​​Artificial Intelligence is transforming science – but what does that look like in practice? In this video podcast series, three researchers from the Forschungscampus Mittelhessen offer insights into their work at the intersection of AI and science – from emergency medicine to neuroscience and explainable AI.

​In the first episode, Dr. Kirsten Zantvoort (University of Marburg) investigates how machine learning can safely support clinical decision-making, with a focus on early detection of conditions such as sepsis. In the next episodes Prof. Katharina Dobs (JLU Giessen) explains her use of artificial neural networks to understand how the human brain processes visual information and Prof. Jennifer Hannig (THM) dives into explainable and trustworthy AI.

​Across the three episodes, the cooperation between the Forschungscampus Mittelhessen (FCMH) and the project ”AI for Startups“ at the Technology and Innovation Centre Giessen (TIG) offers a deeper look into the research behind the algorithms and the people who develop them.

​Check out the first episode here.

​​Tomás Páscoa is a postdoctoral researcher in structural biology at the University of Marburg. He has led the charge in establishing the method of cryo-electron tomography (cryo-ET) in Marburg to understand proteins and cellular structures in their native environment. By freezing and thinning cells, imaging them with electrons, and generating three-dimensional reconstructions of the cellular interior, researchers can gain unprecedented insights into how microorganisms and their metabolisms respond and adapt to environmental change.  

​These insights, he explains, will contribute to various interdisciplinary projects at the Center for Synthetic Microbiology (SYNMIKRO) and may ultimately unlock synthetic biological solutions to large-scale challenges such as climate change, which the Cluster of Excellence Microbes for Climate tackles with interdisciplinary expertise.  

​Learn more about Tomás Páscoa and his work here. 

Innovative ideas arise at the intersection of different disciplines, where new perspectives are explored. The FCMH's "Experimental Spaces" programme helps researchers to develop highly innovative, cross-university projects.

One outstanding project, EPIC-CAM, illustrates this collaboration. It brings together researchers from all three FCMH universities – Dr. Richter (JLU), Prof. Sigges (THM), PD Dr. Jedelska (UMR) – to study epigenetic mechanisms in kidney cancer cells. Thanks to this collaboration, the project combines an in-ovo tumour model with high-resolution DNA methylation analysis.

The "Experimental Spaces" programme supports a wide range of disciplines, addressing key challenges of our time. Explore these groundbreaking projects and learn how they pave the way for future research here.

There is broad scientific consensus about the negative impacts that most food systems are having on climate change, biodiversity, healthy diets, and livelihoods, yet food systems are essential for the sustenance of humanity. To identify solutions to this tension, researchers at the Center for Sustainable Food Systems (ZNE) at Justus-Liebig-University Giessen work toward food system transformation.

Prof. Dr. Ramona Teuber, speaker of the ZNE Executive Board and head of the Chair for Agricultural and Food Market Analysis at JLU Giessen outlines the approach at the Center: “Food system transformation refers to the transition toward more sustainable food systems capable of addressing both current and future challenges. Contemporary food systems face critical environmental pressures, including climate change and biodiversity loss, alongside health challenges associated with diet-related diseases. Reducing the consumption of animal products and promoting plant-based diets represent key pathways to lowering environmental impacts, improving public health, and fostering overall sustainability.”

Explore how researchers at the ZNE contribute to a more sustainable future of food here.

Leading scholars across virtually the entire range of academic disciplines, excellent research infrastructure, and tailor-made institutional support is what attracts early career researchers to our universities and research institutions at the Research Campus of Central Hessen. From an AI-powered chat bot getting you settled in the region to personal guidance provided to you by dedicated departments for international early career researchers, there are many reasons to consider taking the next step in your research career here. 
Read the interviews with two of our post-docs to learn more about their research, what brought them to Central Hessen, and how the support here is what makes a difference. For more information click here.

Space applications research in Giessen looks back on a long history. Since the 1960s, researchers have been working on electric propulsion systems as a viable and increasingly successful alternative to chemical spacecraft propulsion. Within the Research Focus “Space Applications” Justus-Liebig-University Giessen and Technische Hochschule Mittelhessen University of Applied Sciences collaborate across disciplines ranging from electrical engineering to materials science and space physics.

Providing answers to the pressing questions of space propulsion does not only rely on highly interdisciplinary collaboration and the combination of institutional tradition with cutting-edge technologies, it also requires specialized equipment to investigate thrusters and electronics under simulated space conditions in test facilities which are unique in Europe.

Learn more about how FCMH researchers work together to make the future of space mobility safer, more efficient and sustainable in this video.

Despite being located far from any ocean, Justus Liebig University Giessen (JLU) brings together leading expertise on marine zoology and biology. Among them, Professor Dr. Petra Quillfeldt and her research group study a range of seabird species and subspecies to develop a better understanding of their populations and ecology. These seabirds pose special challenges to researchers as they spend close to the entirety of the year at sea and come to shore not even to feed but only to breed. This also means that these species are particularly vulnerable to changes in the marine ecosystem. To face these challenges, to better understand populations and ecology and to ultimately inform, and to advise conservation efforts, Petra Quillfeldt and her team cooperate internationally and apply innovative methods and technologies such as GPS tracking and DNA-Metabarcoding. 
Learn more about her research here.

Meet two PhD candidates who decided to pursue their career at THM University of Applied Mittelhessen!

A strong academic foundation in engineering, close industry collaboration, and the opportunity to work with and learn from leading experts in their field is what has led Manisha and Murat to pursue their PhD at the Research Campus of Central Hessen in Germany. Despite initial challenges like learning German and securing funding, they thrive in Germany's supportive and innovative research environment.

Read more on their paths to Germany and learn in the interviews what makes research at THM University of Applied Sciences in Prof. Boris Keil's research group unique.
Click here to read or watch the interviews.

Professor Dr. Boris Keil, Technische Hochschule Mittelhessen University of Applied Sciences, is dedicated to advancing medical imaging technologies, particularly magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), to address global health challenges posed by neurodegenerative disorders like Parkinson’s disease. His research focuses on enhancing diagnostic processes and developing effective treatment options for millions affected by these conditions. ADMIT - Advanced Medical Physics in Imaging and Therapy – is one of two initiatives driven by Keil. This cross-university collaboration integrates advanced imaging techniques with therapeutic strategies to facilitate early diagnoses and effective treatments for various cancers and neurological diseases. A key focus of ADMIT is improving MRI usability for patients with deep brain stimulation (DBS) implants by minimizing interference from magnetic fields. Brainmapping Technology, the second initiative, aims to transfer research innovations into practical applications. Prof. Keil’s team develops new hardware architectures for MRI systems, enhancing the acquisition of high-quality neuronal brain imaging data. This work supports the Human Connectome Project, which maps brain connectivity to better understand its function. Collaboration and Innovation Both projects underline the importance of collaboration in driving innovation. Partnerships among Hessian universities and with renowned institutions like Harvard and Yale facilitate the swift implementation of new technologies in clinical practice, ultimately enhancing diagnosis and treatment for patients worldwide.
Click here for the full interview with Prof. Dr. Boris Keil.

Prof. Dr. Bettina Just, Professor at Technische Hochschule Mittelhessen University of Applied Science is the founder and Director of the TransMIT Center for Quantum Computing. In the interview, she shares her expertise on how her center prepares small and medium enterprises (SMEs) for the quantum revolution. Leveraging expertise from Central Hessen’s universities of the Research Campus of Central Hessen, the center addresses a critical challenge: enabling resource-constrained SMEs to adopt quantum technologies. Prof. Just, drawing on decades of industry collaboration, emphasizes pragmatic solutions: “For SMEs, it must happen quickly and, if possible, with existing employees.” This approach reflects Germany’s strength in translating academic innovation into industrial tools. For international scientists and institutions, the TransMIT Center for Quantum Computing demonstrates a practical pathway to leverage quantum advancements by connecting academia and industry. The full interview with Prof. Dr. Bettina Just is online. Click here or here for more information..

Artificial intelligence is transforming cybersecurity at an unprecedented pace. While AI creates new opportunities to detect and prevent cyber threats, it also enables increasingly sophisticated attacks. What does this mean for cybersecurity professionals, researchers, and the next generation of experts?

In this video podcast, Prof. Dr.-Ing. Rahamatullah Khondoker, Head of the CYSECDIGITAL research group at the Technische Hochschule Mittelhessen, discusses how AI is reshaping the cybersecurity landscape. Drawing on his expertise in cybersecurity, information security, and digitalization, he explores the impact of AI on critical sectors such as Smart Cities, Smart Industry, Autonomous Mobility, and Smart Healthcare.

The conversation addresses emerging threats and opportunities, the future of cybersecurity careers, ethical challenges, and the skills future professionals will need to succeed in an AI-driven world.

Read more here.