Research

Dr. Sandip Shinde's research interest is in organic synthesis in order to develop fluorination methods and their applications in pharmaceutical and agro-chemical companies. Findings from his PhD research work were transferred and patented to various multinational companies. Dr. Shinde will further his research at the Clinic of Nuclear Medicine at the Universitätsklinikum Erlangen. His stay is supported by the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation.

The 21st century poses considerable challenges to mankind, and science has a major role to play in mastering them. Researchers at FAU also have a valuable contribution to make. The University has now launched two Maps focussing on its expertise in two areas which are particularly important for society: the AI Map and the Energy and Climate Map.

A team of scientists and engineers led by Prof. Julien Bachmann from FAU plan to combine the expertise of the various consortium partners in the chemical control of ultrathin coatings, in gas delivery, microelectromechanical devices, and microprocessing and automation, in order to demonstrate the potential of “atomic-layer 3D printing”.

Developing fundamental new approaches against multi-resistant pathogens is the aim of the new Bavarian research network called New Strategies Against Multi-Resistant Pathogens by Means of Digital Networking – bayresq.net. A scientist from FAU is also conducting research in an interdisciplinary sub-project in the network, which the State of Bavaria is funding for five years with a total of almost 10 million euros.

Ever larger numbers of files are stored in the administrative departments of companies and it’s sometimes difficult for staff to keep on top of the flood of data. Psychologists at FAU are currently working with computer scientists from the University of Bamberg on an automated solution. They are developing a system that helps users to delete irrelevant data.

As a result of the Hightech Agenda Bavaria presented in autumn by Bavarian Minister President Dr. Markus Söder and now explained in more detail at the conference at Kloster Seeon, FAU is to receive eight professorships in the area of artificial intelligence (AI), a further three in computer science and 39 research professorships by 2023. The professorships include a staff and equipment budget of roughly 12 million euros as well as funding for construction work.

The 3D printing process known as Direct Energy Deposition (DED) allows functional components such as turbine blades, tools or components of power stations to be manufactured or repaired by adding layer upon layer of material. In order to expand the potential of this manufacturing process, FAU has received 2.25 million euros from the German Research Foundation.

Sonar is essential for robots and self-driving cars as it is a very cost-effective sensor for distance measurements, but sonar also has some limitations. Sometimes sonar measurements can be misleading and there were no sonar signs or signals so far, which could assist sonar navigation. But researchers from FAU, University of Antwerp and Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam have come up with a solution, inspired by a special coevolution between bats and flowers.

It was considered the definitive book of church law from the 11th century up until the beginning of the 12th century and its influence as the most important collection of this time stretched well into the early modern period: the Decretum Burchardi. In a research project in which a historian from FAU has a leading role and which has received funding for 18 years, the book is now to be edited, commented and contextualised.

Recently, a Chinese team of astronomers claimed to have discovered a black hole as massive as 70 solar masses. The publication immediately triggered theoretical investigations. Among those to take a closer look at the object was a team of astronomers from the FAU and Potsdam. They discovered that it may not necessarily be a black hole at all, but possibly a massive neutron star or even an ‘ordinary’ star.