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

Areas, topics, collaborative research & awards

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ABOUT US

Principles, organisation, members & network

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SYNERGY BUBBLES

Concept and information on call(s) for proposals

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RECAP

Highlights, videos and reports from past years

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News from the TRA

Notifications

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A more climate-friendly way to produce nitrogen fertilizer⁵

Humanity has an insatiable appetite for ammonia: this substance is used to make fertilizer, which in turn is used in most modern agriculture. Until now, the Haber-Bosch process has been the method of choice for extracting nitrogen from the seemingly inexhaustible atmosphere and binding it in the form of ammonia. However, this method requires an extremely large amount of methane gas and energy. Prof. Nikolay Kornienko from the University of Bonn has discovered a more climate-friendly alternative for producing ammonia from renewable energy sources. The research team is now presenting its findings in the journal Nature Communications.

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Three star clusters – all with the same origin?⁶

Orion Nebula, Pleiades and Hyades: The latest research results indicate that these famous star clusters represent the different phases of life of one and the same star system. A team of astrophysicists at the Institute for Advanced Studies in Basic Sciences in Zanjan, Iran, and the University of Bonn have found evidence that these three star systems are not just located in roughly the same region of space but also developed in the same way. These results were recently published in the journal “Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society.”

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Astronomers uncover huge, hot filament of missing normal matter⁷

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 Funding⁸

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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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! ¹²

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 ¹³

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