University of Cologne: Millions in EU funding for Three ERC Starting Grants Awards
© Thomas Josek
Three researchers at the University of Cologne have each received one of the most coveted European research grants for early-career researchers with a total of 4.5 million euros over five years.
University of Cologne researchers physicist Dr. Sabina Hillebrandt from the Humboldt Centre for Nano- and Biophotonics at the Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, plant scientist Dr. Isabel Saur from the Institute of Plant Sciences at the Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, and economist Professor Dr. Johannes Wohlfart from Department of Economics at the Faculty of Management, Economics and Social Sciences have each been awarded a Starting Grant by the European Research Council (ERC). The Starting Grant provides funding of up to 1.5 million euros for a period of five years to excellent early-career researchers. “Three new ERC Starting Grants is a real success. I’d like to warmly congratulate our colleagues on their achievement. The funding highlights the wide range of excellent research initiatives at our university in the humanities and social sciences, in the life sciences and in the natural sciences”, says Professor Dr. Joybrato Mukherjee, Rector of the University of Cologne.
Dr. Sabina Hillebrandt’s project “OLED-based bidirectional Neuroimplant” (OdiN) aims to develop a novel implant that protects and monitors vulnerable nerve cells.
Dr. Isabel Saur’s project “Molecular determinants underlying non-host resistance to devastating fungal diseases of cereal plants” (noDisease) seeks to understand the natural immunity of wheat against Blumeria hordei and transfer it to susceptible crops. Dr. Isabel Saur is a member of the CEPLAS Cluster of Excellence on Plant Sciences, in which the participating researchers develop novel strategies for sustainable plant breeding.
Professor Dr. Johannes Wohlfart’s project “Modes of Expectation Formation in Macro and Finance” (MODES) investigates how people form economic expectations and what consequences this has for the economy as a whole. Dr. Johannes Wohlfart is a professor at the Cluster of Excellence ECONtribute: Markets & Public Policy. ECONtribute is the only DFG-funded Cluster of Excellence in economics and a joint initiative of the Universities of Bonn and Cologne.