Approximately 1.9 million euros for junior research group on quantum gravity

6 January 2026

Photo: UHH/Esfandiari

Dr. Max Wiesner takes over as head of the new Emmy Noether Independent Junior Research Group at the University of Hamburg.

The German Research Foundation is funding a new Emmy Noether Independent Junior Research Group at the University of Hamburg. Led by Dr. Max Wiesner, the project is investigating how fundamental phenomena of the universe—such as dark energy—can be better described on the basis of new insights into theories of quantum gravity.

The question of the nature of space, time, and gravity is one of the greatest challenges facing modern physics. Observations show that our universe is expanding at an accelerating rate—driven by a dark energy whose origin remains unexplained to this day. Starting in January, a project team at the University of Hamburg will set out to better understand this and other phenomena of the universe on a new theoretical basis.

The aim of the new Emmy Noether Junior Research Group entitled “Quantum Gravity at Strong Coupling and its Impact on Low Energy Physics” is to develop new theoretical methods to explore areas of quantum gravity that are currently poorly understood. Quantum gravity describes the attempt to unify the laws of gravity with the laws of quantum mechanics—in other words, to explain how space and time function on the smallest scale.

There is a great need for knowledge: although progress has recently been made in understanding quantum gravity, established models still do not adequately describe the observable universe. “In order to make theories of quantum gravity mathematically describable, simplifying assumptions have to be made, which means that the resulting models can no longer describe all aspects of our universe,” explains Wiesner.

This is where the research team aims to pick up the slack by investigating theories of quantum gravity based on less simplifying assumptions. “Our goal is to make such theories mathematically controllable and to test whether they provide new insights into fundamental questions, such as the nature of dark energy.”

Basic research at the highest international level

The project is embedded in an internationally visible research environment. The Cluster of Excellence Quantum Universe at the University of Excellence Hamburg, which has just been approved for a second term, and Collaborative Research Center 1624—a collaboration between DESY, UHH, and the Technical University of Munich—offer young researchers an outstanding environment for basic research in theoretical physics. “The funding from the Emmy Noether Program is a great honor for me and a strong signal to pursue curiosity-driven research,” says Wiesner.

1.9 million euros through the Emmy Noether Program

Funding is provided under the Emmy Noether Program of the German Research Foundation (DFG), which enables outstanding young scientists to establish and independently lead a research group. Approximately €1.9 million is available for the five-year project.