What holds the world together – from smallest particles to the universe
© Volker Lannert / Uni Bonn

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

© ESO/M. Kornmesser/H. Jin
Chemical Fingerprints Reveal Hidden Histories of Massive Stars
Many massive stars were once part of binary systems, but their exciting past is often lost – at least it was so far. A new study at the University of Bonn and at the Max Planck Institute for Astrophysics has now found a new method to identify stars that once gained mass from a companion – stars that now appear as single objects but carry the chemical scars of their binary youth. Using a unique “chemical fingerprint” – independent of specific evolutionary models – they were able to reconstruct the binary histories of massive stars. The method has already reclassified the well-studied star γ Columbae as a former mass gainer – challenging long-held assumptions about its origin– and offered new insight into Supernova SN 1987A’s progenitor. The findings have now been published in “Nature Astronomy.”
Aug 12, 2026
© IAXO Collaboration
Hunting for the Axion with a Huge Magnet
The search for an as-yet undiscovered elementary particle has been given fresh momentum as the German Research Foundation (DFG) has now greenlit the construction of a special €6 million magnet system in the Color meets Flavor Cluster of Excellence at the University of Bonn, University of Siegen and TU Dortmund University. Dubbed “BabyIAXO,” it is being built to hunt for the axion, a hitherto undetected elementary particle that could unlock one of the biggest unsolved mysteries in particle physics.
Aug 11, 2026
© Jakob Dietl/Uni Bonn
Homing In on the X-Ray Sky
The German eROSITA consortium (eROSITA-DE), which also includes the University of Bonn and which is being led by the Max Planck Institute for Extraterrestrial Physics (MPE), has released its second major public dataset, the “eROSITA Data Release 2” (DR2). Built from the first three all-sky surveys done by the eROSITA telescope aboard the Spectrum-Roentgen-Gamma (SRG) mission, DR2 provides the most sensitive and comprehensive catalogue of the X-ray sky currently available to the public. Spearheaded by the University of Bonn, the analysis of a massive galaxy cluster has shown that the theoretical models for how the Universe formed largely match the observations made, albeit with some interesting discrepancies in the finer details.
Jul 31, 2026
© Collage (from left): Barbara Frommann/Uni Bonn, Tobias Schwerdt, Bernadett Yehdou/Uni Bonn
University of Bonn Secures Three Proof of Concept Grants
Three University of Bonn researchers have been awarded a Proof of Concept Grant by the European Research Council (ERC). Neuroscientist Professor Dominik Bach, chemist Assistant Professor Ala Bunescu and radiologist Professor Philipp Vollmuth (from the University Hospital Bonn) are each receiving €150,000 over a period of 18 months. This program helps researchers to take findings from their work and turn them into commercial products or services.
Jun 30, 2026

Highlights and announcements

Get Involved in the TRA

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

© Daniel Minge

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.

© Gregor Hübl/Uni Bonn

Computational Quantum Field Theory

Jun.-Prof. Lena Funcke

Clausius Junior-Professor 

© Gregor Hübl/Uni Bonn

Biohybrid Research

Jun.-Prof. Patrycja Kielb

Argelander Professorship

© Gregor Hübl/Uni Bonn

Astrochemistry

Prof. Serena Viti

Designated Hertz-Chair

© Bernadett Yehdou

Newest Member – Welcome to TRA Matter!

Prof. Dr. Florian Kraus

Inorganic Chemistry, Fluorine Chemistry

Contact

Avatar Westernströer

Dr. Birgit Westernströer

+49 228 73 4117

Manager TRA / Strategic Development and Quality Assurance Unit
© Jürgen Hofmann

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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. 

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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.

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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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