Launching the BU-TU Dortmund Research Network

On October 11-12, Boston University (BU) welcomed a delegation from TU Dortmund University for a two-day workshop and reception to kick off the new BU-TU Dortmund Research Network. This initiative is designed to foster collaboration in key research areas such as membrane biological chemistry, high-energy theory, and quantum condensed matter physics.

The event began with a reception at BU’s Kenmore Room, attended by Dr. Sonja Kreibich, Consul General of Germany to the New England States. Senior BU leaders, including Senior Vice President Ken Olliff, Associate Dean Sean Mullen, and CAS Research Director Kathleen Shannon, also joined the gathering. Sponsored by BU’s Office of the Vice President for Research, the reception provided an opportunity to discuss shared goals and the exciting potential of this transatlantic partnership.

Leading the delegation from TU Dortmund was Professor Matthias Schneider, who spoke about the importance of collaboration in tackling complex scientific challenges and advancing research across disciplines.

The workshop featured presentations from prominent researchers at both universities, including:

Professor Michelle Sander (BU, Electrical and Computer Engineering)

Professor Jan Kierfeld (TU, Physics)

Professor Herre Jelger Risselada (TU, Physics)

Professor Joerg Debus (TU, Physics)

Professor Masha Kamenetska (BU, Chemistry/Physics)

Professor Bjoern Reinhard (BU, Chemistry/Physics)

Professor John Straub (BU, Chemistry)

In addition to faculty presentations, early-career researchers also played a key role.

TU Dortmund students Annabelle Sömer, Anna M. Mendel, and Michael Gutnikov shared their work and collaborated with BU researchers, including Dr. Panagis Samolis, a postdoctoral fellow in the Sander lab, and Nick Russo, a BU Physics graduate student in Professor Kevin Smith’s lab.

The BU-TU Dortmund Research Network marks an exciting new chapter in international collaboration for both universities. By combining expertise and resources, BU and TU Dortmund aim to make significant contributions to fields like membrane biological chemistry, quantum physics, and high-energy theory.

Events like this don’t happen without a lot of support behind the scenes. Thanks go to BU’s Physics staff, including Robyn Kinch, Grace Lillibridge, Christina Crabtree, and Mitch, as well as Rose Deshon, Carolina Gonzalez-Aller Winslow, and Sarah Flanagan from BU’s Office of the Provost, for ensuring the event ran smoothly as well DFG and UA Ruhr.  

The BU-TU Dortmund Research Network is just the beginning, and we’re excited to see how this collaboration grows in the years to come.

International Summer Program (ISP) 2025

Discover an Unforgettable Summer at TU Dortmund University’s International Summer Program 2025!

Greetings from TU Dortmund University in Germany! We are thrilled to invite students worldwide to join our International Summer Program (ISP) 2025, a unique and enriching study abroad experience taking place from May 29 to July 31, 2025.

The ISP offers students an unparalleled opportunity to immerse themselves in academic excellence, cultural exploration, and personal growth. Here’s why the ISP 2025 should be on your summer calendar:

Highlights of the International Summer Program (ISP)

1. A Unique Academic Setting
   Unlike many summer programs, the ISP runs during TU Dortmund’s regular summer semester. This ensures a focused and immersive academic experience.

2. Diverse Course Tracks
   Participants can tailor their studies by choosing courses from three exciting tracks:

   • Engineering
   • Humanities
   • Entrepreneurship
     All courses are taught in English!

3. Research Opportunities
   Students can enhance their experience by engaging in research projects, either part-time alongside courses or full-time for deeper immersion.

4. German Language and Culture
   Whether you're a beginner or already familiar with the German language, the ISP provides opportunities to learn and advance your skills. Plus, the cultural program ensures a rich experience beyond the classroom.
   
    

Comprehensive Program Package

For a program fee of €2,200, participants enjoy an extensive service package, including:

• Comfortable accommodation
• Comprehensive health insurance
• A public transport ticket for seamless travel
• A vibrant cultural program and excursions
• Pick-up service from Dortmund’s central train station
  
   

How to Apply

Nominations and applications are open from now until February 15, 2025.

• Nominations: Submit via email.
• Student Applications: Complete the online form.
  
   

Get in Touch

For more information don’t hesitate to contact us at summerprogram@tu-dortmund.de.

Join us for an unforgettable summer at TU Dortmund University—where academic pursuit meets cultural adventure!

Don’t miss this opportunity—apply now and take the first step toward an extraordinary summer in Germany.

Find all the information about our program here. 

Entrepreneurship Academy 2025 DWIH San Francisco

Women in Entrepreneurship Program: Applications Now Open

We’re excited to share that applications are now open for the Women in Entrepreneurship program, a unique hybrid initiative brought to you by DWIH San Francisco and GUILD Academy.
This program is designed to inspire and empower women on their entrepreneurial journeys, combining practical learning with incredible networking opportunities in one of the world’s leading innovation hubs.

What to Expect
The program has two parts:

1. Online Academy (May 6 – June 24, 2025): Over eight weeks, participants will gain essential entrepreneurial knowledge through virtual sessions.
2. In-Person Experience in San Francisco (September 1–5, 2025): Ten finalists will be invited to the Bay Area for an intensive, hands-on program curated by GUILD Academy. This in-person experience offers unparalleled access to workshops, networking events, and the vibrant entrepreneurial community of Silicon Valley.

Who Can Apply
We welcome applications from anyone with a connection to the German academic landscape—whether you’re a current student, researcher, or alum of a German university, technical college, or research institute. German citizenship or residency is not required.

The application fee is €50, and if selected for the in-person program, participants will only need to cover their flight and some meal costs.

Ready to Apply?
Visit this link for full details and application instructions.

Call for Applications Future's Fellowship Program

Futures Fellow program stands as a competitive fellowship initiative designed for researchers affiliated with Ruhr University Bochum, TU Dortmund University, University of Duisburg-Essen. Through the program, our goals are: Empowering early to mid career researchers (including Junior Professors) to elevate the quality of their portfolios; Granting the broader US scientific community access to a wide spectrum of research subjects from UA Ruhr institutions and centers; Fostering stronger bonds between our research centers and partner institutions through ongoing and reciprocal exchanges.

Highlights:

• 90 days in North America!
• Upto 22,000 euros in qualified reimbursements! 
• Develop and/or strengthen transatlantic international research partners!

Learn More: https://uaruhrfellowships.org/futures-fellow/ and Apply Here!

Germany Today 2024

Germany Today 2024

New Opportunities and Challenges for German Universities: Adapting to Enrollment Changes, Matching New Job Market Expectations, and Embracing Diversity in the Student Body

June 16 – June 22, 2024

Frankfurt, Heilbronn, Stuttgart, Reutlingen, Augsburg and Munich

• Call for Applications 
• Application Form 

DAAD invites representatives from universities, research institutions and funding agencies in the United States and Canada, as well as colleagues from the fields of education policy and politics, to join us for our “Germany Today” Information Tour 2024.

DAAD’s information tour “Germany Today” is designed to give participants a broad overview of Germany’s higher education landscape. This includes:

• ➢ An overview of Germany’s higher education and research systems
• ➢ An update on current developments, innovative projects, and structural reforms
• ➢ Details about BA and MA programs, as well as PhD training at various institutions
• ➢ Information on funding opportunities for academic exchange and institutional cooperation

This year’s tour will focus on the opportunities and challenges faced by German universities in the broader context of society, the workforce, and a rapidly evolving geopolitical environment.

For Germany, as an aging society with a growing skills shortage, attracting international students and scientists and integrating them successfully into society and the labor market is of prime importance. Universities play a pivotal role in this context. Additionally, the evolving demands on the German business model, coupled with changing expectations from employers and employees, spark discussions on the competencies required for successful economic and societal development.

The Germany Today 2024 tour provides a platform for participants to engage in the exchange of best practices, effective methodologies, and lessons learned between German hosts and North American guests.

Greening the Blue

Last Friday, six students from Lehigh University visited the United Nations, followed by a visit to the German Consulate General New York. #GREENINGTHEBLUE is an initiative to engage the missions in the transition towards greater sustainability. #Lehigh is helping make the German House more sustainable!
The partnership between TU Dortmund University, which is one of our three German universities, and Lehigh has been engaging and fruitful for over 20 years. Therefore, we are happy to support in #GREENINGTHEBLUE!

Thank you for your visit - Exciting times ahead!

To learn more please contact intern@uaruhr.de.

More information will be uploaded in the coming months.

College for Social Sciences and Humanities

College of the UA Ruhr offers three positions of Open-Topic Junior Professorships

The College for Social Sciences and Humanities of the University Alliance Ruhr (UA Ruhr) offers three positions of Open Topic Junior Professorships (W1 LBesO W, without Tenure Track) in the field of social sciences and humanities. Addressed are postdoctoral scientists in an early career stage who – in addition to an outstanding doctorate – feature an internationally visible research profile and have experience in interdisciplinary research projects.

The junior professors will lead one of three research groups respectively which will be established at the College for Social Sciences and Humanities in Essen. Along with two doctoral candidates per research group, they will work on a research topic of their own choice and play a significant role in shaping the academic activities of the College.

Qualified candidates may apply until 2 October 2023 with a detailed concept including – among other components – an outline of the planned topic of the research group.

Details on the job profile and eligibility criteria can be found in the job advertisement: www.uaruhr.de/researchallianceruhr.

Call for Applications – STEP USA University Program 2023

In cooperation with the German American Chamber of Commerce New York, the German Center for Research and Innovation (DWIH) New York is excited to announce the third installment of the STEP USA University Program. The program is intended for German startups and spinoffs affiliated with a university or university of applied sciences that look towards expanding their businesses to the USA. The GACC New York and DWIH NY offer a tailored, three-day intensive bootcamp covering a variety of different topics. More information on the bootcamp as well as the application deadline can be found here.

Please find the STEP USA University Program 2023 here.

Rubin Special Issue on IT Security

In the special issue "IT Security" 2022-23 of the science magazine Rubin, readers are taken on a journey into the world of IT security research. The science magazine Rubin reports on current research highlights from the Ruhr-Universität Bochum (RUB). The magazine's editors delve into laboratories, libraries, and production halls to bring exciting and easy-to-understand reports on the diverse research conducted by three prominent institutions: Cluster of Excellence CASA, Horst Görtz Institute for IT Security (HGI), and research college SecHuman – Security for Humans in Cyberspace.

For readers eager to learn more about the in-depth research projects and their implications, the special issue of Rubin magazine provides an excellent opportunity to explore the world of IT security at Ruhr-Universität Bochum. Take a look at the magazine here.

Ghana-NRW-University Alliance

TU Dortmund opens liaison office in Ghana with university partners

Together with five other universities from North Rhine-Westphalia, the TU Dortmund opened a liaison office in Ghana's capital Accra on July 18. The aim of the consortium called Ghana-NRW-University Alliance is to promote the exchange in science and studies between the West African country and the six NRW universities.