TRA Matter: Building Blocks of Matter and Fundamental Interactions

In this TRA, basic research meets cutting-edge technology to study nature on differing length and time scales. Collaboration between particle physicist, molecular scientists, quantum technologists and astronomers is key to generating new insights into the structures, properties and interactions of the fundamental building blocks of the matter which our universe consists. The focus is on developing impactful new methods and systems for addressing today’s challenges, ranging from big data and information technologies to medicine and environmental sustainability.

Research

Research areas, projects from our members, collaborative research & awards

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About us

Principles, organisation, members & network

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SYNERGY BUBBLES

Concept and information on calls for proposals

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Pinboard

Links, videos and announcements from past events

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News from the TRA

Notifications

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Astronomers uncover huge, hot filament of missing normal matter⁵

An international team of astronomers led by Leiden University and with involvement from the University of Bonn has investigated a large filament made of hot gas that connects four galaxy clusters and contains what is known as warm–hot intergalactic medium (WHIM). The strand of hot gas stretches for 23 million light-years, is over 10 million degrees Celsius and could be some of the “missing” ordinary matter that has been predicted by the cosmological standard model but not yet shown to actually exist. The team’s findings have now been published in the journal “Astronomy & Astrophysics.”

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TIDE Research Training Group to Receive Additional Funding⁶

The German Research Foundation (DFG) has approved another 4.5 years of funding for the Research Training Group “Template-Designed Organic Electronics” (GRK 2591 – TIDE), bringing the funding total up to 7.3 million euros. The second phase of funding runs from October 2025 until April 2030. The Research Training Group on organic electronics has received funding from the Universities of Cologne and Bonn since 2021. The group provides comprehensive training to enable doctoral students to meet market demand for highly qualified, multi-disciplinary specialists in the field of organic electronics. Its speakers are Professor Klaus Meerholz in Cologne and Professor Arne Lützen in Bonn.

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Most successful University in the competition, having received eight Clusters of Excellence⁷

A huge success for the University of Bonn: today, all six of the University of Bonn's existing Clusters of Excellence were selected for further funding in the nationwide Excellence Competition. In addition, both newly applied Bonn cluster initiatives will receive funding from the federal and state governments. This means that Bonn will be represented by a total of eight clusters in the coming funding period - more than at any other university in Germany.

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Innovative New Detector to Hunt for Neutrinos⁸

Technology is being pushed to its very limits. The upgrades to the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) at CERN slated for the next few years will increase data transfer rates beyond what the current neutrino detector for the FASER experiment can cope with, requiring it to be replaced by a new kind of more powerful detector. This is a task that physicist Professor Matthias Schott from the University of Bonn will be tackling with the help of €1 million in Reinhart Koselleck funding from the German Research Foundation (DFG).

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Highlights and announcements

Outstanding performance – 3 funded Clusters of Excellence within TRA Matter

May 23, 2025

Within TRA Matter, one existing cluster of excellence with a follow-up application (ML4Q—Matter and Light for Quantum Computing) and two new cluster initiatives (Color meets Flavor (CmF)— Search for new phenomena in strong and weak interactions, Our Dynamic Universe (Dynaverse)) succeeded in the competition of Excellence Strategy of the federal and state governments. Many of our members within TRA Matter are key participants in these initiatives, including the spokespersons/Bonn-site representatives of the three Clusters of Excellence (Prof. Simon Stellmer (ML4Q), Prof. Jochen Dingfelder (CmF) and Prof. Cristiano Porciani (Dynaverse). Representing the University of Bonn, the two new initiatives (CmF, Dynaverse) join a total of six successful clusters (ML4Q, Hausdorff Center for Mathematics (HCM), ImmunoSensation2, PhenoRob, ECONtribute, Bonn Center for Dependency and Slavery Studies (BCDSS)) in the competition for Excellence funding. Congratulations to this remarkable success!!!

Get Involved in the TRA

As a member of the TRA, you can access funding opportunities, participate in events, and build new networks.

Everything About Membership in TRA Matter

In TRA Matter, researchers from various fields can collaborate to explore the fundamental building blocks of matter and their interactions. Membership is open to all researchers who work independently in the field of research of the TRA and are employed at the University of Bonn or a cooperating research institution.

Become a Member! ¹³

Directory of our members and their research focus areas

Search within our network of over 100 scientists for new cooperation partners. We are happy to support you in new joint projects or events.

Member Directory of TRA Matter ¹⁴

Meet our Researchers

Inter- and transdisciplinary research actively pursued at the University of Bonn and is promoted across faculty boundaries. The faces of TRA Matter are our Clausius Professorship, the Argelander Professorship, as well as our designated Hertz Chair and many other dedicated researchers.

Computational Quantum Field Theory

Jun.-Prof. Lena Funcke

Clausius Junior-Professor

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Biohybrid Research

Jun.-Prof. Patrycja Kielb

Argelander Professorship

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Astrochemistry

Prof. Serena Viti

Designated Hertz-Chair

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Newest Member – Welcome to TRA Matter!

Prof. Dr. Lucie Flek

Data Science and Language Technologies

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Contact

Dr. Birgit Westernströer

bwesternstroeer@uni-bonn.de

tra2-matter@uni-bonn.de

+49 228 73 4117

Manager TRA / Strategic Development and Quality Assurance Unit