News

Prof. Dr. Peter Hommelhoff, Chair of Laser Physics at FAU, has received an ERC Advanced Grant. The grant provides funding of 2.5 million euros over five years. The funded project aims to develop minute particle accelerators using photon chips. Research in this field will enable innovation in imaging methods and materials analysis, allow new approaches in medical radiation therapies and help to answer fundamental questions in quantum physics.

The Fraunhofer Institute for Process Engineering and Packaging IVV has analysed the sensory properties of post-consumer shopping bags made of low-density polyethylene (LDPE) and originating from different collection systems. More than 60 odorous substances were identified using combined chemo-analytical methods. The information gained provides a targeted strategy for preventing off-odours.

The Hochschulforum Digitalisierung (HFD) has listed the Innovation in Learning Institute at FAU for best practice in digitalisation in its Showroom which recognises excellence in the strategic digitalisation of learning and teaching as an example for other higher education institutions.

We’ll get this one out of the way first: Save your jogging bottoms for the couch! This article includes best practices for working from home including advice from other staff at FAU.

Two weeks ago, outpatient appointments for the Pain Centre were still being held in the building belonging to the Department of Anaesthesiology at Universitätsklinikum Erlangen. Now, it is home to twelve fully-equipped intensive care beds, where medical students are being trained by nursing staff experienced at working in intensive care in preparation for the first COVID-19 patients.

FAU President Prof. Dr. Joachim Hornegger met infection immunologist Prof. Dr. Christian Bogdan. He is head of the Chair of Microbiology and Infection Immunology at FAU.

Academic freedom is fundamental to scientific progress, pursuit of truth, quality higher education and international collaboration in research. How severe are infringements of academic freedom today? Are these infringements getting better or worse? Prof. Dr. Katrin Kinzelbach has investigated these questions in collaboration with international partners and has now published the first-ever global academic freedom index.

The coronavirus pandemic has also changed life at FAU. Classes are cancelled, examinations have been rescheduled and many staff are working from home. New questions are being raised every day as the situation develops. To address this, FAU President Prof. Dr. Joachim Hornegger will be holding a regular podcast with updates on current developments at the University.

A team including researchers from FAU has succeeded for the first time in taking high-resolution images of an alpha adrenergic receptor. Decoding the structure of receptors such as these can then be taken as the basis for developing special selective medicines.

Researchers at FAU have been recording the vital functions of patients in a study for monitoring heart sounds using radar. The data enables conclusions to be made about heart sounds, pulse and breathing. To facilitate further research, the scientists have now published the data in a database.