Research Profile
As an internationally acting research university, the University of Heidelberg understands the high theoretical and methodological competence of its subjects and subject cultures as an essential feature of its scientific work.
In addition to its disciplinary strength, however, it also recognizes its special potential, through cooperation and beyond the boundaries of the disciplines, to work on complex problems that are central to shaping the future and thus to assume social responsibility. Much of the university research and teaching at Ruperto Carola was brought together in the framework of the federal and state Excellence Initiative under the banner of the major research fields, the "Fields of Focus".
Fields of Focus
Molecular Foundations of Life, Health, and Disease
The molecular life sciences in Heidelberg represent a research focus of the university that enjoys particularly high national and international visibility. In order to understand the molecular mechanisms of physiological and pathological functions within cells and organisms, the researchers are closely networked with their local extra-university partners.
Patterns and Structures in Mathematics, Data, and the Material World
This Field of Focus links synthetic chemistry with the physics of complex systems, pure mathematics with theoretical physics, and numerical mathematics with chemistry and physics. It aims at understanding common structures on all scales in the material world.
Cultural Dynamics in Globalised Worlds
Field of Focus 3 „Cultural Dynamics in Globalised Worlds“ addresses the complexity and challenges of an increasingly dynamic world in three main fields of research: transcultural studies, area studies, and cultural heritage studies. It fosters collaborative research activities within the humanities at Heidelberg University, organised in three faculties.
Self-Regulation and Regulation: Individuals and Societies
The central concern of Field of Focus 4 is to better understand human (self-) regulation processes at the level of individuals and organisations in interdisciplinary dialogue. The main participants in this study are from the subject areas represented by the Faculty of Behavioural and Cultural Studies, the Faculty of Economics and Social Sciences and the Faculty of Law.
Flagship Initiatives
Engineering Molecular Systems
The development of new materials, methods, technologies, devices and therapies at the molecular level using both natural and synthetically made components is the aim of the Flagship Initiative “Engineering Molecular Systems“, in which scientists from various institutions and disciplines work together.
Transforming Cultural Heritage
With the aim of placing cultural heritage at the centre of research, teaching and transfer in an innovative form, the Flagship Initiative "Transforming Cultural Heritage" brings together the disciplinary and region-specific expertise of the Heidelberg University in the research and management of cultural heritage.
Institutions and Research Projects
Cooperations and Partnerships
Safeguarding of good academic practice
Safeguarding of good academic practice
To preserve and promote an atmosphere of openness, creativity and achievement and as a precaution against academic misconduct, a series of mission statements, guidelines and principles have been developed at Heidelberg University. Among other things, these include a Research Data Policy, an Intellectual Property Policy and an Open Access Policy.
