Newsportal

At the Institute for Entrepreneurship, Dr Colin Schulz focuses on digital and environmental transformation from a business administration perspective. At the same time, he demonstrates that he himself has struck an intriguing balance between continuity and change. In recognition of his academic achievements, Colin Schulz will receive the “Excellence in Research” prize on 9 July – a profile.

Dr. Valentina-Andrada Minea was unable to complete her PhD in Orthodox theology in her home country of Romania. She was awarded a scholarship to study in Germany, supervised by Prof. Dr. Hans-Peter Großhans in systematic theology. Her thesis is entitled „Involving Anime in Interreligious Dialogue“. In this interview, she discusses the contribution that anime can make to interreligious dialogue.

Biologist Angelica Coculla is researching the internal circadian clock of fruit flies. Her latest studies show that the insects are able to reset their internal clock. As the molecular clock resets, the sleep-wake cycle returns.

Acquiring and disseminating knowledge has become increasingly important in almost every situation in life. But how can knowledge be effectively communicated? And in what way is data related to knowledge? These are some of the questions that students will be addressing in the new master’s degree programme “Knowledge and Communication”. Applications are being accepted until 15 July 2026.

Talented, up-and-coming students of synthetic biology will be meeting in Paris this November. Every year, interdisciplinary student teams from all over the world present their research projects in the ‘International Genetically Engineered Machine’ (iGEM) competition. This is the fourth year that a team from the University of Münster is participating in the competition.

An advert pops up for those trainers you talked about yesterday. A video suggestion that seems to align with your political preferences. A holiday offer just for you. All of this is made possible by an advertising system that condenses every click into a profile – and is outright illegal. This is the conclusion of the doctoral thesis with which Dr Amelie Mehlan received her doctoral degree in Law from the University of Münster.

Dr Maciej Bazarnik and Professor Anika Schlenhoff from the Institute of Physics have built a resonant tunnelling magnetic tunnel junction, as used in modern data storage devices, at the atomic scale for the first time and investigated its microscopic spin filter capabilities.

Alfred Bodenheimer, Director of the Centre for Jewish Studies at the University of Basel, is the new Hans Blumenberg Professor at the Cluster of Excellence “Religion and Politics” at the University of Münster. On 16 June, he will give an evening lecture on how historical and, in part, biblical events or models of behaviour are used to justify Jewish actions today.

A research team led by Professor Michael Hippler and Dr Felix Buchert from the Institute of Plant Biology and Biotechnology has discovered a molecular feedback mechanism in unicellular green algae at the interface between photosystems I and II.

A recent international study led by the University of Münster highlights that the responses of European forests to climate change are becoming increasingly complex. Therefore, whether forests will continue to function as carbon sinks in the long term depends on the interplay of multiple factors such as drought, warming, rising carbon dioxide levels, and nitrogen input.

A research team led by biologist Professor Julia Kurth from the University of Münster has characterised a previously unknown enzyme system in anaerobic bacteria that converts toxic chloromethane into non-toxic substances.

The Rector of the University of Münster, Professor Johannes Wessels, is to become the new President of the University of Göttingen. On 20 May, the Senate and the University Foundation Committee voted unanimously in favour of the 64-year-old physicist, who has led the University of Münster since 2016. His six-year term is expected to begin towards the end of the year.

The University of Münster has secured approximately €700,000 in funding from the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) for the “BATTERY PIONEERS: Global Green Mobility Talent in Battery Research” project. The project aims to attract highly qualified international PhD students to battery research at the Münster campus, as well as establishing sustainable structures for recruitment, integration, and career development. The launch event for all funded projects is taking place today, 19 May.