Expertise
Prof. Pinna works on the development of nanostructured materials. In his current research, he focuses on the synthesis of novel multifunctional materials, their characterization and the study of their physical properties. Together with his team, he works towards several objectives. The first is the synthesis of crystalline metal oxide nanoparticles, heterostructures, hybrid materials and thin films by novel nonaqueous sol-gel routes. In a following step, he assembles the obtained materials. Furthermore, the team carries out their chemical and structural characterisation. This also includes the study of their physical properties, which are among others of optical, electrical, electrochemical, magnetic, catalytic or gas sensing type.
Scientific Services
- transmission electron microscopy, Model type CM200LaB6: bright/dark field, electron diffraction, EDX
- X-ray diffractometer: Cu and Mo radiation, transmission, Bragg-Brentano and reflectometry configuration
Expertise
Expertise
Expertise
Our daily life more and more depends on computational systems embedded in common appliances. Just think of advanced driver assistance systems in cars, medical devices, or indsutrial supervisory control and data acquisition systems. Since such systems also realise safety-critical tasks, it is all the more important to provide effective and efficient quality assurance for them. The specification, verification and testing theory group researches methods for model-based development and model checking, logical verification, and automated testing of safety-critical software. Prog. Schlingloff is chief scientist of the system quality center at Fraunhofer FOKUS, Berlin, and chairman of the boards of GFaI e.V. and ZeSys e.V.
Testimonials
- Major German company for communication and sensors: Student semester project for the design and implementation of a system for distributed control of indoor air quality.
G.F. Schreinzer Positronik, Steinbeis GmbH & Co. KG, Steinbeis GmbH & Co. KG, Pronova Analysentechnik GmbH & Co. KG, newtec Umwelttechnik GmbH
Expertise
Biosystems engineering works at the interface between engineering and biological production processes. Prof. Schmidt and his team develop engineering solutions for a sustainable agricultural production of crops and other environmental friendly technologies. Prof. Schmidt’s research thus leads to innovative plant farming methods in greenhouses, outdoors and other intensive crop farming systems. Alternative energy supply systems (low energy greenhouses) and closed material cycles for intensive crop farming (water hygiene, sensor systems and algorithms for fully automated nutrient solution supply in closed cycles) are Prof. Schmidt’s research area. His main activity herein is the development of sensors for gas analyses, climate measurement technology and that of software supporting decision making in automation systems. Moreover, the team also provides energetic assessments in complete production systems and parts thereof as well as process analyses.
Scientific Services
- Experimental greenhouses with energy and material flow analytics, CO2 enrichment, artificial lights and fog systems
- Plant monitors for continuous measurement of photosynthesis, transpiration, tissue temperature, stomatal conductance, climate measurement, gas analyses (Co2, ethylene), soil moisture sensors
- Freely programmable automation system for climate and process control in greenhouses
Testimonials
- G.F. Schreinzer Positronik, Steinbeis GmbH & Co. KG: Development of an automation system for greenhouses based on measurement details of plants (Phytocontrol)
- Steinbeis GmbH & Co. KG: National collaborative research project „The Low Energy Greenhouse“ („Zukunftsinitiative Niederigenergiegewächshaus“, ZINEG)
- Pronova Analysentechnik GmbH & Co. KG: Development of ionselective sensors for continuous recording of ion proportion in circulating nutrient solution systems; Development of measuring device to analyse phytometric reactions in plants
- newtec Umwelttechnik GmbH: Development of re-circulating irrigation system with reduced phytosanitary risk in greenhouses
German Association of Skiing Clubs, City of Aachen
Expertise
The team of Christoph Schneider works on the impacts of climate and climate change in the field of urban climates and in the field of cryospheric sciences (anything related to snow and ice). His expertise comprises the downscaling of meteorological respectively climatological data for applications in high spatial resolution, for example for urban planning and construction schemes and also for the analysis of potential impacts of climate change on the level of city quarters and cities. Furthermore, such numerical and empirical-statistical procedures are applied to the projection of future water resources in glaciated catchments in high alpine environments worldwide. This also leads to applications regarding the future state of snow covers in mountain ranges which is especially important for questions of future prospects of snow sport tourism. In both fields of applications, the urban climatology and the cryospheric research, measurement strategies and data acquisition of relevant atmospheric variables for the projects are used besides theoretical modelling approaches and downscaling as outlined above.
Scientific Services
- automatic weather stations
- turbulence stations
- devices for particulate matter and ultrafine particles
- mobile sensoring techniques for meteorological parameters
- measurement van as platform of mentioned instrumentation
Testimonials
- Study of the potential and feasibility for large solar power plants on the Iberian Peninsula and in Northern Africa for a large German solar power panel manufacturer (2005)
- Study of the projections of impacts of climate change on snow sport in German low moutain ranges for the German Association of Skiing Clubs and the German Federal Secretary of Research and Education (2008)
- Urban climate analysis for construction schemes for the City of Aachen (2006-2012)
- Climate change adaptation plans for cities in North Rhine-Westphalia (2014, 2015)
Expertise
The Logic in Computer Science group focuses on theoretical computer science, with emphasis on logic, database theory, and complexity theory. Particular attention is paid to the relations between these areas. For example, logics serve as a basis for database query languages and specification languages used for automatic verification, and many aspects of complex systems can be modeled by logical structures. Thus, properties of complex systems can be specified by logical formulas. The overall aim of our group is to gain better understanding of the complexity inherent in a problem or a system. Here, we are interested in various measures of complexity, including the computational complexity ("How difficult is it to algorithmically solve the problem?") and the descriptive complexity ("How difficult is it to describe the problem in a suitable formalism?"). Particular attention is paid to the connection between logical description of problems and efficient algorithmic solutions.
Expertise
PD Dr. Siddig is interested in studying the trade-offs and synergies between the production and use of water, energy, and food in developing countries as influenced by climate, population, and policy, including distributional, economic, and regional impacts.
Geographically, his research focuses on Africa and the Middle East. Methodologically, he relies largely on economy-wide simulation models, with CGE models leading the way (including ind GAMS and Gempack). In addition, Dr. Siddig works on capacity development in the area of database development and on policy simulation modeling in a development context.
Scientific Services
-
Computable General Equilibrium (CGE) modeling and macroeconomic analysis in GAMS and Gempack
-
Social Accounting Matrix
-
Policy modeling
-
Development of training materials and training of groups and individuals
-
Mastery and experience in developing and training developers of social accounting matrices (SAMs) and GTAP-ready input-output tables (IOTs)
Testimonials
- Entwicklung und/oder Schulung von Entwicklern von SAMs und/oder IOTs für Sudan, Ägypten, Israel, Palästina, Benin, Kenia, Chile, Armenien und Nigeria
Expertise
Prof. Staab's research combines topics of labor, social structure analysis, sociology of technology and political economy in a contemporary analytical perspective. Currently, Prof. Staab is particularly involved with questions of the political shaping of digital capitalism, the connection between digitalization and sustainability, as well as the role of critical infrastructures for the future viability of modern societies. The professor pursues a theory-oriented, present-diagnostic sociology in the context of social change, conflict, and inequality, which always seeks dialogue with the public.
Scientific Services
- consulting,
- drafting of studies and
- policy papers as well as presentations
on important current topics in the areas of society, politics and economics, in particular digitalization and sustainability as well as work. The focus is on future developments of society as well as political and economic options for action.
Testimonials
- Organizing and conducting several conferences with a large political foundation
- Writing a policy study for a large labor union
- Advising members of parliament, ministries as well as the European Commission
Humboldt Forum
Charité
Expertise
Dr. Stein has a lot of experience with the conception and development of serious games and gamification for knowledge transfer, especially for museums, cultural institutions and in medicine. As a Germanist and computer scientist, he masters both the conceptual and cultural perspective as well as the technical of implementation. He has led over 15 software development projects in the areas of App, VR, AR and Browser Apps. When it comes to imparting knowledge and gaining experiences, games are the medium of our time, according to Dr. Stein. As a researcher and game developer, he is particularly interested in exciting mediation challenges.
http://humboldt.gmbh/forschungskooperation
Scientific Services
Dr. Stein develops concepts for knowledge transfer games, Serious Games and Gamification. He is also involved in software development, implementation and testing. He also offers workshops on VR and games as a cultural technique.
Testimonials
The following software projects were all developed iteratively and agilely in an academic context according to Dr. Stein's conception. In addition, they were tested and published under his leadership and represent a significant part of his publications.
Mein Objekt
- Mein Objekt
is an innovative museum game that enables visitors to engage in dialogue with objects, seeking to transform digital habits into cultural interest. Using machine learning and adaptive language, an adaptation of the application to the individual visitor is ensured, resulting in a personalized, interest-driven museum tour. The project was developed for the Humboldt Forum as part of museum4punkt0 and will be used there for the first time when it opens. It is developed in React Native and is used BYOD for Android and iOS.
Diary
-
Diary is a tool for exploring scientific interdisciplinary work and has been developed for the Experimantalzone of the Cluster of Excellence Image Knowledge Gestaltung to better understand interdisciplinary collaboration. It is developed for macOS in Objective-C and can record, visualize and synchronize activities such as software usage, keystrokes, activity cycles and more with a server. It is used to explore digital working practices and habits across disciplines and also benefits users in terms of self-reflection on their working practices.
iWrite
- iWrite is a gamified tool to improve scientific writing processes. It is developed for macOS in Objective-C and allows the user to organize writing processes into focused sessions, eliminate distractions, visualize progress, and schedule writing sessions. It also unlocks step-by-step tips and videos from writing experts.
BWG VR
- BWG VR is an interactive, stereoscopic 360° experience for virtual reality headsets that shows the Cluster of Excellence Image Knowledge Gestaltung in its various spaces and presents actors of the cluster exemplarily in their working environments. The connection between space, objects and people is presented and the complex configuration of different actors is made tangible.
Singleton
- Singleton is a game for integrating personal goals into everyday life and individual development based on self-imposed priorities based on theoretical principles from psychology and game studies. It is developed in Unity Mobile for Android and iOS and allows entertaining and goal-oriented microinterventions in a level system based on individually generated card decks. It is based on the Big 5 character traits and dynamically assigns specific card packs individually to the user.
ID+Lab
- ID+Lab is the prototypical front-end of a publication platform designed to publish interdisciplinary research as a network and to show connections that otherwise remain hidden. It is developed as a web application and is based on Semantic Web technologies with GraphDB in the background. Publications are modeled here as a semantic network and visualized dynamically and intuitively. A DFG research proposal to deepen the project is currently under review.
Reading Revisited
- Reading Revisited is a VR application that tests reading in virtual reality and dynamically integrates various texts into moving landscapes. It explores the question of what influence reading environments have on comprehension and memorization and whether text can be thought of as a combination of environment and reading. Texts from the cooperating publisher Merve Verlag can be read and experienced in VR and can be received in a specially developed environment.
Bee Virtual
- Bee Virtual is a collaborative VR application in which two subjects control virtual bees by gaze direction and steer them through a virtual space. It was developed in Unity 3D for Oculus Rift. This is modeled on the physical space of the Central Laboratory Room of the Cluster of Excellence Image Knowledge Gestaltung. In an experimental setting, it was investigated how objects are remembered in VR, how virtual spaces can be transferred to physical ones, and to what extent communication among the test subjects influences the remembering of environmental properties.
PlosOne Metadata Extractor
- PlosOne Metadata Extractor is a browser plugin that extracts metadata in lists of PlosOne publications including abstracts, making them processable and analyzable for text mining.
Decide & Survive
- Decide & Survive is a game that makes it possible to experience decision-making processes in foreign policy contexts and aims to investigate the influence of user interfaces on player decisions by using both aggressive and neutral interfaces and sounds. It is developed in Java with JavaFX and runs server-side via PHP.
OncoLogg
- OncoLogg is a game designed for multiple myeloma patients and their families to educate them about therapies, risks and side effects. It lets the player experience different therapy cycles and refocuses from healing to achieving life goals. The game was developed together with the Charité in Java for Android.
iglos
- iglos, or the Intelligent Glossary, is a semantic network design application intended to identify and facilitate terminology and comprehension problems in interdisciplinary academic projects. It is browser-based developed with web technology and RDF/OWL compatible.
Continuing Education
- Workschops
Awards
Forum Junge Spitzenforscher 2013: Project Big Data for Knowledge Networks
industrial companies and research institutions
security company
Expertise
Prof. Florian Tschorsch and his team research interests revolve around the analysis and design of distributed systems, in particular network architectures and communication protocols. Here, the inherent implementation of data protection and security requirements in a networked environment represents the overarching research goal. Furthermore, the interaction with other system properties such as resilience, scalability, performance and decentralization is considered. Within this framework, topics such as anonymity or weak identities, data privacy, telemetry infrastructures, peer-to-peer networks, and blockchain technologies are explored.
In addition to this technical expertise, the team is also experienced in collaborating on a wide range of interdisciplinary projects, for example in exchanges with lawyers, economists, and data analysts.
Scientific Services
- Threat modeling with regard to data protection, data security and network security
- Network measurements and simulations
- Design and analysis of resilient distributed systems and algorithms
- Consulting on the handling of unauthenticated digital identities
- Consulting on the use and integration of blockchain technologies
Testimonials
- Project work in interdisciplinary teams consisting of industrial companies and research institutions
- Cooperation with a security company on the topic of digital identities and IT infrastructures
- Implementation of pilot projects in real applications
- Mentoring or consulting for startups and companies in the area of network security and blockchains
H. Lorberg Baumschulerzeugnisse GmbH & Co. KG, Bein GmbH, Bayer Crop Science, XEROFLOR
Expertise
Prof. Ulrichs is an expert in the field of ecophysiology of plants with a special focus on plants in urban spaces. His team studies processes, which determine plant growth, e.g. stress exposure in an urban environment. The emphasis of his research lies on the analysis of the secondary metabolite balance (incl. its nutritional function), substance allocation, competition and plant-insect interaction. Prof. Ulrichs other major field of expertise is the quality assurance in food supply chains of horticultural products, especially for perishable foodstuffs like fruits and vegetables in temperate zones as well as in tropical/subtropical regions.
Scientific Services
- molecular methods
- in-vitro propagation
- HPLC
- GC/MS
- electroantennogram studies
- trace gas analysis using photoacoustic spectroscopy
Testimonials
- German specialty chemicals group: development of nanostructured plant protection agents
- H. Lorberg Baumschulerzeugnisse GmbH & Co. KG (tree nursery): selection of climate-tolerant boulevard trees (Alleebaum)
- Bein GmbH: development of electrostatic application processes of nanostructured elements
- Bayer Crop Science: biosensors to prove the existence of plant viruses
- XEROFLOR: development of vegetation carriers to prevent soil erosion in the Alps
Professional School of Education (PSE), Interdisciplinary Centre for Educational Research (Interdisziplinäres Zentrum für Bildungsforschung, IZBF), Humboldt-ProMINT-Kolleg
Expertise
The research-based didactics of biology – the science of teaching and learning of biological contents and methods – is essential for the education and training of biology teacher students. One focus area of Prof. Upmeier zu Belzen’s work is the modelling and measuring of competencies in scientific methods for acquiring and consolidating knowledge of pupils, students and teachers. Her team applies qualitative and quantitative methods of empirical social research. Prof. Upmeier zu Belzen conducts experimental intervention studies to test the effectiveness of support frameworks regarding diagnostic capabilities and the ability to convey knowledge of (prospective) teachers as well as the effectiveness of different educational activities offered to pupils. The transfer of the results into academic practice is supported by relevant publications as well as by trainings for teachers and school administrations.
Scientific Services
- Substantial collection of didactical media for teaching and learning biology of the Department of Biology
- Hard- and software for video studies
- Eye tracker
- Assessment of teachers’ (school and university) competencies to acquire knowledge
Testimonials
- Professional School of Education (PSE): as a central institute the PSE is a cross-faculty liaison of education, school and teaching research. The PSE is both a teaching and research unit. Its main focus lies on the education of teachers under the conditions of heterogeneity, and on issues relating to the promotion of the gifted and talented.
- Interdisciplinary Centre for Educational Research (Interdisziplinäres Zentrum für Bildungsforschung, IZBF): the centre’s main function is to examine questions of research on education, theoretically and empirically, and to present and transfer the results to improve educational systems, processes and activities in Germany as well as internationally.
- Humboldt-ProMINT-Kolleg: structural unit comprising the so-called MINT subjects (mathematics, informatics, science and technology, comparable to STEM) in all German types of schools and the related transitions, established to develop new techniques of teaching and learning. The unit is sponsored by Deutsche Telekom Stiftung and collaborates with PSE and IZBF. Participating teachers and students complete an internship in companies or institutions in Adlershof in order to learn about value added chains from basic research to high-tech production.
- Humboldt Bayer Mobil: joint project with the Bayer Science & Education Foundation to promote academic education and to ignite curiosity and enthusiasm for science and research in pupils in grades 5 through 8. This project provides insights in research practices at universities and the private sector, which also supports career prospects in the areas of science and technology.
Expertise
Professor Voelkle is an expert in Quantitative Psychology. He and his team work on the development and adaptation of new assessment procedures, the statistical and mathematical modeling of psychological processes, the design of studies as well as the analysis and interpretation of empirical-psychological data. Special emphasis of the research conducted at professor Voelkle’s lab lies on the analysis of longitudinal data and evaluation research. Professor Voelkle and his team are often involved as consultants in research and development projects in the education and health sector. To improve applied empirical research in the social and life sciences, they have founded the Berlin Methods Group in 2017.
Scientific Services
Powerful computers and access to all common statistical programs
Testimonials
- Health: Evaluation and statistical advice for psychological-medical research facilities and health insurance companies
- Education: Evaluation and statistical consulting for private and public project executing organisations
University of Zurich, German Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Deutsche Industrie- und Handelskammer, DIHK)
Expertise
Prof. von Hippel and her team researches adult education and further training, and especially lifelong learning processes in adult education. In this context, they investigate institutions of general and professional further education and vocational training. The team has three special research interests. The first focuses on target groups and participant research. Prof. Hippel investigates why people take part in further education and what motivates them. Furthermore, she studies how people participate in further education. A second field of interest is on organisational research. The team investigates, for example, how different providers of further education develop their organisational structure over time and what kinds of trainings they offer for special target groups. Programme research is the third area of Prof. Hippel’s research. In this unit, the team explores the mechanisms that determine the setting of topics and how professional planning in organisations of further education is enacted. Unlike in schools, further education is not restricted by a set curriculum, but nevertheless content has to be negotiated and agreed on by different players. Existing programmes of further education reflect the demand to date, different interests and anticipated needs and are thus of interest for Prof. von Hippel’s research. For the last 20 years, the department has built up its own archive of further education programmes of Berlin-Brandenburg (Weiterbildungsprogrammarchiv Berlin-Brandenburg). It contains the further education programmes of over 500 institutions, accessible to scientific research and teaching.
Scientific Services
- group discussions, focus groups and product clinics in the adult and further education sector (innovative method of market analysis for a target group oriented planning of training programmes)
- contract research in the area of further education (group discussions, surveys based on questionnaires and interviews, programme analyses)
- training for those employed in adult and further education (e.g. lecturers, programme planners, HR)
Testimonials
- several institutions of further education, amongst others for the unit for academic further education of the University of Zurich, German Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Deutsche Industrie- und Handelskammer, DIHK) and public institutions of further education: implementation of product clinics with the aim of target group oriented planning of training programmes for further education
- direction of a German Research Foundation Project (Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft, DFG) on the subject of planning of continuing vocational training: realisation of case studies in big companies
- several projects funded by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research(Bundesministerium für Bildung und Forschung, BMBF) related to social milieus and further education: training of further education providers
- in co-operation with large companies and further education providers: supervision of academic theses
Expertise
Prof. Weidlich chairs a research group on "Databases and Information Systems" at the Department of Computer Science. Earlier, he held positions at Imperial College London and the Technion - Isreal Institute of Technology. The group focuses on data-driven analysis of process-oriented systems (process mining), approaches for efficient processing of continuous data streams, as well as methods for the design of workflows for exploratory data analysis. The algorithms and systems developed by the group have been successfully applied in diverse domains, reaching from health care through logistics to e-commerce.
Scientific Services
Consulting and knowledge transfer in
- Process Mining, data-driven analysis of processes
- Scalable infrastructures for data stream processing
- Design of data analysis workflows
Testimonials
- for a leading US cancer clinic: analysis and improvement of clinical processes based on the data of a real-time-locating-system
- for an international oil and gas group: development of techniques for detecting irregularities in streams of sensor data
- for a manufacturer of enterprise software: design of algorithms for efficient analysis of business process executions
Expertise
Prof. Winter’s research is focused on animal behaviour, especially cognitive performance, e.g. learning ability, memory and their neurobiological foundation for foraging. He carries out behavioural assessments for mice and rats, mostly for preclinical research, to investigate decision-making processes in animals. Lab space is available, inter alia at the Berlin Mouse Clinic for Neurology and Psychiatry (BMC), one of the leading diagnostic institutions within the NeuroCure Cluster of Excellence. Prof. Winter and his team also advise on experimental design and develop automated equipment and systems for behavioural studies on rodents for external laboratories. Another area of his expertise is virtual reality for humans. Here Prof. Winter focuses on the development of a compact, mobile, and immersive virtual reality environment for a wide range of uses.
Scientific Services
Behavioural analysis:
- Computer controlled sensor and actuator systems for manipulation and measuring of behaviour
- Modular software system for automated measuring of behaviour
- RFID technology
Virtual reality:
- Immersive 3D-virtual reality system with closed monitoring (octagon)
- Software for rapid implementation of specific VR-applications and interaction scenarios
Testimonials
- Planning and development of a system for automated diagnostics of parameters for motor skills after clinical surgery for a large international pharmaceutical group. 24h recording and measurement as operator independent system.
Expertise
Professor Zender and his team at the Chair of "Didactics of Computer Science | Informatics and Society" work on a wide range of topics related to educational technologies, the teaching methodology of computer science and socio-technical systems. He focuses on the use of immersive technologies such as virtual and augmented reality in teaching and learning settings. His activities concentrate on the design and development of such VR and AR systems. In his projects, Professor Zender always collaborates with a wide network of interdisciplinary partners from the fields of computer science, media didactics, media pedagogy and various other.
In addition, Professor Zender is the deputy speaker of the specialist group on educational technologies of the German Informatics Society (GI) and initiator of the GI working group on VR/AR-Learning.
Scientific Services
- Consulting on the use of educational technologies in concrete teaching and learning settings
- Conception and development of learning-effective applications with virtual and augmented reality (VR/AR)
- Conducting lectures and training courses on the topic of "Teaching and Learning with VR/AR"
Testimonials
- Cooperation with companies and research institutions from vocational education and training: conception and development of teaching/learning systems, realisation of transfer events
- Cooperation with training institutions from the automotive industry in particular: development of VR simulations for training purposes
- Cooperation with companies from the IT sector (e.g. providers of learning systems): design and development of teaching/learning systems
- Cooperation with scientific institutions (universities, private research institutions, etc.): implementation of research projects, scientific events and transfer activities as well as community work
Continuing Education
Teaching and Learning with Virtual and Augmented Reality
Accor Hotels Germany
SHS VIVEON realisation of training for interviewers
International executive headhunting company: development of customised personality test
Expertise
Prof. Ziegler's expertise and that of his team lies in the field of psychological diagnostics and deals with all topics of personnel diagnostics in the HR life cycle. They focus on personality, intelligence and situational awareness. Ziegler and his team develop solutions to measure these in relation to requirements and to use them for performance or learning prediction. Therefore they use the full range of qualitative (e.g. interviews) and quantitative methods (e.g. tests, questionnaires, machine learning).
Prof. Ziegler has already carried out several successful projects with well-known companies in this area, involving the creation of competency models, employee surveys, annual appraisals or job aptitude diagnostics. Prof. Ziegler's working group also trains individuals or teams on topics of personnel diagnostics (e.g. assessment centers or interviews). In addition, Prof. Ziegler develops customized diagnostic processes or evaluates them.
Scientific Services
- PC lab with 10 workstations and various performance and personality tests
- Online surveys
- Data analysis
- Consulting
- Trainings - wide range of topics
Testimonials
-
Competence model development - Prof. Ziegler and his team have developed competence models for different professions for various clients and made them measurable
-
Accor Hotellerie Deutschland GmbH: Development of competence models
-
SHS VIVEON AG: Implementation of interviewer trainings
-
International headhunting company for executives: Development of a customized personality test
-
Evaluation and optimization - In these projects Prof. Ziegler looks at existing personnel processes, evaluates their quality from a psychological point of view and develops optimizations.