Research and Teaching at the University of Bonn

The University of Bonn is one of eleven Universities of Excellence in Germany with eight Clusters of Excellence - 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.

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.

TRAs and Research Profile

Frau Professor Margherita Disertori vom Hausdorf Center for Mathematics hält eine Mathematikvorlesung vor Studierenden.

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.

Study and Teaching Principles

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.

Services Offered

Early-Career Researchers

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 emerging leaders.

The Argelander Program

Knowledge and Technology Transfer

Through knowledge transfer, we ensure that our research reaches and benefits various sectors, while our technology transfer efforts help move innovative ideas into practical use. Our outreach programs further extend these contributions, engaging with the community to share insights and drive positive change.

Transfer

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.

Quality Research and Teaching

Latest Research and Teaching News

Fat cells play key role in avoidance learning

If humans or animals eat something that causes them to feel unwell, they subsequently avoid this food source. Until now, it has been unclear precisely how this avoidance learning takes place. A new study shows that communication between the brain cells and fat cells could play a crucial role here. The participants from the Universities of Bonn and Tohoku (Japan) and University Hospital Bonn have revealed the previously unknown mechanism in the fruit fly Drosophila. It may also exist in a similar form in mammals and even in humans. The results have now been published in the journal Neuron.

University of Bonn Establishes Translation Hub

Since the beginning of February 2026, the University of Bonn has been home to the new North Rhine-Westphalian Coordination Office for Translation Matters in Higher Education (‘Landeskoordinationsstelle für Übersetzungsangelegenheiten im Hochschulwesen des Landes Nordrhein-Westfalen’). It is developing an online platform offering sample translations, translation resources and training sessions, while serving as a central contact point for translation-related questions. The platform is scheduled to launch in late April 2026.

Digital Conservation

Research on ancient DNA is surging, but how can it be ensured that human remains of irreplaceable significance are preserved? This is the question investigated by an international research team led by the University of Bonn. Their findings have now been published in the journal “PLOS ONE.”

AI with Locality Awareness

The University of Bonn is hosting a new Emmy Noether Group devoted to AI methods. Junior Professor Marc Rußwurm is developing AI methods for fusing different types of geodata to arrive at a uniform geospatial representation. The German Research Foundation (DFG) will be providing up to 1.4 million euros in funding for the research group over the next six years. The Emmy Noether Program is a framework designed to enable selected postdocs and assistant professors on fixed-term contracts to obtain the qualifications necessary to hold a university professorship.

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.

Find out more

Clusters of Excellence

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

Our Clusters

Support of Early-Career Researchers

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

Argelander Program

Research Networks

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

Collaborative Research

Outstanding Researchers

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

Awards and Prizes