Honours Students 2022

Course of Studies: History and Politics of the 20th Century (M.A.)

Supervision: Prof. Dr. Jörg Ganzenmüller

"Reconciliation or open wounds? An analysis of the Conception, Implementation and Meaning of the Salamanca Documentation Center (Centro Documental
de la memoria histórica)" (working title)
My planned research project is a work on the topic of memory and dealing with the past in Spain. There are some gaps in dealing with the Civil War (1936-1939), the dictatorship (1939-1975) and the subsequent transition period. This also includes the lack of an overall social, identity-forming memorial. However, there is a documentation centre in Salamanca with a permanent exhibition on the Civil War. Within the framework of the research project, I would like to analyse the exhibition concept and take a look at the significance of this place for the entire Spanish society.
For this purpose, the analysis is done in a three-step approach using three different types of sources. In the first step, government documents and legal texts will be used to shed light on the state's intentions for the design of this place; in the next step, an examination of the realized exhibition will take place; and finally, the reception and fulfillment of the state's claims will be assessed by drawing on (supra)regional reporting. In this way, the question will be clarified to what extent this documentation centre attempts to establish a nationally valid "master narrative."

Contact:
anna.katharina.brauckmann@uni-jena.de

Course of Studies:  English Studies (M.A.)

Supervision: Dr. Adam James Ross Tallman

Motion and perception of time and space in the South American language Aymara
Aymara, an indigenous South American language mainly spoken in the Altiplano area in Bolivia, Peru, and parts of Chile, conceptualizes time differently. Languages such as German or English perceive time in such a way that the future lies in front (e.g. the week is ahead of us) and the past behind us (e.g. the week is behind us). However, it is the opposite in Aymara. The future (pacha qhipa, literally: ‘back time’) lies behind, while the past (pacha nayra, literally: ‘eye time’) lies in front of the speaker. An explanation for this could be that the past has already been experienced and is therefore “visible” to the speaker, whereas the future is unknown and cannot be “seen”. This seems to be a unique feature of the language. The goal is to find out how motion and, connected to that, perception of time and space are expressed in Aymara.

Contact:
caroline.de.becker@uni-jena.de

Course of Studies: History and Politics of the 20th Century (M.A.)

Supervision: Prof. Dr. Bernhard Strauß

On the Accounting of Psychotherapy Procedures in the GDR. Qualitative evaluation of an interview study
At the same time, the health care system of the GDR was a great achievement of the socialist system, which made almost universal medical care possible, as well as a niche that was always eyeballed with concern by the state leadership and was accused of critical thinking and resistance against the system. This was especially the case for psychotherapy, which developed in the GDR both in accordance with and in rejection of Western models.
The research association SiSaP - Seelenarbeit im Sozialismus (Soul Work in Socialism) investigates this development in the subproject Jena by means of an interview study. My research project is dedicated to the evaluation of the therapy methods developed in the GDR, by using a qualitative analysis of interviews with former psychotherapists. Special attention is given to the investigation of the connection between politics, science, and practical work. The work asks about preconditions, possible unobserved spaces, and obstacles and also takes a closer look at the development of psychotherapy within a reflection of the political situation.

Contact:
anika.sophie.huehn@uni-jena.de

Course of Studies: German (Teacher Training, State Examination)

Supervision: Dr. Jens Ole Schneider

The New Middle Class in Contemporary German Literature
Contemporary German pop literature is increasingly picking up on debates around identity. Apart from race or gender, one can see how contemporary literature addresses social class, bringing German bourgeois or middle-class culture into play.
This project will analyse the ways German bourgeois culture is addressed in contemporary German literature. In regard to this, such a term must include new tendencies from the discourse around German middle-class culture in order to incorporate individualistic middle-class lifestyle milieus – groups that exhibit subversive lifestyles and attitudes much different from the ‘bourgeois’, for example veganism or ecologism, but which can still be considered ‘bourgeois’ due to their role as a culturally formative centre. Which literary forms and devices are used to portray this? Is there criticism and in what way does it manifest itself?
Analysing selected instances of contemporary German literature, these and more questions shall be answered.

Contact:
jonas.krause@uni-jena.de

Course of Studies: History and Politics of the 20th Century (M.A.)

Supervision: Prof. Dr. Stefanie Middendorf

Transformation Processes of Right-Wing Violence and Masculinity. A historisation of right-wing actors, networks and ideologies 1967-1977
With my research project, I aim to contribute to the historization of right-wing violence after 1945. The phenomenon of masculinity plays a constitutive role in this: right-wing extremist comradeships and military sports groups are considered to be male alliances par excellence. Public perception and media coverage also often reinforce the stereotype of the male rowdy and skinhead.
Therefore, I would like to consider the question of whether a stereotyped image of right-wing masculinity does justice to the historical realities of 1967-1977 or whether different, changing conceptions of masculinity were significant in relation to right-wing violence. What role played anti-feminism’s reactionary response to the emancipation processes of 1968 and the second women's movement? Such an analysis offers the potential to better understand gender concepts in the extreme right in their genesis and thus to examine right-wing violence for possible causes.

Contact:
aurelia.sophie.rohrmann@uni-jena.de

Course of Studies: Romance Studies, Slavic Studies (B.A.)

Supervision: Prof. Dr. Thomas Scharinger

An Unknown Grammar by Giovanni Battista de Pagani (1761) for German-speaking Learners of Italian
The subject of my research project is Giovanni Battista de Pagani’s grammar Les vrais Fondemens & Principes de la Langue Itallienne […], written in Frankfurt am Main in 1761 – an Italian grammar addressed to German-speaking learners, though using French as its metalanguage, and of which only one handwritten exemplar has been preserved. Since the grammar has not yet been described scientifically, I will intensively examine the manuscript stored in the GSA in Weimar. After a first indexing of the work’s content, I will compare this with other Italian grammars circulating in the German-speaking area in the 18th century. Thereby, the main question will be whether and, if so, to what extent Pagani’s grammar differs from other Italian grammars of the time. Are there differences in the structure or in the weighting of the contents? Is Pagani’s grammar more innovative? Or did he copy parts from other grammars?

Contact:
karin.weihrater@uni-jena.de

Course of Studies: Physics (B.Sc.)

Supervision: Prof. Dr. Torsten Fritz

Characterization of optical and structural properties of the molecule 1,4,7,10-Tetra(tert-butyl)perylene on the 2D material blue phosphorene on a gold surface
Organic materials are promising candidates for the development of new electronic components. Widely known applications, that were already brought to series production, are organic light emitting diodes (OLEDs). They are commonly used in televisions and make it possible to design the devices in a very thin way. In my Honours project, I investigate the properties of a system, that consists of three different materials: the organic molecule TBPe is deposited onto a layer of blue phosphorene, that lies on top of a gold surface. Blue phosphorene is a very thin material (approximately one million times thinner than human hair), which is why it is called a 2D material. Another 2D material, that has been known for a longer period of time, is graphene. Andre Geim and Konstantin Novoselov received the Nobel Prize for Physics in 2010 for its investigation. In the mentioned system, blue phosphorene is supposed to prevent the unintentional interaction between the TBPe molecules and the gold surface.

Contact:
florentine.friedrich@uni-jena.de

Course of Studies: Physics (M.Sc.)

Supervision: Prof. Dr. Christian Eggeling

Super-resolution microscopy of Natural Killer cell receptors in the nm scale
Natural Killer cells (NK cells) are an essential part of the innate immune system. They check other cells for viral infection or malignant transformation and, if necessary, initiate controlled cell death in the target cell. It is already known that the interaction of various receptors on the NK cell and target cell is responsible for these decision processes. So far, however, little attention has been paid to the actual spatial arrangements of the granules to the receptors and their influence on the decision-making process. The reason for this are the spatial dimensions that can only be resolved with super-resolution microscopy. Therefore, the basic idea of the project is to investigate the structural arrangement of these NK cell receptors, and the influence of immune response inhibitors, using the most modern super resolution microscopes STED, STORM and MINFLUX.

Contact:
felix.hildebrandt@uni-jena.de

Studiengang: Photonics (M.Sc.)

Supervision: Dr. Reinhard Geiß

All-optical quantum experiment kit with a modular design and remote control capabilities to demonstrate and implement unitary operations in coincidence basis with potential generalization to address various fundamental quantum effects and their application to quantum information processing
Quantum optics is demonstrably a promising technology for implementing quantum information processing (QIP) algorithms, because of the inherent robustness of the polarization entanglement against decoherence. Quantum optical systems have been largely restricted to laboratories, which has been a major impediment preventing practical offline/online courses based on this technology. But, with the growing interest in this technology, it is important to develop modular extensions that are resilient to environmental factors and can be operated remotely from anywhere with minimal utilities. Reliable entangled photon sources based on SPDC in non-linear crystals already exist from some suppliers. However, modular extensions using linear optical elements that can be used for rapid testing of hypotheses and generic ideas about quantum mechanics in general as well as QIP with optics have not been developed to the best of our knowledge. Such a system would be used not only for pedagogical purposes but would be adapted for research applications as well. In this project, we develop modular extensions, implementing single and two qubit universal quantum gates using higher order interferometry, and we establish a proof of concept.

Course of Studies: Physics (M.Sc.)

Supervision: Dr. Christin David

Nonlocal Soft Plasmonics in planar homogeneous multilayer systems
Plasmonics is the study of resonant interactions between the electrons in the conduction band of metals and electromagnetic radiation. These charge oscillations can also be found in soft matter such as the charged ionic fluid in an impermeable lipid membrane. This creates a bridge between the physics of hard matter and soft matter. We study the charge oscillations of heavy ions in solid planar electrolyte systems. Novel theoretical models are developed to investigate the interaction effects of charge carriers in the communication of nerve cells and energy transfer between electrolytes and solid interfaces. We also take into consideration nonclassical interactions between the charge carriers that happen due to strong spatial confinement on the nanoscale. These quantum interactions are studied in the scope of semi-classical calculations with a particular focus on nonlocality in ion-ion interactions that go beyond classical electrodynamics.

Contact:
preethi.ramesh.narayan@uni-jena.de

Course of Studies: Medicine (State Examination)

Supervision: Prof. Dr. Dr. Christoph Redies

Statistical Image Properties and the Aesthetic Perception of Abstract Art
In my research, I compare abstract art, generated either by human artists or by a computer, with traditional artworks from the Western art canon. With a Neural Style Transfer (NST) algorithm, we transferred the style of various abstract original paintings onto computer-generated, abstract random-phase patterns. At first, I analyzed the objective statistical image properties (SIPs, e.g., colour information, edge orientations, or self-similarity) of the different image categories. I then performed a rating experiment, in which 40 participants rated the images along different rating dimensions (Pleasing, Harmonious, and Interesting). One of our main results is that computer-generated art images are rated more highly if their image properties are statistically more similar to those of traditional art. Furthermore, we can explain 50-69% of the variance of the subjective ratings using the specific SIPs in our study, which also lead us to new insights into the mechanics of the NST-algorithm.

Contact:
hannahalexa.geller@uni-jena.de

Course of Studies: Dentistry (State Examination)

Supervision: PD Dr. Ulrike Schulze-Späte

The role of therapeutic immunomodulation in periodontitis-associated bone loss.
The increase of diet-related diseases such as obesity, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, myocardial infarction, stroke, etc. is a global challenge due to recent demographic developments. Current research aims to develop preventive strategies and, thereby, recent findings defined the relationship of different dietary fats with the development and progression of these diseases. Further, periodontitis, a bacterial-induced inflammatory disease of the periodontium is associated with diet-related diseases and it has a high age prevalence. Recent studies aim to address dietary immune modulation to combat the inflammation-driven progression of periodontitis and thereby lower overall systemic inflammation in associated diseases. The focus of this investigation will be to determine cellular regulation of the immune-modulated host response with the aim of developing preclinical therapeutic approaches.

Contact:
micheal.reimann@med.uni-jena.de

Course of Studies: Molecular Medicine (M.Sc.)

Supervision: Dr. Susanne Jahreis

Analysis of Activation and Migration of MAIT Cells in Response to Human Pulmonary Aspergillus fumigatus Infection in the Invasive Aspergillosis-on-Chip Model
Spores of the ubiquitous fungus Aspergillus fumigatus are continuously inhaled in our daily life yet are effectively cleared by a competent immune system in healthy individuals. However, these spores can impose a direct threat to immunocompromised patients, leading to a disease with high mortality rates termed invasive aspergillosis.
Since treatment options are limited, understanding the pathobiology of fungal infections is crucial. The first line of defense is driven by the innate immune system ensued by a robust T cell response of the adaptive immunity. Recently, the activation of an innate-like T cell subset, termed mucosal-associated invariant T (MAIT) cells by fungal pathogens was discovered in in vitro cell culture. Yet, their role in antifungal immunity is not entirely known and is thus studied in this project via using a novel, in vivo-like “lung-on-chip” model mirroring the microanatomical features of a human alveolus and allowing to mimic invasive aspergillosis.

Contact:
anna.katharina.renner@uni-jena.de

Course of Studies: Molecular Medicine (M.Sc.)

Supervision: Prof. Dr. Ignacio Rubio

Phenomenon of organ failure in severe infections and sepsis
Severe sepsis is accompanied by massive organ damage. Inflammatory stress can lead directly or indirectly to severe damage to tissues and organs. Sepsis, thus, triggers widespread cell death as a consequence of inflammation. In many cases, the liver is affected.
Preliminary results suggest that inflammatory damage can be effectively addressed by preconditioning hepatocytes through caloric restriction, but it is important to understand how the pro-inflammatory process triggers cell damage and death. The mechanism of cell death will be studied in immortalized hepatocytes. One focus will be to narrow down the intracellular signaling pathway(s) that occurs during cell death. A deep insight into how the inflammatory components signal the cell to die, and into the manner in which the cell dies, opens a way to find a therapeutic strategy and prevent organ failure.

Contact:
harini.sureshkumar@uni-jena.de

Course of Studies: Educational Science (B.A.)

Supervision: Prof. Dr. Nele Kuhlmann

Expectations of Transformation in Advice Literature
Experiences with discrimination accompany our everyday life in different kinds of ways. Contrary to these experiences of discrimination stand programs, e.g., advice literature, which are supposed to encourage reflecting on such situations and to support the readers by way of their knowledge and instructions. Advice literature relates to the readers’ thinking and behaviour as well as changing these in any kind of way. Among other things, advice literature asks their readership to reflect on themselves, other people, and the social order. The question is: what defines these expectations of transformation?
I would like to explore this question within this research project. Through a qualitative discourse analysis, advice literature which deals with topics such as racism and sexism will be compared and analysed. The goal is, to find out, how the readership is advised to behave towards their own race and gender, as well as to people from differing races and genders, and which understanding of sensitization is implied. Furthermore, the research also focuses on how readers are addressed and how their attitudes and biases are included within the advice literature.

Contact:
charlotte.friederike.dietel@uni-jena.de

Course of Studies: Social Studies, English (Teacher Training, State Examination)

Supervision: Dr. Christoph Giesel

Anti-Arab Racism in the German Refugee Discourse: Media Coverage of Syrian Refugees and the Consequential Public Perception in Comparison with the Ukrainian Refugee Stream
This research project deals with the media coverage of Syria and Syrians, and the associated public perception, as well as with anti-Arab racism in the German public discourse. Within the framework of a discursive and comparative media analysis, it is investigated to what extent a tendency towards xenophobia and hostility towards Arabs can be identified in the German media discourse on migration and whether German reporting evokes negative stereotypes and stigmas. In this context, we will examine the extent to which discursive constructions diverge through the German coverage of Ukrainian and Syrian refugees by selected daily and weekly print and online media. The thematic comparative analysis is pioneering research that examines highly topical events which are still in progress in combination with processes of very high socio-political scope and relevance that have already been ongoing for years: armed conflicts in Ukraine versus Syria as well as other Arab states and the resulting refugee movements to Germany.

Course of Studies: Political Science (B.A.)

Supervision: Prof. Dr. Michael Dreyer

An analysis of the relationship between modern Antisemitism and postmodern theory
Modern anti-Semitism is analytically clearly distinguishable from racism and is characterized by the central motif of the Jew as the third party, who is thought of as the troublemaker and cause of all evil in what is an actually good and diverse world of peoples. Antisemitic motives often appear in an indirect way, not always with a clear reference and conceptual naming of 'the Jew'. Among members of postmodern theoretical currents, Israel-related Antisemitism is particularly prevalent. The question that arises here, is whether this Antisemitism is of a purely biographical nature or already inherent in the theory and thus a consequence of the basic social conception and analysis of society in postmodern theory. Is there, then, an analytical Antisemitism to be found in the basic motifs of postmodern criticism? This question will be pursued by analyzing the argumentation structure of concrete texts, the classics of postmodern criticism.

Course of Studies: Psychology (B.Sc.)

Supervision: Prof. Dr. Michaela Riediger

The relationship between adverse life events and empathic accuracy with reference to posttraumatic growth.
Does going through a difficult breakup or the death of a loved one make you a mentalist?
Stressful life events rarely pass by without leaving a trace. But can crises characterized by temporary excessive demands and a feeling of powerlessness have positive effects on socio-emotional competencies? Past studies have shown that people with negative life experiences have a greater tendency to perspective-taking. This is a skill that is required for empathic accuracy, which is the ability to correctly read others’ thoughts and feelings.
Within the Honours Programme, I would like to investigate to what extent empathic accuracy differs between people with and without crisis experience and what role crisis-induced growth plays in this. Empathic accuracy will be assessed using the Standard Stimulus Paradigm, in which subjects rate the mental and emotional state of protagonists in various videos.

Contact:
cornelia.hartl@uni-jena.de

Course of Studies: Sociology (M.A.)

Supervision: Dr. Robin Saalfeld

Property arrangements in couples' households – a class perspective
The research project deals with the structural change of property in couple households and its potential effects on the intra-couple division of labor and the meaning of property for gender relations. In this context, the couples' property arrangements (doing property), but also the couple construction (doing couple) in interaction with the respective gender constructions (doing gender) are investigated. The project is not only about the distribution of property between the partners, but also about which property objects are relevant within the couple context, which meaning is attributed to them, how they are managed and spent, and who has which rights of disposal over them. My personal contribution to the project is adding a class perspective to the differentiations between the couple households. Using qualitative methods, I will focus on the comparative analysis of the property arrangements of couple households belonging to different classes, especially with regard to the relationship between class and gender.

Contact:
lena.mann@uni-jena.de

Course of Studies: Sociology (M.A.)

Supervision: Prof. Dr. Kathrin Leuze

Atypical career aspirations of girls and boys
Already in primary school, boys and girls show gender-typical preferences when asked about their dream job. This phenomenon continues throughout life and results, among others, in the underrepresentation of women in the male-dominated STEM-field (science, technology, engineering & mathematics). The early promotion of girls’ atypical aspirations is an important topic in research, politics, and society. Various explanatory factors for typical and atypical career aspirations of girls have already been intensively researched. However, much less is known about aspects that prevent or promote boys' interest in female-dominated professions. In my research, I am therefore pursuing a bilateral approach. On the one hand, I am concerned with the relevance of personality for girls' atypical aspirations in STEM fields. On the other hand, I take an explorative look at masculine atypical aspirations. My project aims to highlight that the promotion of atypical aspirations of both genders is necessary to achieve gender equality.

Contact:
ellen.winkler@uni-jena.de

Course of Studies: Geography (M.Sc.)

Supervision: Dr.-Ing. Clémence Dubois

Characterising forest structure parameters using LiDAR and SAR remote sensing
How a given forest is structured influences its habitat function and its resilience towards environmental change. In my project, I will combine two types of remote-sensing datasets that contain information on forest structure: LiDAR and Radar.
Radar sensors on satellites emit microwaves and measure the return time and intensity of the backscattered signal. Using various frequencies allows us to investigate different components of forest anatomy: from the canopy surface to the stems. Therefore, by combining frequencies, forest structure can be characterized.
To achieve this, however, the response of radars towards forest properties must be described first. In my Honours project, I will address this question by using laser scans as a reference. These LiDAR-point clouds allow a three-dimensional estimate of forest structural parameters that I will compare to the radar data, specifically in forests in Thuringia.

Contact:
marianne.boehm@uni-jena.de

Course of Studies: Geosciences (M.Sc.)

Supervision: Prof. Dr. Kamil Ustaszewski

Is there clear evidence for the occurrence of pseudotachylites (frictional melts) along the Pustertal-Gailtal-Line of the Periadriatic fault system?
The Periadriatic fault system represents a dextral (right-lateral) strike-slip fault zone, resulting from the northwest-oriented movement of the Adriatic Plate relative to the European Plate and can be traced through the entire Alpine Arc. In the eastern part of this fault zone, significantly fewer historical and instrumental earthquakes have been recorded than in the regions south of the fault zone. In my project, I am therefore investigating an eastern segment of this fault zone, the Pustertal-Gailtal-Line, for the presence of pseudotachylites, that prove the occurrence of earthquakes. Due to frictional heat, the surrounding rocks partially melt during their formation and solidify again to amorphous glasses. For this purpose, I am conducting geological mapping in my study area near Maria Luggau in the Lesachtal (about 15 km south of Lienz). Apart from that, I am analyzing thin sections, prepared from locally collected rock samples, using a polarizing microscope, scanning electron microscope, Raman spectroscopy and micro X-ray fluorescence analysis. Through my project, the tectonic understanding of the Pustertal-Gailtal-Line is enhanced.

Contact:
muriel.buelhoff@uni-jena.de

Course of Studies: Geoinformatics (M.Sc.)

Supervision: Prof. Dr. Alexander Brenning

Tallinn in the 17th century - a geodata-based historical model
Tallinn (German: Reval, Swedish: Lindanäs) was one of the most important urban centers in the eastern Baltic Sea region during the 17^th century. Trade flows from Sweden, the Baltic States, Finland, and the Russian region converged in the city on the shores of the Gulf of Finland. However, life in Tallinn at this time was not only characterized by vivid business activity, but also by the cities’ function as a political and cultural center.
In my project, I visualize and analyze the various spatial-historical dimensions of Tallinn's city history in the 17^th century using methods of Geographical Information Science (GIS). Two digital maps are to be created as products of the project: the first one illustrates the city itself and the second one depicts the cities’ commercial ties and political interdependencies in the Baltic Sea region. The project is designed not only as a contribution to historical research on Eastern Europe and urbanity, but also as an illustration of the application of GIS-methods for the humanities and cultural studies.

Contact:
simon.franzen@uni-jena.de

Course of Studies: Chemistry (M.Sc.)

Supervision: Prof. Dr. Andrey Turchanin

Self-assembly of Ru(II)-polypyridine-complexes on surfaces for applications in modern photocatalysis
The generation of renewable energies has become the focus of science in recent years. In my research project, I am working on the synthesis of “artificial leaves” to imitate nature’s photosynthesis. The so called “artificial leave” is a 2D material of the ruthenium(II) polypyridine complex, which is photoactive. The synthesis of these “leaves” takes place in several steps on gold surfaces and has been reproduced several times in TRR 234 “CataLight”. First, a unimolecular thick, self-assembled monolayer (SAM) is generated due to the coordinative interaction between gold and carboxyl groups. Cross-linking via low-energy irradiation results in a carbon nanomembrane (CNM). Various surface-sensitive techniques are used for characterization (e.g., AFM, REM, XPS). In the course of my research project, the binding mechanism between gold and carboxyl groups will be elucidated in more detail using a special method of “polarization modulation infrared reflection absorption spectroscopy” (PM-IRRAS). Furthermore, the synthesis of SAMs on silver layers will be optimized, as this substrate is more reactive than gold.

Contact:
verena.mueller@uni-jena.de

Course of Studies: Geography, German (Teacher Training, State Examination)

Supervision: Prof. Roland Zech

Holocene moisture history based on biomarker and stable isotope analyses from Moossee (Switzerland)
Application of direct paleohydrological proxies in the European Alps has been very rare. Most studies cover the entire Holocene (~11.7 ka) only discontinuously and at a low temporal resolution. Further research, using quantitative proxies directly related to hydrology, is strongly needed to disentangle the mechanisms of the changing climate and their impact on the ecosystem of the European Alps during the Holocene. Within my research project, I will focus on lake sediments from Moossee (Switzerland). I will investigate the compound-specific stable hydrogen composition of sedimentary n-alkane biomarkers (δ²H_n-alkanes) by comparing the δ²H signal of terrestrial and aquatic n-alkane compounds. Therefore, the isotopic offset between the terrestrial and aquatic δ²H signal delivers information about past changes in moisture availability and evaporation, because the aquatic δ²H signal is thought to be controlled by the lake water’s evaporative enrichment.

Contact:
maximilian.prochnow@uni-jena.de

Course of Studies: Geosciences (M.Sc.)

Supervision: Prof. Dr. Thorsten Schäfer

The geogenic influence on the eutrophication problem at Laacher See (Eastern Eifel, Rhineland-Palatinate) - Geochemical and mineralogical investigations of phosphorus- & vanadium-containing phases in the rocks of the Laacher See area
The Laacher See is a water-filled crater area of the Laacher See volcano and the largest lake in Rhineland-Palatinate, whose water quality is endangered by a high phosphorus content. Due to the phosphorus concentration of 31 µg/l on average, which is relatively high for stagnant waters, the Laacher See is at the threshold of eutrophication, meaning a nutrient oversupply of phosphorus for organisms.
In my project, the geogenic input of phosphorus and associated vanadium into Laacher See is investigated. This describes the dissolution of phosphate minerals from the rocks and the accumulation of phosphorus in the groundwater. In particular, the volcanic rocks are regionally significant aquifers and thus offer the potential for hydrochemical interactions. For the investigation of the geogenic input I will record the geochemical and mineralogical composition of the rocks in the Laacher See area, using thin section microscopy, XRF, total digestion and electron microprobe to determine the phosphate contents in the rocks. Furthermore, I will investigate the rock-specific dissolution kinetics of phosphate using elution experiments.

Contact:
sascha.rudolph@uni-jena.de

Course of Studies: Law (State Examination)

Supervision: Prof. Dr. Christian Alexander

Media platforms and their regulation by the Interstate Treaty on the Media (MStV)
In the 21st century, media intermediaries represent an essential instance in the formation of the public opinion. Media intermediaries are service providers - especially on the Internet - which do not produce any content themselves, but merely select third-party content, based on algorithms, and present it to the public. In this way, intermediaries are "gatekeepers" for the content and opinions with which users are confronted on the Internet. They thus assume a sensitive role that is central to democratic, open and unbiased discourse. Prominent providers include YouTube, Instagram and Google.
This is accompanied by the risk that the algorithms of the intermediaries are manipulated or designed in such a way that certain content is unlawfully discriminated against, which could lead to a distortion of opinion and discourse. To prevent this, the new State Media Treaty provides various regulations. These will be examined in my paper, with regard to their regulatory purpose, legal clarity, and specific interpretive criteria.
In particular, it will be examined whether and how the regulations strike a balance between the interest of the public in forming an undistorted opinion through media on the one hand, and the justified interest of intermediaries in a selection and presentation of content that is advantageous and ideal for them on the other hand.

Course of Studies: Economics (M.Sc.)

Supervision: Prof. Andreas Freytag

Economic impact of establishing an EU-AUS Free Trade Agreement on the energy trade
There is an urgent need between the EU and Australia to promote free trade in the energy sector. Especially since Russia invaded Ukraine, the energy supplies to the EU are tense. Therefore, seeking alternatives with affordable prices in order to be less dependent on Russian gas exports is important for the EU.
Contributing to the finalization of the Free Trade Agreement between the EU and Australia, my research focuses on accessing the potential impacts on the energy field after the implementation of an Australia-EU Free Trade Agreement. My research will further propose methods to finalize the Australia-EU FTA. Computable General Equilibrium (CGE) models will be applied to identify cause-effect channels by simulating e.g., energy prices, energy incomes, and trade flows in the energy sector.

Contact:
chunxiao.an@uni-jena.de

Course of Studies: Business Administration: Specialisation in Strategy, Management and Marketing (M.Sc.)

Supervision: Prof. Dr. Peter Walgenbach

Ethnic Bias in Healthcare Services
The decreasing number of doctors and the simultaneous rise of treatment cases due to an aging society provide a serious threat for the German healthcare system, impacting doctors and patients alike. While immigration of doctors, particularly from Syria and Romania, bears a huge potential to reduce these strains, ethnic discrimination remains a cutting-edge topic. It can potentially diminish the positive effects of immigration, for example due to higher turnover rates or the avoidance of interethnic interaction. Research shows that interethnic interaction is further linked to a reduced quality of treatment and compliance. Hence, my research is dedicated to possible marketing instruments that may promote interethnic interaction in healthcare services. It will accordingly contribute to the promotion of interethnic interaction and to a relief for the healthcare system.

Contact:
suzanne.bohnsack@uni-jena.de

Course of Studies: Economics Eduaction (M.Ed.)

Supervision: Prof. Petra Frehe-Halliwell

Progressive Education as an approach for pre-vocational Training for disadvantaged youth?
Many students fail to make the direct transition to vocational training after leaving general school. They end up in the pre-vocational training system, where they are introduced to vocational training through the acquisition of vocational skills and general education qualifications as well as vocational orientation. A special need for action arises from the great heterogeneity of the students (e.g. people with special needs, migrants), who have to deal with various problems, such as a lack of prospects or experience of violence. Teachers are faced with the challenge of developing "good" didactic offers in the tension between objectives and individual needs. Even if social and special pedagogical approaches already flow into the didactics of pre-vocational training, reform pedagogical approaches remain largely ignored. The core idea of Reform Education is to understand school as a learning and living space for personal development, and to mediate between individual and social needs. On the basis of these assumptions, I suggest a high fit between Reform Education and the challenges of pre-vocational training. This is the starting point of my research project:  I will analyze and discuss different approaches of Reform Education (e.g. Jenaplan or Montessori pedagogy) with regard to their potential for the didactics of pre-vocational training.

Contact:
michelle.hannemann@uni-jena.de

Course of Studies: Economics (M.Sc.)

Supervision: Prof. Dr. Matthias Menter

The role of universities in social innovation processes
In recent years, social innovations have increasingly come to the fore alongside technological innovations, to develop inclusive growth strategies and address complex global challenges. Social innovations set the goal of meeting social needs and integrating people within production. The starting point is the recognition of those needs and the subsequent development of solutions to problems. Studies have shown that universities play a central role in this context, as they provide knowledge and are responsible for the transfer of knowledge and thus contribute to the process of social innovation.
Within the research project, an index is to be developed, that maps social activities in a regional context. The project aims at gaining new insights into the role of universities in social innovation processes and illustrating the influence of universities on the development of social innovations in a region.

Contact:
emilie.neye@uni-jena.de

Course of Studies: Economics (M.Sc.)

Supervision: Prof. Dr. Matthias Menter

Female academic entrepreneurs: challenges, potentials and need for action
The role of universities has changed over time. Their traditional tasks of teaching and research have been expanded to include the transfer of research results and their commercial exploitation. Thereby, universities account for the fact that their research results are of great importance in tackling social challenges, such as climate change or demographic change. To meet these challenges appropriately, university research results must therefore be made publicly available.  University spin-offs – new firms founded by researchers - are one form of this technology transfer. Since female researchers less often commercialize their research results by founding a firm, my research project aims to help understand the underlying reasons behind the limited number of female academic founders. The aim of the research project is to identify the challenges and potentials of academic female founders and the resulting need for action for (university) institutions.

Course of Studies: Economics (M.Sc.)

Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Silke Übelmesser

The effects of the quality of contact on immigration and political attitudes: An empirical investigation in Germany.
Within my research project, I would like to investigate how the type of contact with immigrants influences opinions about immigration and voting behavior in Thuringia. There are several theories that hypothesize the origins of prejudice towards immigrants, such as the theories of group threat, imagined deprivation and contact. I would like to focus on contact theory. The data set that I would like to work with is a questionnaire that has been collected in 2019 as part of the WOM project to which 1000 individuals (aged 16 and above, residing in Thuringia, Germany) responded. This questionnaire provides rich insights into contact with immigrants, opinions about immigration, and voting behavior. In particular, the questionnaire contains three questions relating to contact: in family and close friends circles, in the workplace and in the neighborhood. I intend to use these self-assessed measures to define and compute indices for the type of contact, as it would be interesting to investigate whether contact in different environments influences opinions about immigration and voting. These questions have been raised and answered empirically but separately (e.g. Andersson et al., 2021 ; Ellison et al., 2011 etc.). The data set at hand would allow me to look at all these effects concurrently.

Course of Studies: Microbiology (M.Sc.)

Supervision: Dr. Daniela Röll

Crosstalk of peripheral blood mononuclear cells with Pseudomonas aeruginosa Biofilm
Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a bacterial pathogen and a frequent causative of chronic and difficult-to-treat infections of the lungs (pneumonia), of wounds and of skin, particularly in immune compromised patients. The infection caused by this organism becomes almost impossible to treat after biofilm formation, which is a matrix-embedded aggregation of the bacterial cells. The biofilm compartment acts as a barrier against both, antimicrobial treatment and immune responses, resulting in therapeutic failure and relapse, further infections of other body parts, morbidity and increased lethality.
The human immune response to P. aeruginosa biofilms is a research area which is still poorly investigated. My goals are to analyze the activities that go on within the biofilm after exposure to different immune cells (cell lines) with additionally stressing the bacteria with antibiotics. The established model might indicate the process behind chronification of Pseudomonas aeruginosa biofilms. It might help to gain ideas of how to block the communication within the biofilm or how to stimulate immune cells to prevent this process. This work might help to find biomarkers to distinguish biofilm from planktonic infection.

Contact:
gaurvanshi.gupta@uni-jena.de

Course of Studies: Biology (B.Sc.)

Supervision: Dr. Alexander Steossel

Comparative morphological integration of the inner ear and endocranium within the Felidae and Canidae.
It is a characteristic of nature that living beings vary in all aspects of their existence. The closest relatives of the dogs (Canidae) and the cats (Felidae) are not spared from this feature. Within these taxonomic groups, I would like to deal with the different shape patterns of the inner ear and the outer part of the brain that is directly adjacent to the skull.
The aim is to identify and compare basic patterns, variations, and peculiarities in the construction of these structures. Thereby, it is important to clarify whether the shape of these structures has developed and changed independently of each other or not, and how they got modified during evolutionary processes.
The acquired knowledge will expand the anatomical and morphological understanding of the evolution of Canidae and Felidae and will open up new explanatory approaches with regard to functionality and variability.

Contact:
nils.krommer@uni-jena.de

Course of Studies: Pharmacy (State Examination)

Supervision: Dr. Andreas Winter

Photobasic behavior of metal complexes
What does this behavior mean?
As you can guess by the name: light (photo), bases and metal complexes come into contact. Light can excite these complexes (for example, iron surrounded by nitrogen-containing organic rings). This means that electrons leave their normal energy state and change into a more energetic one. Because of this reaction, the behavior of the molecule towards hydrogen changes – the hydrogen affinity is increased. Consequently, when this complex binds hydrogen, it acts as a base – it is a photobasic metal complex. 
How can these complexes be used?
In synthetic chemistry, bases are used in many reactions. Imagine two molecules are intended to be linked. This can be done with the help of bases. With photobases it is possible to create a basic effect by absorbing a specific amount of energy (light switch on). This basic effect is then reduced by not irradiating the solution with light (light switch off).
The aim of this research is to synthesize organic metal complexes that are excited in the visible range and to characterize all ongoing processes.

Course of Studies: Molecular Life Sciences (M.Sc.)

Supervision: Prof. Dr. Aria Baniahmad

Analysis of the Androgen Receptor-AKT pro-survival signaling in androgen-mediated cellular senescence of prostate cancer cells.
Among Western countries, Prostate Cancer is the most commonly diagnosed malignancy and the second largest cause of cancer-related deaths in males. The Androgen Receptor (AR) controls the growth of both, the normal prostate and Prostate Cancer. The first-line of hormone treatment, androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) and androgen receptor (AR)-targeted therapy, are both initially effective, but commonly lead to therapy resistance by activating pro-survival pathways, most commonly the PI3K-AKT Signalling pathway. Since it has been reported that a strong suppression of AR signalling by AR antagonists causes reciprocal activation of PI3K-AKT, dual inhibition with ADT and PI3K, AKT, or mTOR inhibitors may lead to more potent Prostate Cancer growth inhibition. This can lead to better therapeutic treatments for Prostate Cancer. But to accomplish this, a better understanding of interactions among AR-Akt, as well as the effect of different antagonists and Akt inhibitors on this interaction needs to be established, which is the aim of my Honours Project.

Contact:
simran.madaan@uni-jena.de

Course of Studies: Microbiology (M.Sc.)

Supervision: Dr. Oliwia Makarewicz

Characterization of phages from human samples.
Bacteriophages (phages) are highly specific bacterial viruses that can undergo either a lytic or lysogenic cycle. Upon invasion, virulent phages utilize the host’s metabolism to replicate themselves and lyse the host bacteria, propagating more virions in the lytic cycle. In the lysogenic cycle, temperate phages integrate their genome into the host genome after the invasion. My project aims at investigating, isolating, purifying, and characterizing phages from human samples. This project will provide new well-characterized phages for two other more significant ongoing projects at IIMK: i) The role of phages and prophages in the pathogenicity and therapy in cystic fibrosis (TIPAT, EU-funded Innovating Training Network) and ii) The therapeutic properties of phages to decolonize the human gut from multiresistant enterobacteria.