Lichtenberg-Professuren / Lichtenberg Professorships

Bewilligungen / Grants 2009

Biophysical models for collective phenomena in membranes: bridging the gap between atomistic structure and biological function (extension)

Bewilligung: 15.12.2009  Laufzeit:  3 Jahre

Many fascinating phenomena in biological membranes involve collective phenomena, ie processes in which many lipid molecules participate. Representative examples of these collective phenomena are the self-assembly of amphiphilic molecules into bilayer membranes, phase transitions between different morphologies, lateral demixing in multi-component membranes or the liquid-gel transition, as well as processes - like pore-formation, fusion and fission of vesicles - that alter the topology of the membrane. In spite of being important for fundamental biological processes, the basic biophysical mechanism is only incompletely understood. Much of the difficulty in obtaining microscopic insight can be traced back to the time and length scales - microseconds and tens of nanometers - which are neither amenable to fully atomistic simulations nor to direct experimental observation. Within the scope of the professorship, coarse-grained models will be developed for collective, biophysical phenomena in biological membranes: A small number of atoms is lumped into an effective particle, which interacts with other effective particles via simplified and soft potentials. By virtue of the reduced number of degrees of freedom and the softness and simplicity of interactions, coarse-grained models can address the pertinent window of time and length scale and thus contribute to a more direct picture of collective phenomena in membranes. The research focuses on devising coarse-grained models for collective phenomena in lipid membranes, lipid+protein systems and related polymeric materials, developing computational techniques to compute free-energies and to describe the collective kinetics of structure formation, and applying these coarse-grained models to biophysical problems like membrane fusion or spreading of vesicles on solid substrates.

Universität Göttingen
Institut für Theoretische Physik
Prof. Dr. Marcus Müller
Friedrich-Hund-Platz 1
37077 Göttingen
Tel.: 0551 39 13888
Fax: 0551 39 9631

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Nano- and Micro-Gels for Design of Multifunctional Materials

Bewilligung: 04.12.2009  Laufzeit:  5 Jahre

The professorship deals with the synthesis, characterization and application of polymer colloids. The research will be focused on design of polymer nano- and microgels with tailored properties such as: controlled size and shape; availability of functional units (reactive groups, degradable segments); sensitivity to temperature, pH, organic solvents etc. The aqueous nano- and microgels represent colloidal systems that will be used for the three major research directions: 1) Nanogel-based multifunctional materials; 2) Nanogels for diagnostic and controlled release; 3) Nanogels for "Lab-on-a-Bead" technology. The research program will provide new insights into synthesis and properties of novel polymer colloids as well as the design of multifunctional materials on their basis. Furthermore, it will contribute to the development of novel hard and soft materials by considering the surface and interface phenomena, reactions in heterophase systems and transport phenomena in solid materials.

Rheinisch-Westfälische
Technische Hochschule Aachen
Lehrstuhl für Textilchemie
und Makromolekulare Chemie
Prof. Dr. Andrij Pich
Pauwelsstr. 8
52056 Aachen
Tel.: 0241 80 23350
Fax: 0241 80 23301

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Spectral methods in number theory

Bewilligung: 04.03.2009  Laufzeit:  5 Jahre

The area of the professorship is analytic number theory. Originally with classical roots, it has recently changed its face quite drastically through remarkable links to algebraic geometry and representation theory, and maybe more unexpectedly to stochastics, mathematical physics and cryptography. In particular, the widespread use of personal computers, the internet and digital technology demands, among other things, public encryption schemes of high security and algorithms for communication through a noisy channel that depend heavily on advanced number theory. Turning from the big picture to a more detailed description, the research focuses mainly on the theory of L-functions. L-functions are automorphic forms and families of meromorphic functions that encode arithmetic and geometric information and translate it very precisely into analysis, e.g. the location of zeros or the growth behaviour. This interplay is the key to understanding subtle arithmetic details such as the precise distribution of prime numbers. New methods and innovations to the classical theory have been developed that result in a number of quite appealing applications. The methods and tools are strong and flexible tatt exible enough to make the next steps into this direction and solve successfully further open problems.

Universität Göttingen
Mathematisches Institut
Prof. Dr. Valentin Blomer
Bunsenstraße 3-5
37073 Göttingen
Tel: +49 551 39 7752
Fax: +49 551 39 22985

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The molecular and cellular architecture of chemosensory communication - from gene to behaviour

Bewilligung: 20.02.2009  Laufzeit:  5 Jahre

In most mammals, conspecific chemical communication controls complex social and sexual behavior. Information about individuality, social and reproductive status is conveyed by pheromones. Despite their fundamental significance, the basic chemosensory mechanisms of social communication remain largely unknown. To uncover the cellular and molecular architecture of mammalian pheromone sensing, molecular, biochemical, physiological, and behavioral techniques in wildtype and mutant mouse models will be used. The research aims to challenge existing models of signal transduction in the accessory olfactory system, analyze the principle coding logic of pheromone detection, and, thus, shed light on the neurophysiological basis of social behavior. In parallel a line of research will be pursued that addresses the role(s) of odorant receptors in reproductive tissues. These chemoreceptors have been attributed diverse functions in gamete development and sperm-egg chemical communication. Combining biochemical, immunological, electrophysiological, and life-cell imaging methods, an analytical toolkit has been established to address the mechanisms underlying odorant receptor signaling in male germ cells. In the long-term, this research could provide a molecular framework for novel concepts in fertility treatment and contraception.

Rheinisch-Westfälische
Technische Hochschule Aachen
Institut für Biologie II
Prof. Dr. Marc Spehr
Kopernikusstraße 16
52056 Aachen

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