The University of Rostock welcomes Dr. Waseem Ahmad Wani, an up-and-coming scientist from the University College Dublin, Ireland, as part of the Mare Balticum Fellowship Program

Within the framework of the Mare Balticum Fellowship Programme, Dr. Waseem Ahmad Wani (University College Dublin, Ireland) will visit the University of Rostock for a research stay of several months. During this period, he will collaborate with the research group of Prof. Dr. Hermann Seitz at the Department Life, Light & Matter (LL&M) on functional ferroelectric materials for energy-related applications, particularly for photocatalytic hydrogen production.

The visit aims to strengthen the existing collaboration between Rostock and Dublin and to develop new joint research directions in nanoscale characterisation techniques and functional materials. In addition to collaborative experiments and scientific exchange, Dr. Wani will offer several lectures and a workshop for early-career researchers.

Lecture 1

Title: Advanced AFM techniques for local functional property measurements

This lecture will introduce advanced Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) techniques used to investigate local functional properties of materials. The focus will be on specialised AFM methods such as Piezoresponse Force Microscopy (PFM), Kelvin Probe Force Microscopy (KPFM), and conductive AFM (cAFM). Using selected examples, the lecture will demonstrate how these techniques enable the investigation of electrical, mechanical, and electromechanical properties of functional materials at the nanoscale.

Date: coming soon
Location: …

Lecture 2

Title: Environmental control in ferroelectric materials

This lecture will address how environmental conditions influence the behaviour of ferroelectric materials. Dr. Wani will discuss how factors such as temperature, gas atmosphere, and humidity affect polarization dynamics and functional performance. These insights are particularly relevant for applications in energy conversion and electronic devices.

Date: coming soon
Location: …

Workshop

Title: Functional Materials: Engineering, AFM Characterisation and Nanoscale Patterning

This two-day workshop will guide participants through the full workflow of research on functional materials, from material synthesis to nanoscale characterisation.

The workshop will include:

• introduction to the preparation and engineering of functional materials and thin films
• practical insights into AFM-based characterisation techniques (PFM, KPFM, cAFM)
• methods for nanoscale patterning and lithography
• discussion of participants’ ongoing research projects

The workshop is primarily aimed at PhD students, postdoctoral researchers, and scientists from physics, chemistry, materials science, and engineering.

Date: coming soon
Location: …

Further information on the Mare Balticum Fellowship Program, other fellows and their events can be found on the website of the Mare Balticum Fellowship Program.

The University of Rostock welcomes Prof. Matthew Reilly, an  scientist from the The Ohio State University, USA, as part of the Mare Balticum Fellowship Program

Within the framework of the Mare Balticum Fellowship Programme, Prof. Matthew Reilly (Biomedical Engineering, The Ohio State University, USA) will visit the University of Rostock for a research stay of several months. During this time, he will collaborate with the research group of Prof. Dr. Oliver Stachs at the Department Life, Light & Matter (LL&M) on new methods for investigating the biomechanical properties of the eye.

The collaboration focuses on advancing optical imaging approaches, particularly Brillouin microscopy, for the three-dimensional characterization of the mechanical properties of the cornea and crystalline lens. The aim is to develop new quantitative strategies for analysing tissue biomechanics and to explore their relevance for clinical applications such as refractive surgery and corneal cross-linking.

In addition to joint research activities, Prof. Reilly will offer a lecture series for early-career researchers addressing experimental, theoretical, and computational aspects of ocular biomechanics.

Lecture Series

Title: Ocular Biomechanics and Mechanobiology

This lecture series provides an interdisciplinary introduction to the biomechanical and mechanobiological properties of the eye. Fundamental concepts such as stress–strain relationships, viscoelastic behaviour of biological tissues, and structure–function relationships in ocular tissues will be discussed.

Particular emphasis will be placed on experimental methods for measuring biomechanical properties of ocular tissues as well as theoretical and computational modelling approaches used to interpret these measurements. In addition, clinically relevant topics will be addressed, including myopia, glaucoma, presbyopia, ocular trauma, and drug delivery.

The lecture series is primarily aimed at doctoral candidates and postdoctoral researchers from physics, biomedical engineering, life sciences, and medicine and is intended to strengthen interdisciplinary exchange within the Department Life, Light & Matter.

Date: …
Location: …

Weitere Informationen zum Mare Balticum Fellowship Programm, weiteren Fellows und deren Veranstaltung finden Sie auf der Webseite des Mare Balticum Fellowship Programms.

The University of Rostock welcomes Prof. Janne Jänis, an  scientist from the University of Eastern Finland, Joensuu, Finland, as part of the Mare Balticum Fellowship Program

Within the framework of the Mare Balticum Fellowship Programme, Prof. Janne Jänis (University of Eastern Finland, Joensuu, Finland) will visit the University of Rostock for two research stays. During these visits, he will collaborate with the research groups of Prof. Dr. Ralf Zimmermann and Dr. Christopher Rüger at the Department Life, Light & Matter (LL&M) on advanced analytical approaches for the molecular-level characterization of complex chemical mixtures.

The collaboration focuses on combining thermogravimetric analysis with high-resolution mass spectrometry to investigate thermally generated products and complex mixtures, for example from polymers or from the thermal conversion of biomass and polymer waste. The goal is to develop improved analytical strategies that support research on sustainable materials, circular economy processes, and the broader energy transition.

The guest stay will take place in two phases during autumn and winter and will be accompanied by a seminar series for doctoral researchers, postdoctoral scientists, and interested researchers.

Lecture Series

Title: Energy and Materials Transition towards Sustainable Alternatives

This lecture series addresses the chemical and technological challenges of the transition towards more sustainable energy systems and materials. It explores how new energy carriers, alternative feedstocks, and innovative materials can be analysed and characterized at the molecular level.

A particular focus will be placed on high-resolution mass spectrometry as a key analytical tool for investigating complex chemical mixtures. The lectures will cover fundamental principles of mass spectrometric techniques, strategies for analysing complex samples, and approaches for interpreting high-dimensional analytical datasets.

The series is aimed at PhD students, postdoctoral researchers, and interested Master’s students from chemistry, materials science, environmental science, and related disciplines, and aims to foster interdisciplinary exchange at the University of Rostock.

Date: …
Location: …

Seminar Block

Title: Environmental Analysis in a World of Emerging Pollutants

This seminar block focuses on the analytical investigation of complex organic mixtures in environmental systems. Topics include organic aerosols, natural organic matter, and emerging contaminants such as PFAS, flame retardants, and their transformation products.

The lectures will demonstrate how modern analytical approaches—particularly high-resolution mass spectrometry—can be used to investigate chemical composition, sources, and transformation processes in environmental and atmospheric systems.

In addition to methodological concepts, the seminar will present current research examples highlighting the importance of analytical chemistry for addressing environmental and climate-related challenges.

Date: …
Location: …

Weitere Informationen zum Mare Balticum Fellowship Programm, weiteren Fellows und deren Veranstaltung finden Sie auf der Webseite des Mare Balticum Fellowship Programms.