DFG awards the Heinz Maier-Leibnitz Prize, established in 1977 and named after the physicist and former president of the DFG, to ten early career researchers each year in recognition of excellent achievements. It is worth 20,000 euros. The Heinz Maier-Leibnitz Prize is an accolade for early career researchers and provides an incentive for continued outstanding research. The Federal Ministry of Education and Research provides the funding for the prize.
Prizewinners at FAU
The following researchers at FAU have won the Heinz Maier-Leibnitz Prize.
Den Gehirnwindungen auf der Spur: Silvia Budday (2021)
In ihrer Forschung beschäftigt sich Dr. Silvia Budday mit der Gehirnmechanik: Warum ist unser Gehirn gefaltet? Welche Auswirkungen haben die mechanischen Eigenschaften dieser Furchen? Die Nachwuchswissenschaftlerin hat 3D-Computer-Modelle des Gehirns erstellt, die sich aus kleinen Würfeln zusammensetzen, die die verschiedenen Gehirnareale repräsentieren. Mithilfe dieser Modelle ist es möglich, die Mechanik einzelner Gehirnareale zu betrachten. Damit könnten beispielsweise Operationen simuliert, aber auch Diagnosen von Krankheiten verbessert werden.
Bones as an interface: Aline Bozec (2016)
During her research, Aline Bozec discovered that there are various interfaces between bones and other tissue and organ systems. In her work she has described the central transcription factors and signalling pathways that are relevant to the differentiation and activity of cells in osteoclasts (cells that break down bone), osteoblasts (cells that build bone), and fat cells. In doing so she has shed light on fundamental phenomena relating to the regulation of bone formation and resorption, the modulation of regenerative mechanisms in stem cells niches in bone marrow, and how these processes affect health and disease.
Communicating with light: Christine Silberhorn (2008)
Christine Silberhorn’s research focuses on the special properties of light and their application in quantum communication – the transfer of information by sending individual photons through the air or through glass fibres. She places particular emphasis on generating nonclassical light using special waveguide structures and their application in linear optical quantum networks and the characterisation of quantum states using photon number statistics.
Pressemitteilung zur Preisvergabe an Dr. Christine Silberhorn
Laser meets sheet metal: Marion Merklein (2004)
Marion Merklein’s research focuses on manufacturing technologies, in particular laser forming, which is a forming method for light metals. This method involves heating metals to a high temperature for a short period of time and then forming them in a specific way. Marion Merklein has investigated changes in the microstructure of aluminium alloys that occur when they are heated for a short period of time. In addition, she has developed a process for recording so-called forming limit diagrams that enable the forming characteristics of sheet metal to be analysed. This work holds great potential, especially for the automotive industry.
Pressemitteilung zur Preisvergabe an Prof. Dr. Marion Merklein