Daniel Peterseim: CAAPS was established in response to the Bavarian High-Tech Agenda and originated from an open ideas competition launched by the University of Augsburg to strengthen strategic research areas and create new study places in computer science–related disciplines. Its foundation was built on several initiatives and developments at the university that highlighted the potential of data-driven research at the interfaces of mathematics, computer science, the natural sciences, engineering, and medicine. Within CAAPS, these efforts have evolved into a distinct scientific profile spanning Computational Medicine, the quantitative life sciences, data-driven materials research and Quantum Science. These fields are united by a shared methodological core encompassing data acquisition, data processing, modeling, and prediction.

Daniel Peterseim: From my perspective, CAAPS' greatest achievement is that a strategic initiative has very quickly developed into a sustainable scientific structure. This includes the creation of new degree programs at the interface of mathematics and computer science, particularly in the field of Data Science, allowing us to establish a strong and forward-looking educational offering for students. At the same time, we have succeeded in building connections across faculties and disciplines that simply did not exist before. This has led to the development of a shared research profile that now defines CAAPS. It is now clear that this structure provides a solid foundation for scientific research. It has given rise to new collaborations, new research projects and robust prospects for larger collaborative initiatives. One example is Unitaria - a research project and software framework that brings together mathematics and computer science to make quantum algorithms more accessible.

Daniel Peterseim: CAAPS has always been, and continues to be, a team effort. As Director, I therefore see my role primarily as bringing people together, facilitating developments and increasing the visibility of the center both within the university and beyond. For me, the key priority is to sharpen CAAPS' shared profile and to create the conditions under which collaboration can thrive. Interdisciplinarity is not an end in itself. It is most powerful when genuine scientific questions bring together people with different perspectives. Creating the space for exactly this kind of collaboration is what a centre like CAAPS is meant to do.

Daniel Peterseim: The overarching goal is, of course, to translate CAAPS' growing scientific foundation into a major collaborative third-party funded research project, ideally in the form of a Collaborative Research Centre (Sonderforschungsbereich). The groundwork has already been laid: there are strong thematic connections, successful initial collaborations and a shared research foundation that has grown significantly over the past few years. In the years ahead, the key challenge will be to further consolidate these strengths, sharpen the centre's research profile and develop them into larger, scientifically compelling collaborative initiatives. I hope that researchers at CAAPS will find an environment in which it is worthwhile to pursue ambitious research questions that transcend disciplinary boundaries.

Malte Peter: High-resolution data acquisition and tailored data processing for the identification of relevant parameters are among the key technologies for enabling scientific discovery and innovation. CAAPS brings together the University of Augsburg's strengths in both data acquisition (including measurement technologies) and data analysis within a multidisciplinary centre, with the goal of advancing methodological innovation - both experimental and computational - and enabling impactful real-world applications.

Malte Peter: A major challenge was to deepen, expand, and sustainably strengthen the existing collaborative structures at the interface of mathematics, computer science, chemistry, physics, materials science, engineering and medicine. All of these fields already featured established research strengths and individual interdisciplinary projects. With the establishment of CAAPS, these areas of expertise were brought together into a unique interdisciplinary collaboration with a clear focus on data acquisition and data processing, positioning CAAPS as a flagship of the University of Augsburg.

Janina Bahnemann: For me, CAAPS is a central platform and a strong network for interdisciplinary exchange and scientific collaboration at the University of Augsburg.

 

Markus Heyl: For me, CAAPS is a key institution at the University of Augsburg. Working with both large datasets and new types of data is becoming increasingly important in science and has also become a central part of my own research. CAAPS serves as the central hub in this area and is therefore of great importance for the future of the University of Augsburg.

Janina Bahnemann: I was particularly motivated by the centre’s interdisciplinary approach and by the opportunity to play a strategic role in shaping the development of future-oriented research areas while representing the interests of the still emerging field of Life Sciences.

 

Markus Heyl: I have been connected with CAAPS and its members in various ways for quite some time. Joining the CAAPS Board has given me the opportunity to actively help shape the centre’s development. I found this opportunity highly attractive, and it has been a very rewarding experience.

Malte Peter: The centre is primarily a network of researchers and a platform that fosters and supports the development of interdisciplinary projects. It also serves as a flagship for external outreach, increasing visibility and providing a central point of contact.

Malte Peter: Regular events provide opportunities to connect with colleagues from other disciplines. These encounters alone reveal a wealth of potential for innovative projects. In addition, CAAPS offers direct support in developing new collaborations and actively connects researchers with one another, particularly through the CAAPS Connect format.

 

Janina Bahnemann: Collaboration within CAAPS is fostered through regular meetings and open exchange, as well as through CAAPS symposia and workshops dedicated to the centre’s various core areas. Ideas for projects, third-party funding proposals and events typically emerge from smaller discussion meetings or specifically organized workshops.

 

Markus Heyl: I have always greatly appreciated the atmosphere among the members of CAAPS. There is a strong sense of openness and willingness to engage with all kinds of questions and collaborations, whether scientific or personal in nature.

Janina Bahnemann: Through new methodological impulses, interdisciplinary perspectives and direct access to potential collaboration partners both within my own field (e.g., the Faculty of Medicine, Prof. Westerhausen) and beyond it (e.g., Mathematics, Dr. Weiß, Prof. Peter, Prof. Pietschmann).

Janina Bahnemann: 

• Simulation of micromixers (Dr. Weiß, Dr. Heuer)
• Calculation of the separation efficiency of spiral separators based on different geometrical designs (Prof. Peter, Prof. Pietschmann)
• Enhancement of transfection efficiency through targeted modification of cell membrane permeability (Prof. Westerhausen, funded through the “Forschungspotentiale besser nutzen” initiative)

Janina Bahnemann: Building on and further expanding the projects mentioned above.

The approval of a DFG large-scale equipment grant for the acquisition of a nano 3D printer could open up new and exciting opportunities in the future, particularly in the fields of nanofabrication and nanoanalytics.

Nils Meyer: Before joining the University of Augsburg, I worked at a technical university, where I was primarily surrounded by engineers. Through CAAPS, I have gained exciting opportunities to collaborate with entirely new disciplines, such as medicine. The wide range of CAAPS events makes it easy to connect with researchers across disciplines.

 

Jakob Kottmann: CAAPS plays a central role in fostering internal networking and strengthening the University of Augsburg's interdisciplinary research profile. For my own research, CAAPS has helped initiate new collaborative projects with research groups in mathematics and physics.

Jakob Kottmann: 

• Strengthening and promoting interdisciplinary research
• Fostering collaboration among the participating research groups at both the leadership and early career researcher levels
• Organizing workshops and networking events with external guests (CAAPS Connect and CAAPS Workshops)
• Providing a platform for cross-cutting topics and shared interests, such as the management of research data and scientific software

Laura Steingruber: First and foremost, CAAPS provides the opportunity to easily connect the methodological and scientific expertise I acquired in anatomy and cell biology with experts from other disciplines. Expertise in simulation, programming and materials analysis is indispensable for the biomedical context of my research projects on the musculoskeletal system - and I was able to find this expertise at CAAPS quickly and without bureaucratic barriers.

Furthermore, image processing and analysis are highly important for the histological tissue staining procedures used in our research. CAAPS offers valuable opportunities to further expand my research network, develop new ideas and address fundamental biomedical questions - particularly those related to morphological and structural adaptations caused by specific environmental influences - using methods from engineering and the natural sciences

 

Lars Mikelsons: After observing CAAPS activities from the sidelines for some time and finding them very interesting, I ultimately decided to become actively involved myself after attending the CAAPS Connect event 'Julia for Scientific Computing and Data Science' and a follow-up meeting with Michael Schlottke-Lakemper.

Laura Steingruber: CAAPS provides an open and highly collaborative environment in which access to innovative and forward-looking research methods and fields is enabled in an uncomplicated manner. Personally, I particularly value its interdisciplinary approach and the open exchange between medicine, engineering and the natural sciences.

 

Lars Mikelsons: My impression is that CAAPS is very active and genuinely committed to driving things forward. Whether it is the call for workshop proposals, the initiatives related to research data and software or smaller activities such as the New Year's reception - the wide range of activities is something I greatly appreciate.

Jakob Kottmann: Regular symposia and workshops facilitate continuous exchange with colleagues from other institutes. This greatly supports the initiation of new collaborative projects. Opportunities for early career researchers, such as retreats and workshops, are highly appreciated by my PhD students and contribute to strengthening the internal network. Straightforward processes make it possible to initiate and organize workshops with manageable effort. In addition to fostering scientific exchange, these activities also enhance the visibility of Augsburg as a research location and strengthen our interdisciplinary profile.

Laura Steingruber: Through CAAPS, joint publications have emerged within a short period of time, followed by successful grant proposals for research projects with other CAAPS members. These collaborations establish links between basic and clinical anatomy, applied biomechanics, and the advancement of image processing methods. In addition, CAAPS workshops and events generally promote knowledge transfer and strengthen the integration of biomedical basic research into the Augsburg research landscape.

 

Lars Mikelsons: We participated in the call for workshop proposals and are now supported by CAAPS in organizing a workshop on the topic of Scientific Machine Learning. Without this support, we would not have been able to approach the organization of the workshop in this way. This has already created tangible added value for our chair, extending beyond the networking opportunities within the centre itself.

Nils Meyer: Through a CAAPS Connect event, we initiated a small project focusing on titanium clips for the treatment of rib fractures. By contributing our expertise in material modeling and simulation, we were able to develop suggestions for improving the design of such medical implants.

In addition, together with the Chair of Hybrid Composite Materials (Kay Weidenmann), we are involved in a DFG-funded project on the remanufacturing of hybrid fiber-reinforced composites. While our colleagues primarily focus on experimental materials and process development, our contribution lies in the optimal design of components for multiple generations of use with changing application profiles.

 

Jakob Kottmann: 

• MQV Lighthouse Project KID-QC2: Research into methods of artificial intelligence for quantum circuit design.
• BMFTR Verivaq: Collaborative project with TU Darmstadt and Merck KGaA investigating verifiable variational algorithms. Through CAAPS, the role of the University of Augsburg as project coordinator is further strengthened.
• BMFTR HoliQC2: Larger individual research grant focusing on the development of holistic quantum algorithms for electronic systems.

Nils Meyer: 

• Daniel Peterseim and Malte Peter (Mathematics): We are jointly developing inverse methods to infer internal properties (e.g. defects) of composite components from their deformation behavior.
• Dietmar Koch (MRM): Optimization of composite components for the Fiber Patch Placement process.
• Kay Weidenmann (MRM): Optimization across multiple component generations for the remanufacturing of hybrid composite components.
• Philipp Lechner (MRM): Development of surrogate models for describing mold filling processes.

 

Jakob Kottmann: Our research group collaborates closely with Computational Mathematics (Prof. Peterseim) and Quantum Information (Prof. Benito).

• Together with the Chair of Computational Mathematics, we are developing novel software for future quantum computers. The goal is to create a NumPy-like abstraction that provides intuitive access to numerical quantum algorithms, such as quantum singular value transformation.
• Together with the Professorship of Quantum Information, we investigate methods for the numerical computation of many-body systems in so-called quantum dots. These systems are of central importance, for example, for the development of so-called spin qubits.

To me, CAAPS brings together research groups from the STEM disciplines and medicine to foster interdisciplinary collaboration at the University of Augsburg and create synergies for new research projects. Its main focus is on connecting data acquisition in medicine, the life sciences and materials science with data analysis and simulation in mathematics and computer science.

Ideally, the Graduate Board consists of three to four early-career researchers (PhD students and postdoctoral researchers) representing the different faculties and institutes affiliated with CAAPS. The Graduate Board organizes networking events for early career researchers as well as workshops on relevant topics, such as grant writing, interdisciplinary communication and effective work practices.

My goal is to bring together early career researchers through the annual networking events and workshops. I believe it is important to gain insights into research in other fields, not only to broaden one's perspective but also to understand where to seek support for challenges that cannot be solved with one's own expertise. In addition, exchanging ideas helps researchers better understand the scientific language of other disciplines - an essential prerequisite for successful interdisciplinary research, which will become increasingly important in the future.

The annual networking events are a great opportunity, especially for new PhD students and postdoctoral researchers, to connect with early career researchers from other disciplines and develop new project ideas. In addition, CAAPS regularly offers workshops on topics related to career development and interdisciplinary collaboration. For example, in 2025, a workshop explored research questions in microfluidics at the interface of mathematics and technical biology.

Carmen Tretmans: Having the opportunity to combine various disciplines and research backgrounds in one project is, in my opinion, very valuable. From my own point of view, looking from the mathematical side, seeing simulations develop into physical applications is fascinating and certainly not something I am accustomed to. Combining computational simulations with physical experiments opens a lot of new questions and problems, some which mathematicians most often neglect. How do your device's dimensions look like in real life or is this device design even physically feasible considering e.g. production parameters? Questions I, initially, did not think to ask but are nevertheless very important.

 

Julian Lorenz: The CAAPS workshops were especially helpful to me at the beginning of my PhD, as they enabled me to work more efficiently. In addition, interacting with colleagues from other disciplines gave me many new ideas and fresh perspectives.

Carmen Tretmans: CAAPS helps to expand my network, especially to researchers from different disciplines. The first events that come to mind are the CAAPS-wide events, like the CAAPS Retreat for early career researchers at the Reisensburg and the CAAPS Symposium. In addition to that, I always enjoy multidisciplinary workshops, giving insight into the research topics and methods of different chairs.

 

Julian Lorenz: The CAAPS Retreat! Getting to know other PhD students and postdocs, exchanging ideas, and simply spending time together is incredibly rewarding. It's a fantastic opportunity that no one should miss