What holds the world together – from smallest particles to the universe

TRA Matter: Building Blocks of Matter and Fundamental Interactions 

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© Bialek/Uni Bonn

In this TRA, basic research meets cutting-edge technology to study nature on differing length and time scales. Collaboration between particle physicist, molecular scientists, quantum technologists and astronomers is key to generating new insights into the structures, properties and interactions of the fundamental building blocks of the matter which our universe consists. The focus is on developing impactful new methods and systems for addressing today’s challenges, ranging from big data and information technologies to medicine and environmental sustainability.

RESEARCH

Areas, topics, collaborative research & awards

ABOUT US

Principles, organisation, members & network

SYNERGY BUBBLES

Concept and information on call(s) for proposals

RECAP

Highlights, videos and reports from past years

News from the TRA

Notifications

A starting point for the development of new pain and cancer drugs
The human P2X4 receptor plays an important role in chronic pain, inflammation and some types of cancer. Researchers at the University of Bonn and the University Hospital Bonn (UKB) have now discovered a mechanism that can inhibit this receptor. The results were recently published in the scientific journal Nature Communications and open up a pathway for the development of new drugs.
Light Particles Prefer Company
As far as particles of light are concerned, the collective is more important than the individual. When they get to decide between two states, they will favor the one that many of their fellow particles have already adopted. However, this collectivist tendency does not kick in until enough photons have assembled in the same place. These findings, revealed by University of Bonn physicists in a recent study, could aid the development of ultra-powerful laser sources, among other things. They have now been published in the journal “Physical Review Letters.”
University of Bonn philosopher founds innovation academy
Renowned philosopher Prof. Dr. Markus Gabriel from the University of Bonn has founded the deep-IN Academy for Deep Innovation GmbH to bring more ethics into economic innovation. The academy offers training courses, conferences, and ethical business consulting, and is building a social knowledge network. Its goal is to maintain ethical and moral principles in a profit-oriented world and integrate them into companies.
Brilliant minds connect disciplines
The University of Bonn has been a University of Excellence since 2019 and is committed to transdisciplinary research collaboration. With eight Clusters of Excellence, the University is now the most successful Universities of Excellence in Germany. As part of its excellence strategy, it has expanded six complementary Transdisciplinary Research Areas in which important social, technological, and scientific topics of the future are addressed from a variety of perspectives. At the heart of this are professorships for brilliant minds at the interface of different disciplines, which anchor this concept across faculties. 

Highlights and announcements

Upcoming! - Registration is open until November 7!

TRA Matter Networking Symposium "MATTER connects" (November 28  // 09:15 am - 04:00 pm)

The symposium is open to all members of TRA Matter and to PhD students and Postdocs in TRA Matter research groups

A diverse program is offered:

Talks: 

  • 09:30 am: TRA Matter – Where do we stand? (Connie Lu, Sebastian Neubert – Spokespersons TRA Matter)
  • 11:30 am: Virtual Material Design (Jan Hamaekers – Frauenhofer SCAI)
  • 01:00 pm: Brief introductory talks on Clusters of Excellence within TRA Matter (Simon Stellmer – Ml4Q; Cristiano Porciani – Dynaverse; Philip Bechtle – Color Meets Flavor)
  • 03:00 pm: To test or not to test – Quantum Mechanics at high energies (Cedric Breuning – Physikalisches Institut

In addition, applicants for the TRA Matter SYNERGY Prize 2025 will present their project ideas in short pitches (09:45 - 11:30 am). A poster session and networking time will offer further opportunities for scientific exchange and collaboration. 

Registration is possible via this link!

Get Involved in the TRA

As a member of the TRA, you can access funding opportunities, participate in events, and build new networks.

Everything About Membership in TRA Matter

 
In TRA Matter, researchers from various fields can collaborate to explore the fundamental building blocks of matter and their interactions. Membership is open to all researchers who work independently in the field of research of the TRA and are employed at the University of Bonn or a cooperating research institution.

Directory of our members and their research focus areas

Search within our network of over 100 scientists for new cooperation partners. We are happy to support you in new joint projects or events.

Meet our Researchers

Inter- and transdisciplinary research actively pursued at the University of Bonn and is promoted across faculty boundaries. The faces of TRA Matter are our Clausius Professorship, the Argelander Professorship, as well as our designated Hertz Chair and many other dedicated researchers.

Computational Quantum Field Theory

Jun.-Prof. Lena Funcke

Clausius Junior-Professor 

Biohybrid Research

Jun.-Prof. Patrycja Kielb

Argelander Professorship

Astrochemistry

Prof. Serena Viti

Designated Hertz-Chair

Newest Member – Welcome to TRA Matter!

Jun.-Prof. Dr. Zorah Lähner

Machine Learning and Geometric Optimization

Contact

Avatar Westernströer

Dr. Birgit Westernströer

Manager TRA / Strategic Development and Quality Assurance Unit

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Transdisciplinary Research Areas

Spaces for innovation in research and teaching - these are the six transdisciplinary research areas at the University of Bonn. 

University of Excellence

Since summer 2019, we have been one of eleven German Universities of Excellence. Read more about our research profile and our future concept.

Research funding services

The Research and Transfer Department at the University of Bonn will assist you with any questions you may have regarding your third-party funded project.

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