Research Database: Projects

The research project of PHILIPP BICKEL investigates physical phenomena and metrological possibilities for the non-invasive ageing determination of power semiconductor modules, with a focus on thermally induced delamination and cracking of solder joints in power semiconductor modules, which are frequent causes of failure. Innovative approaches are being researched, such as the use of the piezoelectric properties of SiC and GaN semiconductors as actuators and sensors as well as the analysis of scattering parameters (S-parameters) to detect signs of ageing. The aim is to evaluate the suitability of these methods through simulations and laboratory tests and to create an engineering basis for more precise service life predictions in power electronics.

The PhD research project of MARIO BEDRUNKA combines physics and artificial intelligence by integrating neural networks directly into the Lattice Boltzmann Method (LBM) - an established method for the simulation of complex flows. A key result is the Python framework "Lettuce", which was developed as part of the doctorate. This uses PyTorch for GPU acceleration of simulations and enables the seamless integration of machine learning algorithms.

PhD student: Sanjana Rajasekar The PhD thesis of SANJANA RAJASEKAR analyses the role of social capital and social protection of smallholder livestock farmers in Gujarat, India, for food security. Smallholder farmers in the agricultural sector have been affected during the COVID-19 pandemic due to their marginality and the slow adaptation of formal social protection to the crisis.

Using the city of Sao Paulo as an example, doctoral student SILVIA BERENICE FISCHER assesses the vulnerability of urban and peri-urban agriculture to extreme weather events and current adaptation strategies from a socio-ecological perspective.

In Germany, motorised private transport continues to dominate, although private vehicles remain unused for an average of 23 hours a day and there is a strong dependency, particularly in rural areas, due to a lack of alternatives. In his doctoral thesis, PAUL BOSSAUER is investigating how new technologies such as blockchain can help to strengthen mobility services in rural areas and promote shared vehicle use.

PhD student ANDREW BOOGARDS has been working with indigenous communities in southern Guyana to explore the different livelihood strategies that local indigenous peoples are adopting to reconcile their traditional practices with market-based activities, particularly during a global pandemic.

The dissertation project of SASKIA RAUH investigates the challenges faced by neurodivergent people due to an often inadequate fit between individual needs and the demands of the working environment. The focus is on the question of the extent to which classic occupational psychology concepts such as person-environment fit can be applied and extended to neurodivergent people in order to develop a more differentiated understanding of the interactions between individual characteristics and external conditions. In addition, the stress-strain model is used to systematically analyse the psychological strains resulting from this fit or non-fit, as well as their short and long-term consequences. The aim is to develop concrete structural approaches for the work-related inclusion of neurodivergent people on a theoretical and empirical basis. Barriers are to be removed through ergonomically and psychologically appropriate work organisation and the professional participation, satisfaction and health of this previously disadvantaged group of people is to be sustainably promoted.

The PhD project of ALLEX MEDSON MELLO SEMBA investigates the impact of cash transfer programs on the economic, psychological, and social well-being of caregivers of persons with disabilities in Malawi and Zambia. Caregiving responsibilities, predominantly borne by women and girls in the region, exacerbate existing socio-economic vulnerabilities. Though cash transfers are widely recognized as tools for poverty mitigation, existing literature largely emphasizes their effects on household consumption, food security, and child health. Little is known about how such interventions influence the lived experiences of caregivers. This study uses a qualitative research design to draw on semi-structured interviews with caregivers in peri-urban and rural communities in Lilongwe and Lusaka. Using the Qualitative Impact Protocol (QuIP) and causal mapping techniques, the project aims to identify pathways through which financial assistance affects caregiving practices and caregiver resilience, ultimately contributing to more inclusive and responsive social protection policies.

ZHARAS AITMAMBET is an economist specialising in rigorous impact evaluation using large household surveys. He is conducting his doctoral thesis in co-operation with the Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen Nuremberg and is researching the impact of outpatient health insurance in northern Pakistan.

As a cultural scientist, FRIEDRIKE WINDHOFER takes a look at the climate justice movement. She compares different groups such as Fridays For Future, Extinction Rebellion and The Last Generation and looks for reasons for the choice of different forms of protest, from moderate to confrontational.