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Four new cross-border and cross-institutional Doctoral Networks involving Heidelberg University are being funded by the European Commission under the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA). One MSCA Doctoral Network, coordinated at Heidelberg University, focuses on materials science and explores new organic semiconductors. The other networks address high-resolution imaging techniques for studying plant environmental adaptation, novel optimization approaches for science and industry, and the use of artificial intelligence to analyze complex protein interactions in biological systems.
Press Release
Heidelberg, 11 August 2025
Four New Cross-Border Doctoral Networks at Universität Heidelberg
European Commission funds establishment of MSCA Doctoral Networks focused on highly innovative research topics
Four new cross-border and cross-institutional Doctoral Networks involving Heidelberg University are being funded by the European Commission under the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA). These networks bring together doctoral candidates from various European countries to work collaboratively on current research topics with high innovation potential. One MSCA Doctoral Network, coordinated at Heidelberg University, focuses on materials science and explores new organic semiconductors. Researchers at Heidelberg University are playing a key role in the three other networks. They address high-resolution imaging techniques for studying plant environmental adaptation, novel optimization approaches for science and industry, and the use of artificial intelligence to analyze complex protein interactions in biological systems. Each network will receive funding for a period of four years, with total support exceeding 17 million euros.
The doctoral network “Fundamentals and Applications of Doped Organic Semiconductors” (FADOS) focuses on the targeted modification of semiconductor properties through a process known as doping. This involves introducing foreign molecules into the base material of an organic semiconductor to control and modify its electronic characteristics. While previous research has focused primarily on thermoelectric applications, FADOS aims to investigate how doping affects a wider range of material properties. The project’s goal is to develop fundamental understanding, innovative fabrication processes and, building on this, new components with sustainable functionalities. Collaboration with industry partners will also enhance the translation of research into real-world applications. The FADOS network is coordinated by Prof. Dr Martijn Kemerink, a researcher at the Institute for Molecular Systems Engineering and Advanced Materials at Heidelberg University. His co-applicant is Dr Clemens Göhler, a postdoctoral researcher in Prof. Kemerink’s team. The network will begin its work in September of this year and has been awarded a total of approximately 4.7 million euros in funding.
The objective of the doctoral network “Advanced Training for Next Generation Scientists in Spatio-Temporal Imaging of Plant Cells” (AGILE) is to use high-resolution imaging techniques to gain new insights into how plants adapt their growth and physiology to changing environments. The network offers a tailored training program to educate a new generation of cell biologists. They will apply the latest microscopy and image analysis techniques to the study of the plant nucleus and how it regulates plant environmental adaptation. In the long term, the project aims to open up new areas of application beyond basic bioscience research – for example, in plant-based biotechnology and crop improvement. The AGILE network is coordinated by the CNRS Institut de Génétique, Reproduction et Développement (iGReD) in Clermont-Ferrand (France). At Heidelberg University, the project is led by Dr Kasper van Gelderen, who researches plant light perception and signaling at the Centre for Organismal Studies (COS). The doctoral network, funded with a total of approximately 4.1 million euros, is scheduled to begin in March 2026.
New approaches to solving optimization problems in science and industry are at the heart of the doctoral network “Advances in Large-scale, Multilevel, and Hierarchical Optimisation for Challenging Applications” (ALMOA). The program combines methods from applied mathematics and computer science with topics from operations research and is conducted in close collaboration with external partners. The aim is to translate mathematical knowledge into products and services in emerging fields such as sustainable energy systems, green logistics, and environmentally responsible data science. The ALMOA network is coordinated by the University of Klagenfurt in Austria. The Heidelberg component is led by Prof. Dr Ekaterina Kostina at the Interdisciplinary Center for Scientific Computing (IWR). The European Commission has awarded ALMOA a total of approximately 3.9 million euros in funding. The project is set to begin in January of next year.
The integration of artificial intelligence (AI) with computational proteomics is the focus of the doctoral network “European Training Network on Integrating AI in Proteomics: From Data Acquisition to Translational Applications” (ProtAIomics). The project uses data analysis and AI to transform raw proteomics data into knowledge about protein functions and interactions. Working alongside clinical and corporate partners, the network’s doctoral candidates will develop AI-driven algorithms to enhance the processing of data from mass spectrometry techniques. The long-term goal is to gain actionable insights that can drive future advancements in medical research and to translate research findings into therapeutic applications – such as targeted drugs or clinical biomarkers. The ProtAIomics network is coordinated by the Centre for Genomic Regulation in Barcelona (Spain). At Heidelberg University, the project is led by Dr Isabell Bludau, who does research in the Department of Neuropathology at the Institute of Pathology, which is part of the Medical Faculty Heidelberg. The network is set to start in January 2026 and will receive a total of around 4.6 million euros in funding.
Based at the Medical Faculty Mannheim of Heidelberg University, the doctoral network “Macrophage Targets for Metastatic Treatment” (Mac4Me) began its work in November 2024. It focuses on the interaction between tumor cells and the host immune system in metastatic diseases. The network is coordinated by Erasmus University Medical Centre Rotterdam in the Netherlands. At Heidelberg, the project is led by Prof. Dr Andreas Weigert, research group lead at the Mannheim Institute for Innate Immunoscience. The European Commission has awarded at total of nearly 4.1 million euros to fund the Mac4Me network.
Through the doctoral networks funded in the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions, the European Commission intends to contribute to training highly qualified doctoral candidates in Europe. This way, they are to receive the best possible preparation for a career in academia and industry. Current issues are explored with actors from business and society in a consortium of universities and non-university research institutions. The funding is generally for four years. In addition to the four newly approved MSCA Doctoral Networks, the European Commission is currently funding 16 other networks involving Heidelberg University.
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https://www.uni-heidelberg.de/en/research/research-service/eu-funding/horizon-eu... – MSCA Doctoral Networks at Heidelberg University
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