Funded Seed Projects

ALL
2023
2022
2021
2020
2018
2017
2016
2015
2014
2013
2012

Show:

First measurement of the even number photon distribution of a squeezed vacuum state

Dr. Gulden Othman | Funding / PIER Seed Projects | 09/2023

Quantum computers (QCs) promise to help us solve computationally expensive problems that are currently unattainable for classical computers— from the modeling of complicated atomic systems and viruses, to optimization of shipping routes.

A vascularized, innervated, 3D skin-on-a-chip organoid model to study viral infections and antiviral treatment

Dr. Manja Czech-Sioli (UKE) | Funding / PIER Seed Projects | 09/2023

Physiological model systems and advanced analysis tools are the basis for a comprehensive understanding of infectious diseases and development of therapeutic strategies.

Tuning the valley selective excitation and phonon dynamics in tungsten disulfide quantum material

Dr. Christian Nweze | Funding / PIER Seed Projects | 09/2023

Exotic behavior of electrons in the quantum materials forms the basis for future technologies.

Investigation of the valence electronic structure and dynamics of nanostructured materials via high-order harmonic generation

Agata Azzolin | Funding / PIER Seed Projects | 09/2023

In the past two decades, the interest over nanophotonics has been constantly increasing, leading to remarkable results in light harvesting technologies, photocatalysis and optoelectronic applications.

Development of RF control for future gravitational wave detectors using SRF cavities

Dr. Louise Springer | Funding / PIER Seed Projects | 09/2023

The use of superconducting radio-frequency (SRF) cavities is a highly promising approach to search with a tabletop-sized device for gravitational waves above the LIGO/Virgo band in a largely uncharted frequency range.

The influence of nano-structural interfaces and their composition on bone’s fracture behavior

Dr. Mahan Qwamizadeh (UKE), Dr. Imke A.K. Fiedler (UKE) | PIER Seed Projects | 08/2022

Human cortical bone is a highly complex composite that attains its unique combination of strength and toughness through deformation and toughening mechanisms at multiple length-scales throughout its hierarchical framework. Ageing and disease-related factors may alter the structure of bone at all levels of its hierarchy, raising the risk of fracture.

Employing pathogenic multispecies biofilms as a model for studying the structural components of the extracellular matrix and the role of uncharacterized proteins in infection

Dr. Ifey Alio (UHH) | PIER Seed Projects | 08/2022

Until now microbiology has mainly focused on single species microorganisms as the main drivers of infections. However with an improved understanding on the human microbiome it has become clear that in lungs and wounds complex microbial consortia establish infections. In clinical settings there is evidence that both fungi and bacteria contribute to respiratory infection particularly among cystic fibrosis Patients.

Measurement of Vacuum Magnetic Birefringence using the ALPS II Magnet String

Dr. Aaron Spector (DESY) | PIER Seed Projects | 08/2022

The theory of quantum electrodynamics remains a remarkably accurate description of the electrodynamic interactions as more and more of its predictions are experimentally verified.

Attosecond Electronics in Plasmonic Supercrystals under Deep Strong Coupling

Dr. Markus Ludwig (DESY) | PIER Seed Projects | 08/2022

Virtually every linear and nonlinear optical process relies on the interaction of light and matter. Especially under conditions of strongly pronounced light-matter coupling, rich physical phenomena with strong scientific and technological implications emerge.

Femtosecond to millisecond time-resolved spectroscopy of DNA pi-stacking in bulk and confined in microfluidic chips

Dr. Alessandra Picchiotti (UHH) | PIER Seed Projects | 08/2022

Knowing the exact mechanism of DNA damage that results in malignant melanoma is of vital importance for developing preventive measures and treatments. Sometimes the safe mechanisms fail to function, for example when the pi-stacking of too many nearby nucleobases is disrupted, leading to dimerization (pyrimidine dimers formation).

Femtosecond plasmon dynamics

Dr. Holger Lange (UHH) | PIER Seed Projects | 08/2022

Plasmonics treats the unique optical excitations of metallic nanoparticles. The plasmon is a collective electron oscillation, associated with localized fields.

Low-frequency mechanical oscillators under temperature gradients

Dr. Mikhail Korobko (UHH) | PIER Seed Projects | 08/2022

Thermal excitations play one of the most significant roles in most physical systems: from quantum computers to gravitational-wave (GW) detectors. Many experiments use cryogenic technology to suppress the influence of thermal environment.

Attosecond Dynamics in Norbornadiene/Quadricyclane Photoswitches

Dr. Giulio Maria Rossi (DESY) | PIER Seed Projects | 08/2022

Photochemistry is at the heart of highly efficient energy conversion in living matter and may be the basis of novel technologies aiming to a sustainable footprint of human activities on the planet.

Studying nonthermal phase transitions in metals on ultra-fast time scales using compact hard X-ray split-and-delay

Dr. Wojciech Roseker (DESY) | PIER Seed Projects | 08/2022

Intense, ultra-short, and coherent X-ray pulses from X-ray free electron lasers (XFELs) have a unique potential to reveal the fundamental understanding of ultra-fast processes in matter, in particular ultra-fast (nonthermal) melting in metals.

A tunable light source and plasmonics for selective, on-chip lysing of bio-organisms

Dr. Irene Fernandez-Cuesta (UHH) | PIER Seed Projects | 08/2021

A new technique for analyzing single molecules of DNA in real time has been developed by a joint UHH, DESY and UKE research group. To enhance the methodology, they aim to extract DNA directly on a chip, eliminating pipetting and material loss. By utilizing plasmonic structures and a high power white laser source, they plan to selectively lyse viruses, bacteria, and cells on-chip, allowing for targeted genomic material analysis within the same device.

Cryogenic pressure sensor for gas cooling of test masses for future gravitational wave detectors

Dr. Christoph Reinhardt (DESY) | PIER Seed Projects | 08/2021

Nanoparticle supercrystal formation studied with coherent X-ray scattering

Dr. Florian Schulz (UHH) | PIER Seed Projects | 08/2021

Like atoms and molecules which can form crystals, nanoparticles can form so-called supercrystals. Gold nanoparticle (AuNP) supercrystals exhibit fascinating interactions with light, characterized by very strong coupling.

Correlated states and interactions in MoS2 based van der Waals hetero (homo)-structures [CorMoS]

Dr. Chithra Sharma (UHH) | PIER Seed Projects | 08/2021

Two-dimensional (2D) charge systems have been a platform for intriguing physical phenomena such as Quantum Hall effect, Berisinskii-Kosterlitz-Thouless (BKT) phase transition and, also for confined electronic devices such as quantum point contact and quantum dots.

High-repetition-rate ultraviolet beamLine for high-statistics spectroscopy at the few-femtosecond Timescale

Dr. Vincent Wanie (DESY) | PIER Seed Projects | 08/2021

Ultraviolet (UV) radiation has a key role in a vast range of scientific areas, including light-harvesting technologies, atmospheric chemistry and biochemistry. In laboratories, the generation and utilization of few-femtosecond UV pulses, i.e., <5 fs, is extremely challenging, but promises to reproduce ultrafast molecular processes that occur in nature and to identify their underlying mechanisms.

Machine Learning with FPGAs for real-time characterization of fast scintillation signals

Dr. Torben Ferber (DESY) | PIER Seed Projects | 08/2020

Calorimeters in high energy physics are widely used to measure the energy position and timing of particles.

Associated publications

The PIER Seed Projects funding program was established in 2012. Since then, numerous publications have emerged from the various projects funded by PIER:

See all publications