Cooperative professorships are professorships, which are appointed at the university and which provide research and teaching in the disciplines of the University of Bremen. The special feature is that, as a "joint appointment", they also have a leading function in science and science management in a non-university research institution. Cooperative professorships are thus evidence of the very good scientific cooperation and the institutional interlacing of the work of the University of Bremen and its non-university partners. They thus strengthen the cooperation as well as the development of the partners in a sustainable manner.
The co-operation professor's model is particularly successful in Bremen. Together with the members of the Bremen Research Alliance, more than 40 cooperative professorships were established.
Our Cooperation Professorships
Prof. Dr. Krasimira Aleksandrova, Methods in Molecular Epidemiology
Krasimira Aleksandrova is the deputy head of the Department of Epidemiological Methods and Etiological Research at the Leibniz Institute for Prevention Research and Epidemiology – BIPS as well as professor of methods in molecular epidemiology at the University of Bremen. Her main research areas are molecular epidemiology, chronic illnesses, and the role of nutrition, lifestyle, and metabolism as modifiable health factors.
Prof. Dr. Maarten Boersma, Experimental Marine Ecology

Maarten Boersma is a professor at the Department of Biology / Chemistry at the University of Bremen and Head of Ecology at the Alfred Wegener Institute Helmholtz Center for Polar and Marine Research (AWI). It examines the interactions within the plankton and how they are influenced by stress conditions. The main focus of his work is in the field of phytoplankton zooplankton with the particular focus on the differences in the quality of different algae species and growth conditions within a species on the condition and reproduction of the zooplankton.
Prof. Dr. Antje Boetius, Geomicrobiology

Antje Boetius is a polar and deep sea researcher and professor of geomicrobiology at the Department of Geosciences at the University of Bremen. She is Director of the Alfred Wegener Institute Helmholtz Center for Polar and Marine Research (AWI), Head of the Helmholtz Max Planck Bridge Group for Deep Sea Ecology and Technology between the Alfred Wegener Institute Helmholtz Center for Polar and Marine Research (AWI) and the Max Planck Institute for Marine Microbiology (MPI) and on the Executive Board of the Excellence Cluster MARUM University of Bremen. Antje Boetius is mainly concerned with the effects of climate change on the biogeochemistry and biodiversity of the Arctic Ocean. With her working group, she is investigating the role of microorganisms in the sea as well as the ecological consequences of human intervention in the deep sea.
Prof. Dr. Vanessa Didelez, Statistics

Vanessa Didelez is Professor of Statistics with a focus on Theory and Methods in Causality Research at the Department of Mathematics and Computer Science at the University of Bremen and Deputy Head of the Department of Biometry and Computer Science at the Leibniz Institute for Prevention Research and Epidemiology - BIPS. Her research focuses on specific statistical methods for applications in biometrics, medicine, genetics and social sciences, which can be used to plan future intervention studies. This method research is ultimately relevant to decision-making in the public health sector, in particular with regard to preventive measures and strategies.
Prof. Dr. Olaf Eisen, Glaciology
Olaf Eisen is a professor at the Department of Geosciences at the University of Bremen and Director of the Field Glaciology Working Group and Deputy Section Head of Glaciology at the Alfred Wegener Institute Helmholtz Center for Polar and Marine Research (AWI). His main focus is on the application of geophysical methods to explore ice characteristics and processes in the Antarctic, Greenland and alpine glaciers. In addition, he is committed to conveying facts about climate change and foreseeable consequences.
Prof. Dr. Stephan Frickenhaus, Technical Mathematics in Earth System Sciences
Stephan Frickenhaus is Professor for Technical Mathematics in Earth System Sciences at University Bremen. He is Head of the Computing and Data Center at the Alfred-Wegener-Institute Helmholtz Center for Polar- and Marine Research and Speaker of the Competence Centre for High Performance Computing Bremen, BremHLR.
Prof. Dr. Frank-Oliver Glöckner, Earth System Data Science

Frank Oliver Glöckner is Professor for Earth System Data Science at the Department of Geosciences at the University of Bremen. He is head of data at the computing center of the Alfred Wegener Institute, Helmholtz Center for Polar- and Marine Research (AWI) and Adjunct Professor for Bioinformatics at the Jacobs University Bremen. He is head of the information system PANGAEA. His highly interdisciplinary team of geologists, biologists, engineers and software developers located at the AWI and MARUM - Center for Marine Environmental Sciences at the University of Bremen has a national and international proven track record in research data management, data logistics and data science. Our integrated data driven view enables transforming the wealth of heterogenous information into new knowledge for innovation and policy advice.
Prof. Dr. Matthias Günther, Physics of Imaging

Matthias Günther is a professor at the Department of Physics / Electrical Engineering at the University of Bremen as well as head of MR imaging at Fraunhofer MEVIS. He has been involved in MRI research and development for over 20 years and has extensive experience in various medical imaging procedures. He holds several patents on sophisticated MR sequences and image processing algorithms and enjoys an excellent reputation in the field of arterial spin labeling (ASL) techniques.
Prof. Dr. Christian Haas, Physics of the Sea Ice
Christian Haas is a professor at the Department of Physics / Electrical Engineering at the University of Bremen and Head of Sea Science at the Alfred Wegener Institute Helmholtz Center for Polar and Marine Research (AWI). Its research area is the investigation of the role of sea ice for the climate and ecosystem and for human activities in the polar regions by means of observation and interpretation of sea ice variability and change by means of in-situ and aircraft measurements, satellite remote sensing and modeling.
Prof. Dr.-Ing. Horst K. Hahn, Digital Medicine

Horst Hahn is Professor for Digital Medicine at the Department of Mathematics and Computer Science at the University of Bremen and Institute Director of the Fraunhofer Institute for Digital Medicine MEVIS. His scientific and technological work addresses the digital transformation of medicine on the basis of multidisciplinary data integration and modern machine learning methods.
Prof. Dr. Judith Hauck, Polar Biogeochemical Modeling

Judith Hauck is Professor of Polar Biogeochemical Modeling in the Department of Biology/Chemistry at the University of Bremen and deputy head of Marine Biogeosciences at the Alfred Wegener Institute, Helmholtz Center for Polar and Marine Research (AWI). As a marine biogeochemist, she focuses on research into the carbon cycle in the oceans, particularly in the polar regions. Together with her team, she develops biogeochemical models to simulate the uptake and storage of carbon in the oceans and to better understand how physical and biological processes influence these dynamics.
Prof. Dr. Ulrike Haug, Clinical Epidemiology and Pharmacological Epidemiology

Ulrike Haug is Professor of Clinical Epidemiology and Pharmacological Epidemiology at the Department of Human and Health Sciences at the University of Bremen and Head of the Department of Clinical Epidemiology at the Leibniz Institute for Prevention Research and Epidemiology - BIPS. Her research focuses on cancer prevention and cancer prevention, as well as on drug discovery.
Prof. Dr. Angelika Humbert, Ice Sheet Modeling

Angelika Humbert is a professor at the Department of Geosciences at the University of Bremen and Director of Glaziology at the Alfred Wegener Institute Helmholtz Center for Polar and Marine Research (AWI). Her work deals with the modeling of ice sheets and ice shelves in Greenland and Antarctica using multi-physical models on hybrid scales, process studies, system studies, predictions, ice-ocean interaction, subglacial hydrology and remote sensing.
Prof. Dr. Thomas Jung, Physics of the Climate System

Thomas Jung is a professor at the Department of Physics / Electrical Engineering at the University of Bremen and head of the Climate Dynamics Section at the Alfred Wegener Institute Helmholtz Center for Polar and Marine Research (AWI). It deals with the analysis, modeling and prediction of the climate system. A major focus is on the role of polar regions in the Earth system. Prof Jung is the spokesman of the AWI research program and heads up various large national and international projects.
Prof. Dr. Torsten Kanzow, Physical Oceanography of the Polar Seas
Torsten Kanzow is Professor of Physical Oceanography of the Polar Seas in the Faculty of Physics/Electrical Engineering at the University of Bremen as well as Head of the Climate Sciences Division and Head of the Section Physical Oceanography of Polar Seas at the Alfred Wegener Institute Helmholtz Center for Polar- and Marine Research (AWI) in Bremerhaven.
Prof. Dr. Sabine Kasten, Sediment Diagenesis
Sabine Kasten heads the Marine Geochemistry section at the Alfred Wegener Institute Helmholtz Center for Polar- and Marine Research (AWI) and is Professor for Sediment Diagenesis in the Faculty of Geosciences at the University of Bremen.
Prof. Dr. Thomas Laepple, Earth Systems Diagnostics
Thomas Laepple is professor of earth system diagnostics at the University of Bremen. His appointment was made in cooperation with the Alfred Wegener Institute Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research (AWI). The core of his research consists of the characterization of the conditions and dynamics of earth systems based on geological and instrumental data in order to better predict the future developments under the influence of humans.
Prof. Dr. Gerrit Lohmann, Physics of the Climate System

Gerrit Lohmann is a professor at the Department of Physics / Electrical Engineering at the University of Bremen and Head of Paleoclimadynamics at the Alfred Wegener Institute Helmholtz Center for Polar and Marine Research (AWI). One focus of his research is the identification of driving mechanisms for climate change on long time scales. This includes conceptual and theoretical approaches, complex numerical models of the Earth system, as well as statistical analyzes of observations and geoscientific data.
Prof. Dr. Bernd Mayer, Polimeric Materials

Bernd Mayer is Professor of Polymer Materials in the Department of Production Engineering at the University of Bremen. Since 2010 he is head of the Fraunhofer Institute for Manufacturing Technology and Applied Materials Research IFAM in Bremen, Institute for Adhesive Bonding Technology and Surfaces. The focus is on research and development work on the entire spectrum of bonding, plasma and lacquer technology, adhesion and interfacial research as well as automation and production technology with the aim of supplying application-oriented system solutions to the industry.
Prof. Dr. Gesine Mollenhauer, Organic Sedimentology

Gesine Mollenhauer is a professor at the Department of Geosciences at the University of Bremen and is the scientific director of the MICADAS 14C laboratory at the Alfred Wegener Institute Helmholtz Center for Polar and Marine Research (AWI). It uses organic geochemical methods and component-specific 14C dating to study the carbon cycle and climate in the past and today. It works primarily with marine sediments and particles from the water column, especially in the ocean regions of the high northern latitudes.
Prof. Dr. Iris Pigeot, Statistics focusing on Biometrics and Methods of Epidemiology

Iris Pigeot is a professor at the Department of Mathematics and Computer Science at the University of Bremen. She is Director of the Leibniz Institute for Prevention Research and Epidemiology - BIPS, where she heads the Department of Biometrics and Computer Science. Her research focuses on biometric methods, graphic models, genetic epidemiology and the use of secondary data in pharmaceutical safety research as well as primary prevention and evaluation, especially childhood obesity.
Prof. Dr. Claudio Richter, Ecology of Marine Animals
Claudio Richter is a professor at the Department of Biology / Chemistry at the University of Bremen and head of the section Bentho-Pelagic Processes (BPP) at the Alfred Wegener Institute Helmholtz Center for Polar and Marine Research (AWI). His research on the ecology of corals and sponges, exchange processes, fine-scale disturbances and climate change is located in the program focus areas "Large scale variability and change in polar benthic biota and ecosystem functions" and "Interface processes and physical dynamics of the coastal ocean".
Prof. Dr. Andreas Rittweger, Space Technology

Andreas Rittweger is a professor at the Department of Production Technology at the University of Bremen and Director of the DLR Institute for Space Systems (DLR). He is a recognized expert in aerospace engineering. DLR in Bremen designs, analyzes and evaluates future spacecraft and space missions in terms of their technical performance and costs. In addition, the institute develops, builds and operates its own spacecraft and missions for scientific investigations and technology demonstrations.
Prof. Dr. Ruth Schilling, Maritime History
Ruth Schilling is Professor of Maritime History within the History Department at the University of Bremen and Managing Director at the German Maritime Museum Leibniz Institute for Maritime History (DSM).
Prof. Dr. Konrad H. Stopsack, Epidemiological Methods

Konrad H. Stopsack is a professor specializing in Epidemiological Methods and Causal Research in the Department of Human and Health Sciences at the University of Bremen. He also heads the Department of Epidemiological Methods and Causal Research at the Leibniz Institute for Prevention Research and Epidemiology – BIPS. Prof. Stopsack's research focuses on understanding how diseases develop and can be prevented. His primary focus is on prostate cancer, cancer precursors, and risk factors that influence the likelihood of chronic diseases.
Prof. Dr. Björn Rost, Phytoplankton Ecophysiology
Björn Rost is Professor for Phytoplankton Ecophysiology in the Faculty of Biology/Chemistry at the University of Bremen and Head of the Marine Biogeosciences Section at the Alfred Wegener Institute Helmholtz Center for Polar- and Marine Research (AWI).
Prof. Dr. Marvin Wright, Machine Learning in Statistics
Marvin Wright is Professor of Machine Learning in Statistics at the University of Bremen and Leader of the Emmy Noether Junior Research Group: Beyond Prediction - Statistical Inference with Machine Learning at the Leibniz Institute for Prevention Research and Epidemiology - BIPS.
Prof. Dr. Hajo Zeeb, Epidemiology

Hajo Zeeb is Professor of Epidemiology at the Department of Human and Health Sciences at the University of Bremen and Head of the Department of Prevention and Evaluation at the Leibniz Institute for Prevention Research and Epidemiology - BIPS. His research focuses not only on the evidence base in public health, but also on the epidemiology of chronic diseases. He is particularly interested in the health of migrants and the importance of environmental risk factors such as ionizing radiation.
Prof. Dr. Martin Zimmer, Mangrove Ecology

Martin Zimmer is a professor at the Department of Biology / Chemistry at the University of Bremen and head of the mangrove ecology group at the Leibniz Center for Marine Tropical Research (ZMT). Its field of work includes scientific foundations for the understanding and protection of mangroves worldwide.
Prof. Dr. Daniela Fuhr, Prevention and Evaluation

Daniela Fuhr is Professor of Implementation Research and Evidence-Based Prevention at the Department of Human and Health Sciences at the University of Bremen and Deputy Head of the Department of Prevention and Evaluation at the Leibniz Institute for Prevention Research and Epidemiology - BIPS. Her research interests include the development and implementation of low-threshold brief psychological interventions, focusing on depression, anxiety disorder, and alcohol abuse. Much of her research focuses on vulnerable populations; in Germany, but also internationally.