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Research Profile Areas

JLU Giessen presents its research profile areas: three internationally visible focal areas, two potential areas, and emphasis areas within the faculties.

The main university building behind three flags bearing the inscriptions ‘JLU’ and 'Justus Liebig University'

The Justus Liebig University Giessen is a research-intensive university. Those who wish to be – and remain – successful must continually evolve.

In May 2025, JLU achieved outstanding success in the Excellence Strategy with three clusters. In dialogue with its researchers, the university has therefore further sharpened its research profile. In research, new ideas, synergies, and solutions constantly emerge across subjects and disciplines. This is reflected in JLU’s research profile, both at the top level and across the board – in large research alliances with national and international visibility as well as in smaller units:

  • in three internationally visible focus areas

  • in two areas of potential

  • in accent areas within the eleven faculties



Focus Areas

The focus areas meet the classic performance indicators of top-level research; they possess outstanding capabilities and exceptional international visibility.

Two people wearing lab coats are working with chemicals in a laboratory.

 

In the focus area “Cardiopulmonary System”, researchers from medicine, biology, pharmacy, and physics work together to investigate the molecular causes of heart and lung diseases. In doing so, they combine basic research, translational approaches, and new therapeutic concepts.

Cardiopulmonary System
A person reaching for a yellow object with their hand. The hand is covered with technical sensors.

 

The area “Perception and Adaptive Behavior” explores how perception, thinking, and action adapt flexibly. Experts from psychology, neuroscience, and AI collaborate here to understand the principles of adaptive behavior – with relevance for research, medicine, and technology.

Perception and Adaptive Behavior
Hands operating a bright technical device.

 

In the focus area “Material and Energy”, the emphasis is on sustainable solutions for energy generation, storage, and utilization. Researchers are developing new materials and technologies, for example for photovoltaics, catalysis, and electrochemical processes.

Material and Energy 

 

Areas of Potential

The areas of potential are research networks with strong external cooperation partners that meet key performance parameters of internationally visible top-level research.

A person stands in a cornfield with a clipboard and examines the ears of corn.

 

The area “Agricultural Systems and Resources” is dedicated to the sustainable production of food, feed, and bioenergy in the context of climate change and biodiversity loss. In this work, natural, agricultural, and social science approaches are linked in an interdisciplinary way.

Agricultural Systems and Resources
Photo of a globe focusing on Eastern Europe

 

The area “Culture and Conflict” analyzes cultural conceptions of conflict, violence, and security – with a focus on Eastern Europe. The research is closely connected with institutions such as the GiZo and is supported by numerous third-party funded projects.

Culture and Conflict
 

Accent Areas

JLU places great emphasis on the areas of emphasis within its faculties. These are distinguished either by particular (individual) research strength or by their special strategic importance to the university. The faculties’ areas of emphasis often lie somewhere between individual research and collaborative research networks.

 

Image Sources: Cover Image: Sebastian Ringleb; "Cardiopulmonary System": Rolf K. Wegst; "Perception and Adaptive Behavior": Till Schürmann; "Material and Energy": Ralf Niggemann; "Agricultural Systems and Resourses ": Jochen Gerhardt; "Culture and Conflict": GiZo