Research and Study at the University of Excellence in Bonn

With eight Clusters of Excellence, we are Germany's most successful University of Excellence, producing evidence-based academic contributions that help our modern, complex and changing society address the global challenges of the 21st century. Supporting the next generation is central to our mission.

We aim to inspire and foster young talent, early-career researchers and emerging leaders who play a vital role in safeguarding our democracy and shaping a future of progress, prosperity, and sustainable transformation in a digital and globally connected world.

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Latest News

Less Fertilizer Through Smart Alliances

Over the course of evolution, plants have developed an elegant strategy to counteract a lack of phosphate in the soil — they form symbiotic relationships with soil fungi. These mycorrhizal fungi efficiently supply their plant partners with phosphate and other essential minerals. Recently, scientists at the Leibniz Institute of Plant Biochemistry (IPB) in Halle, in collaboration with partners at the University of Bonn, discovered a molecular switch that detects the plant's phosphate content and signals whether to initiate or inhibit the symbiosis. This signaling pathway could enable plants to form partnerships with soil fungi even when sufficient phosphate is available. The study, published in the renowned journal Science Advances, offers a potential solution to a long-standing agricultural problem and opens new avenues for reducing fertilizer use.

Cell-specific quantification of sodium concentrations in brain tissue

The element sodium plays a key role in nervous system function. An international research team headed by the Institute of Neurobiology at Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf (HHU), in collaboration with the University of Bonn and the University Hospital Bonn, has now conducted a closer examination of the sodium concentration in astrocytes – special cells in the brain. To achieve this, the researchers developed a method, via which they can make the sodium content of individual cells in tissue directly visible, as they now describe in the scientific journal Nature Communications.

ELLIS Approves New AI Unit in NRW

North Rhine-Westphalia will become home to a new unit within the European Laboratory for Learning and Intelligent Systems (ELLIS), one of Europe’s leading networks for artificial intelligence research. The newly approved ELLIS Unit NRW brings together leading AI researchers and large-scale computing infrastructure across the region to advance open-source foundation models, trustworthy machine learning and AI applications for real-world environments.

NRW Academy Welcomes Three New Members from the University of Bonn

The North Rhine-Westphalian Academy of Sciences, Humanities and the Arts welcomed eleven new members at its annual ceremony, including three from the University of Bonn: Professor Hendrik Hakenes, a financial market economist; Professor Claudia Wich-Reif, a German scholar; and Professor Anna-Katharina Hornidge, a sociologist. The four women and seven men who make up the academy are united by exceptional research work and creative excellence in their area of expertise.

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We are Uni Bonn!

Together we are the "we": The roots of the success of the University of Excellence Bonn lie in its people. In the #WeAreUniBonn campaign, we present employees, students, and alumni who, with their remarkable achievements, contribute to the success of our university.

Angkana Rüland

The mathematician focuses on challenges that arise in the natural sciences and lead to mathematical questions. Prof. Dr. Angkana Rüland was awarded the Leibniz Prize for her work.

Cyrill Stachniss

Prof. Dr. Cyrill Stachniss is an expert in robotics and research for sustainable plant production. He is one of the two spokespersons for the PhenoRob Cluster of Excellence.

Jaqueline Lorenzen

The new public law of sustainability is Prof. Dr. Jaqueline Lorenzen’s area of expertise. For this reason, she was appointed Argelander Professor of Law on Sustainability and Ecological Transformation.

Dominik Bach

Prof. Dr. Dominik Bach's research uses artificial intelligence to advance our understanding of mental illnesses. He is the Hertz Professor of Artificial Intelligence and Neuroscience.

Events

Wednesday May 27, 2026

Generative AI & Prompting: Explore the Potential of Your Ideas

Transfer Center enaCom, ...

10:00 AM - 01:00 PM

In this workshop, you will learn how to work effectively with generative AI tools such as ChatGPT. The focus is on prompting techniques and on using AI as a ...

Wednesday May 27, 2026

Trip to the Bundeskunsthalle

Helmut-Kohl-Allee 4, ...

02:00 PM

Discover all the exciting exhibitions currently on offer at the Kunst- und Ausstellungshalle der Bundesrepublik Deutschland in a friendly group. The ...

Wednesday May 27, 2026

iStart: Coffee Talks with Experts: Quality Management

Campus Poppelsdorf

05:00 PM - 06:00 PM

Interested in connecting with area experts and gaining insights into their daily work? Join us as we invite companies to our campus to learn from their ...