About the Department
The Department of Physics at Universität Hamburg has set itself the goal of using teaching and research to make significant and lasting contributions to science at the highest international level. This should not only lay the foundations for future technological developments and sustainable economic development that protect the world’s resources, but also support early career researchers. Basic and applied research are valued equally.
The Department places special value on teaching to give our students the best knowledge and skills possible. They should develop the ability to analyze complex problems and find creative solutions. Alongside a solid basic education, the programs in physics and nanosciences, which are closely linked to research, offer students outstanding key skills in modern specializations.
The Department of Physics collaborates closely with a range of departments at Universität Hamburg (especially the Departments of Biology, Chemistry, Earth Sciences, Informatics, Mathematics, and Medicine), with external research institutions, and with industry across Germany, Europe, and the world. The Department fosters the framework conditions necessary for interdisciplinary cooperation—within Universität Hamburg, regionally, and beyond. Central in this regard is the founding of a Faculty of Natural Sciences at Universität Hamburg and the establishment of new interdisciplinary centers.
The Department works particularly closely with the Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron (DESY) in both research and teaching, and many members of DESY management are also professors in the Department.
When planning and implementing joint projects, the Department cultivates international relationships with universities and research institutions abroad. This involves an intensive exchange of information not only between students, but also between academics and researchers.
Department members host international congresses and symposia, provide reviews and analyses for national and international committees, assist in setting up companies, foster knowledge and technology transfer, and undertake public relations activities. While the Department of Physics operates competitively at the national and international research level, it is also committed to its obligations to the Free Hanseatic City of Hamburg and the Hamburg Metropolitan Region.