Building Blocks of Matter and Fundamental Interactions (TRA Matter)

The formation of complex structures based on the fundamental building blocks of matter and their interactions is investigated from subnuclear and subatomic over atomic, molecular, bio-molecular to terrestrial and astronomical length scales, increasing the knowledge of mankind on the fundamentals of nature. Sophisticated and highly visible experiments are done in the synthetic, analytical, spectroscopy, optics and detector laboratories at various Institutes at the University of Bonn, at its electron accelerator ELSA, and colliders worldwide as well as at observatories on the ground and in space. These experiments are complemented by world-leading theoretical calculations which in part also surpass the boundaries presently accessible by experiment. This research is highly recognized internationally and is supported within several coordinated research programs.
Scientific networks of chemists, physicists, biologists, pharmacists, geologists, and many more address highly challenging questions by exploring nature at all relevant distance scales. Even though the investigations are largely driven by curiosity to understand the inner workings of nature, they also lead to numerous spin-offs for technology and society such as detector technologies, first steps toward quantum technology, image analysis and rational molecular design.
Intensified collaboration between the various research groups crossing the boundaries of the different fields of science benefits not only the research but also the education of our students. Strong connections not only to large scale research infrastructures worldwide, such as CERN, FAIR, KEK, BESSY, ALMA, eROSITA , Euclid, and Athena, but also its local infrastructure and the connections to the institutions of the Max-Planck Society (MPIfR, MPI CEC, caesar), the ABC/J Geoverbund and the Forschungszentrum Jülich make Bonn a unique location for fundamental research.
Cluster of Excellence: ML4Q - Matter and Light for Quantum Computing

About TRA Matter
Mission, Objectives, Organisation

Research
Profile, Areas, Awards

Offers
Events

Network
Members, Partners
Current Highlights

First TRA Workshop on "Data Science and Data Management"
17./18. January 2023
About 100 scientists from the University of Bonn and all 6 TRAs met for the first time on January 17 and 18, 2023 at the Wissenschaftszentrum in Bonn to address the topic of "Data Science and Data Management" and exchange ideas on current challenges. In terms of content, the exchange was promoted by offering interesting scientific and service-oriented talks, posters and hands-on workshops. Results from this workshop will also be summarized in a white paper. The organizers were very satisfied overall and loved a very lively discussion culture, so that a follow-up event on this important topic is already being considered.
First TRA Matter Networking Symposium
28. September 2022
On September 27, 2022, TRA Matter had its first on-site networking meeting in the Clausius-Institute for Physical and Theoretical Chemistry. Almost 40 TRA members folllowed the invitation of the TRA speakers Prof. Ulrike Thoma and Prof. Peter Vöhringer. The day was dedicated to exchange, networking and the promotion of interdisciplinary research and collaboration within TRA Matter. During the event, poster sessions and presentations on projects funded by TRA Matter were held. The TRA speakers and management team are very pleased with the intense and productive atmosphere at this event and look forward to possible exciting projects developing from it.
Press
Press release of the University of Bonn, related to TRA Matter
Current press
Astronomy: Observation puzzles researchers (Press release 26.10.2022)
No trace of dark matter halos (Press release 05.08.2022)
Four ERC Grants for the University of Bonn (Press release 25.07.2022)
University and Nobel Laureates Celebrate Rudolph Clausius as Visionary (Press release 14.07.2022)
Dating for researchers at the Bundeskunsthalle (Press release 09.06.22)
Three ERC Grants for the University of Bonn at once (Press release 17.03.2022)
Too many disk galaxies than theory allows (Press release 04.02.2022)
Protons are probably actually smaller than long thought (Press release 04.02.2022)
“Bonn is the proper place for Clausius to be memorialized” (Press release 24.1.2022)
Press review
LHCb releases first set of data to the public (December 8, 2022)
Chemists design "molecular sea of flags" (Press release 26.11.2021)
Kekulé's shattered dream: snakes become ladders (Press release 16.11.2021)
University of Bonn’s Research and Technology Center for Detector Physics gets ceremonial opening (Press release 09.11.2021)
Researchers film fundamental life process (Press release 27.10.2021)
Artificial intelligence sharpens the view into space (Press release 30.08.2021)
Transformation in the particle zoo - Study led by the University of Bonn finds evidence of a long-sought effect in CERN data (Press release 18.08.2021)
Physicist honored for excellent teaching (Press release 02.07.2021)
Matter highway in space makes galaxy clusters grow (Press release 28.06.2021)
Researchers investigate structural changes in snap-frozen proteins (Press release 27.04.2021)
Ulf-G. Meißner receives an ERC Advanced Grant (Press release 12.04.2021)
A new state of light (Press release 30.03.2021)
When memory qubits and photons get entangled (Press release 12.03.2021)
Innovations through hair-thin optical fibres (Press release 20.01.21)
Researchers develop sustainable catalysis process (Press release 18.01.2021)
Physicists observe competition between magnetic orders (Press release 06.01.2021)
Longest intergalactic gas filament discovered (Press release 17.12.2020)
Forschungsgroßvorhaben gehen in neue Runde (Press release 27.11.2020)
Events & Offers
Here you will find information on ongoing events (e.g. TRA Matter Public Lecture Series and TRA Matter Colloquium) and offers of TRA Matter.

Our members
The scientific network of TRA Matter continues to grow and consists of members from different disciplines (e.g. Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Molecular Biomedicine, Geodesy, Pharmacy).
Contact
TRA Management
Dr. Birgit Westernströer
TRA Manager
Stabsstelle für strategische Entwicklung und Qualitätssicherung
Prorektorat für Forschung und wissenschaftlichen Nachwuchs
Tel.: +49 (0) 15152560751
E-Mail: tra2-matter@uni-bonn.de
Speakers
Prof. Dr. Connie C. Lu
Institut für Anorganische Chemie
Prof. Dr. Sebastian Neubert
Helmholtz-Institut für Strahlen- und Kernphysik
The other TRAs at the University of Bonn
Get an interesting insight into the other Transdisciplinary Research Areas (TRAs) of the University of Bonn here.