February 5, 2024

First step towards the Excellence Initiative

Successful applications from SCALE and TAM

FIAS researchers are part of the cluster initiatives that were successful in the first application step: SCALE will develop radically new experimental techniques to map and simulate the inside of cells and predict their behaviour. TAM aims to understand fundamental processes of human perception, thought and behaviour that enable us to adapt to constantly changing conditions. The next step is the full proposal in August.

SCALE - From single molecule to cell function

The SCALE consortium with FIAS Fellows Gerhard Hummer, Roberto Covino and the participants Eckhard Elsen, Franziska Matthäus, Tatjana Tchumatchenko and Sebastian Thallmair combines technological expertise from cell biology, biophysics, molecular biology, neurobiology, chemistry, bioinformatics and mathematics. They will develop radically new experimental techniques to map and simulate the inside of cells and predict their behaviour. This research will provide important new insights into bacterial resistance, inflammation, neurodegenerative diseases and immune defence. For details see SCALE / FIAS.

TAM - The Adaptive Mind 

The TAM cluster initiative with FIAS Senior Fellow Jochen Triesch aims to understand fundamental processes of human perception, thinking and behaviour that enable us to adapt to constantly changing conditions.It is coordinated by the Justus Liebig University Giessen, the Philipps University Marburg and the Technical University Darmstadt.FIAS Senior Fellow Jochen Triesch is one of three Frankfurt scientists involved in the initiative as PIs.TAM brings together researchers from psychology, cognitive science and neuroscience with experts in artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning and robotics to decipher universal principles of human adaptability. The findings will be implemented in computer models that can mimic, predict and explain both the spectacular successes and tragic limitations of the human mind, with implications for basic research, mental health and the development of safe AI and robotics technology. "Human adaptability, mental health, safe AI: these are the core topics of 'The Adaptive Mind' - and they have never been as relevant as they are today," says Giessen-based perceptual psychologist Prof Dr Roland Fleming, spokesperson for the planned cluster. "With these topics and a research team that is as motivated as it is excellent, we hope to convince the reviewers of the merits of our cluster." For details see theadaptivemind.de.