News

AI-DRIVEN CANCER RESEARCH

TU Dortmund University is Participating in the AI4CancerCure.NRW Network

North Rhine-Westphalia is investing €200 million in AI4CancerCure.NRW, a new research cluster bringing together seven university hospitals and TU Dortmund University to advance AI-driven cancer research. By combining artificial intelligence, oncology, and drug discovery, the initiative aims to accelerate the development of personalized treatments, improve early detection and prevention, and bring new therapies to patients faster.

Building for the Future of Space and Semiconductors

A new $20 million grant from the U.S. National Science Foundation will support Michigan State University’s Integrated Diamond and Carbon Research in Space Applications, or IDiCaRS, a shared-use research facility designed to accelerate the development and testing of semiconductor technologies for extreme environments. The facility is led by Wen Li, executive director of Fraunhofer USA Center Midwest, and builds on decades of collaboration between MSU and Fraunhofer USA.

The University of Cologne is a University of Excellence!

Cologne has succeeded in the highly competitive contest / Excellence funding will foster the strategic development of all the university’s areas of activity.

Humanties and Social Sciences Festival | Power, Labor, and the Politics of AI Across the Humanities and Social Sciences

In April 2026 we held an internal Springer Nature Humanities and Social Sciences Festival. Across a series of keynote presentations, town halls, panel discussions, lightning talks, quizzes, and social events, we celebrated our rich HSS research output in book and journal article form, and our heritage, highlighting the impact and value of what we publish.   

University of Cologne and NYU Establish Strategic Partnership

The University of Cologne and New York University have signed a cooperation agreement to expand collaboration in research, teaching, and academic and student exchange. The agreement strengthens ties between two major research-intensive universities and creates new opportunities for transatlantic cooperation.

Call for Applications Fall 2026: Max Planck Postdoc Program

The Max Planck Postdoc Program provides talented early career researchers with a range of attractive opportunities to advance their careers in science. Applications are accepted twice a year – on March 1 and September 1. The Max Planck Society offers bundled postdoc positions to interested top talents. The current call for applications for the Max Planck Postdoc Program runs from 1 September to 13 October 2026 (12 pm CEST). Open positions can be found on the application platform. Please check the platform regularly, as additional vacancies may be posted until 22 September 2026.

Transparency and Prospects

Career Paths after the Doctorate

A new concept developed in the Ruhr Innovation Lab provides orientation and maps out individual prospects. What can an academic career look like after the doctoral studies? In future, TU Dortmund University and Ruhr University Bochum want to support researchers in the early stages of their careers even more specifically with this question. As part of the Ruhr Innovation Lab, they have therefore developed the concept “Career Paths after the Doctorate”. The rectorates of both universities approved it in the summer, and it is now being implemented step by step.