Research and Teaching with the best minds

Research and Teaching at the University of Bonn

The University of Bonn is one of eleven Universities of Excellence in Germany with six Clusters of Excellence - as of January 2026, eight clusters - more than any other university in Germany. Our seven faculties cover a broad range of disciplines. These strong disciplines are supplemented by six cross-faculty, interdisciplinary “Transdisciplinary Research Areas” (TRAs) that create spaces for exploration and innovation where key scientific, technological and social challenges are addressed.

Postdoc
© Volker Lannert/Uni Bonn

Transdisciplinary Research Profile

The research profile of our University of Excellence is based on our six Transdisciplinary Research Areas (TRAs), and is further strengthened by six Clusters of Excellence, countless collaborative projects and outstanding researchers.

Frau Professor Margherita Disertori vom Hausdorf Center for Mathematics hält eine Mathematikvorlesung vor Studierenden.
© Volker Lannert/Uni Bonn

Teaching Profile

We aim to create a passion for science in young people and help them develop their individual professional and personal skills as best possible. The overall orientation of study and teaching at the University is based on ten principles.

Wissenschaftler im Hofgarten
© Volker Lannert/Uni Bonn

Researchers and Teachers

The University provides a range of services to help increase the time available for research and teaching. These range from providing advice on submitting applications and handling third-party funded projects, all the way to consulting on teaching methods. Learn about our Welcome Center and funding lines for international exchange, among other things.

Angebote Forschende und Lehrende
© Ulrike E. Klopp/Uni Bonn

Doctoral Students and Postdocs

We want to give talented early-career researchers the opportunity to perform independent research and help them achieve their goals both within and outside academia. The Argelander Program provides orientation, cross-disciplinary training and funding for early-career researchers.

Transfer enaCOM
© Volker Lannert/Uni Bonn

Knowledge and Technology Transfer

enaCom Transfer Center sees itself as an intermediary, translator and catalyst between science and stakeholders outside the scientific community. Its work focuses on making research results obtained at the University of Bonn available for the benefit of society.

Forschung und Lehre - 2
© Frommann/Uni Bonn

Quality Assurance

Academic integrity and high quality teaching are our top priorities. Learn about our quality assurance measures, Guidelines for Safeguarding Good Research Practice and your contact persons.

Latest Research and Teaching News
How obesity also affects the next generation
Children born to obese mothers are at higher risk of developing metabolic disorders, even if they follow a healthy diet themselves. A new study from the University of Bonn offers an explanation for this phenomenon. In obese mice, certain cells in the embryo’s liver are reprogrammed during pregnancy. This leads to long-term changes in the offspring’s metabolism. The researchers believe that these findings could also be relevant for humans. The study has now been published in the journal Nature. 
Bharat Desai Receives Humboldt Research Award
Bharat Desai, Professor of International Law at Jawaharlal Nehru University in India, has been honored with a Humboldt Research Award. He was nominated for the €60,000 prize by Professor Stefan Talmon, an international law expert at the University of Bonn, and will now spend a year working in Bonn alongside his host.
The Fascinating World of Beetles
Over 400,000 beetle species have been described to date, making them the largest order of any liv-ing thing. Each individual one triggers spontaneous emotions in us: some people will let out a loud, shrill scream if they see a black beetle, while most will find ladybirds especially charming. When you have someone taking as close a look as photographer Carolin Bleese has done and a researcher as besotted with beetles as is Professor Dr. Nicholas Gompel from the Institute of Organismic Biology at the University of Bonn, then you get some completely new angles on the humble beetle. Running until August 31, 2025, the new special exhibition in P26 entitled “Fascinating Beetles” will display the images that have resulted from the collaboration between the two.
Decoding Complex Structures Through Mathematics
The German Research Foundation approved a new Collaborative Research Center (CRCs) at the University of Bonn. 19 principal investigators and their working groups will study the mathematical structures underlying complex phenomena in areas of criticality. The spokesperson of the CRC is Leibniz Prize winner Professor Angkana Rüland of the Hausdorff Center for Mathematics—Cluster of Excellence. The Collaborative Research Center will receive nearly four years of DFG funding of approximately seven million euros.

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Clusters of Excellence

200+

Degree Programs

699

Professors

Our Research Profile

The research profile of our University of Excellence is defined by six Transdisciplinary Research Areas (TRAs), each of which has at least one Cluster of Excellence at its core. The TRAs focus our research on key future scientific, technological and social issues. Outstanding researchers, strong disciplines and a cooperative research culture have always formed the basis of our research profile.

Transdisciplinary Research Areas

The six Transdisciplinary Research Areas (TRAs) at the University of Bonn create spaces for innovation in research and teaching.

Excellence Strategy

“We invest in people. We foster networks. We create impact.” Our strategy for excellence in research and teaching.

Clusters of Excellence

The University of Bonn has six Clusters of Excellence — eight as of January 2026 — more than any other university in Germany.

Promotion of Early-Career Researchers

We offer many support services for doctoral students and postdocs to promote early independent research.

Research Networks

Innovative top-level research in many national and international partnerships and collaborative projects sets us apart.

Outstanding Researchers

The outstanding research performed by our researchers is shown by the many awards that have been received.

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