materials for various soft tissue that links the specific characteristics of their mechanical responses with the relevant modelling approach. This catalogue could make the process of selecting suitable materials for 3D printing of artificial organs or generating suitable models for prognostic simulations considerably easier in the future.

Project coordination: Prof. Dr. Paul Steinmann, paul.steinmann@fau.de

www.biohydrogels.forschung.fau.de