Research Database: Projects

The epithelial sodium channel (ENaC), composed of α or δ, β, and γ subunits, is a constitutively active, sodium-selective ion channel essential for maintaining fluid and electrolyte homeostasis. Dysregulation of ENaC function is associated with diseases, including hypertension and cystic fibrosis. ENaC activity is tightly controlled by intracellular proteins, which regulate both its ion transport function and membrane abundance. Among these, the actin cytoskeleton plays a critical role. Studies have shown that short actin filaments can enhance ENaC open probability, emphasizing the impact of cytoskeletal dynamics on channel activity. This PhD project aims to investigate the structural and functional interplay between ENaC and the actin cytoskeleton, using a combination of in vitro biochemical techniques and molecular dynamics-based computational modeling.

Robots are usually programmed to perform tasks by following a sequence of actions such as moving, looking, picking, etc. When something unexpected happens, a robot often cannot handle the situation because 1) it has not recognized that something has gone wrong and 2) it has not been programmed for the new situation. Recognizing such failure situations allows robots to decide whether to proceed with the task, inform a human about the problem, or try to solve the problem themselves. SANTOSH TODUKAs project focuses on developing machine learning models to detect unexpected situations that could lead to a failure of the task by using videos from the robot's camera, task information, and other sensors.

Solar power is emerging as a highly promising renewable energy resource for electricity generation in West Africa. However, the performance and efficiency of solar photovoltaic (PV) systems in the region are greatly influenced by atmospheric and near-surface aerosols. Although ground-based infrastructure for data collection and monitoring is reliable for studying the impact of aerosols on PV yield performance, their presence across West Africa is sparse and limited in the subregion, and it often suffers from limitations in spatial coverage, temporal resolution, and data consistency. To address these issues and enhance the precision and reliability of PV yield performance assessments and modelling, Benjamin Anim proposes an integrated approach that leverages aerosol reanalysis data, solar PV models, and radiative transfer models to study the impact of atmospheric and near-surface aerosols on PV yield performance in the subregion.

In the course of sustainable rethinking, it is extremely important to obtain chemical resources primarily from renewable raw materials. One possible candidate that can also be used in the long term in a wide variety of preliminary stages of the chemical industry is lignin. To this end, doctoral student Jonas Bergrath is examining various biogenic wastes (including waste wood and pomace from wine production) in order to isolate lignin that is as "green" as possible. Since lignin is extremely difficult to characterise and reproduce, he is using a wide range of analytical and computational chemistry methods to identify possible structure-property correlations. The overall goal is to link the physicochemical properties (including adsorption and behaviour in solvents) with structural elements of lignin and to use it as an adsorbent for small organic molecules (e.g. pharmaceuticals) in wastewater treatment.

Doctoral student XUAN TUNG DO is investigating how to turn a centuries-old waste product into a material with superpowers. Many everyday objects are still manufactured in some form from fossil raw materials such as petroleum. As these raw materials are only available in limited quantities, scientists are searching for sustainable alternatives. To this end, doctoral student Xuan Tung Do is investigating a waste product from the paper industry: lignin. Lignin is a complex biopolymer and must first be characterised using various analytical and statistical methods before it can be used as a direct substitute for petroleum. As part of his doctoral thesis, Do is determining the molecular weight of the biopolymer using various spectroscopic and 1D and 2D chromatographic methods.

With the increasing prevalence of cognitive impairments, the importance of practical assistance systems that support people in the workplace is growing. The aim of the doctoral project of JORDAN SCHNEIDER is to develop an assistance system that uses wearable sensors to evaluate physiological signals in real time, assess cognitive stress levels and offer adaptive support. The aim is to demonstrate the potential of physiologically adaptive assistance systems in the workplace and thus promote the social participation of people with cognitive impairments in the labour market.

Extrusion blow moulding is one of the most economical processes for manufacturing thin-walled hollow plastic bodies, such as bottles, canisters or fuel tanks. After manufacture, cooling under moulding pressure causes shrinkage and distortion of the components. These undesirable deviations from the ideal geometry continue to pose a major problem for the blow moulding industry. In cooperation with the Dr. Reinold Hagen Foundation, doctoral student PATRICK MICHELS is working on the simulative prediction of material shrinkage and the associated component distortion. The focus of the doctoral project is the identification and calibration of a suitable material law to describe the complex time-, temperature- and process-dependent material behaviour of the polymer materials used. The improved models for shrinkage and distortion analysis will then be integrated into the standard CAE workflow for blow-moulded hollow plastic bodies.

The research work of ANGELA TURCK, initiated by the project "Diversity of Insects in Nature-Protected Areas (DINA)", analyses the complex links between agriculture and nature conservation. Since 2019, decisive changes have taken place: an increase in environmental awareness, political priorities in favour of environmental and climate protection, manifested, among other things, in the European "Green Deal" and the "Farm to Fork Strategy". At the same time, the COVID-19 pandemic has also influenced political decisions. In this dynamic context, the work emphasises the need for a stakeholder-centred approach. It analyses tensions and challenges for farmers in nature conservation areas. In addition, the study takes an in-depth look at the perspectives of farmers in order to understand their hesitations and aspirations in nature conservation. One focus is on analysing farmers' economic incentives for biodiversity using a motivation theory. The aim of the project is to thoroughly document the interactions between the main stakeholders and to develop solutions for sustainable coexistence through an integrative approach.

The Ghanaian healthcare sector suffers from an unstable power supply, which is often compensated for with diesel generators. However, in addition to the environmental and financial burden, this also poses a health risk to sick people and local residents. Renewable energy sources can help to ensure a clean and cost-effective energy supply, but they do pose risks to the stability of the power supply. PhD student Samer Chaaraoui is researching model predictive control for PV-diesel hybrid systems based on load and radiation forecasts. Various forecasting methods are being investigated, from simple statistical methods and numerical weather prediction models to the implementation of deep neural networks and artificial intelligence.

In the PVCharge project, a consortium comprising two research institutions and three industrial companies is investigating how synergies between industrial photovoltaic systems and electric vehicles can be better utilised. The focus is on larger PV systems, such as those that can be installed above or near supermarket or company car parks. The project has three key objectives: To reduce energy conversion losses when charging electric vehicles with PV electricity, in order to utilise renewable energy more efficiently To increase the proportion of PV power in the vehicle battery by setting PV-dependent target values during charging, in order to replace the fossil-fuel-generated portion of grid electricity with locally generated PV power To integrate vehicle batteries for grid-stabilisation services Charging electric vehicles (EVs) directly from a photovoltaic (PV) system offers both environmental and economic benefits. In times of rising energy costs and growing environmental awareness, the use of renewable energy is becoming increasingly important. The combination of EVs and a PV system makes it possible to use the solar power generated directly and efficiently to charge the vehicles. Current technologies rely on AC coupling between PV systems and charging points.

Project management at the H-BRS