Latest News

Here we will inform you about the latest research topics, upcoming events and other news of the division »Optimization«.


PhD Students

We are permanently looking for PhD students in applied mathematics or process engineering. The offered doctoral theses are located in the fields of mathematical methods in process engineering and logistics.

Focusing is possible within the following topics depending on the interests of the doctoral candidate:

  • Multicriteria optimization in molecular dynamics
  • Planning of emergency locations under dynamic conditions
  • Optimal allocation of marketing budgets
  • Robust optimization in tactical supply chain management
  • Planning for the harvesting
  • Multicritical mixed-integer optimization for the use of renewable energies

 

 

News

 

Press Release / 11.01.2024

Mathematics optimizes tours in outpatient care

If the routes are well planned, there is more time for care. A study carried out by our researchers together with the billing service provider ARZ Haan shows just how much potential there is for improvement in route planning.

 

Short News / 07.12.2023

»Using Digitalization and Simulation to Transform the Chemical Industry«

The article, which appeared in the magazine »CITplus«, reports on the international workshop »Mathematical Methods in Process Industry«, which took place at our institute and was organized by the High Performance Center.

 

Short News / 16.11.2023

Project »DECIDE« Wins Nationwide Competition

In the competition »Digital Places in the Land of Ideas 2023«, our project »DECIDE: Digital Consulting, Data Integration, Decision Making and Empowerment« wins in the category »Health«.

 

Shortnews / 28.3.2023

»Corona in RLP – A Wastewater Study«

With wastewater analyses on Corona and the scientific accompanying study »Observation and Early Warning System for SARS-CoV-2 Infections« (»SentiSurv«), scientists of our division »Optimization« and the department »Transport Processes« investigate the transition of the pandemic to endemicity in Rhineland-Palatinate (RLP).

 

Video Report / 8.3.2023

Getting a Job as a Mathematician

Between strong coffee, dedicated project work, exciting online meetings and new algorithms – ARD alpha Uni accompanied our colleague Dr. Tobias Seidel in his everyday life at Fraunhofer ITWM. This short report makes one thing clear: even at the beginning of their careers, mathematicians change the world a little bit for the better – in line with our motto »Mathematics for a Good Future«. [Only available in German]

 

Press Release / 27.2.2023

Faster to Reliable PCR Test Result

It sounds fun, but it is serious science, and that is why it is being funded by the Rhineland-Palatinate Ministry of Science and Health: FAST-MoPPS is the name of a new project for the development of mobile PCR tests. Ministerial Director Daniel Stich handed over the funding notification to the two Fraunhofer Institutes involved, IMM and ITWM, in Mainz.

 

Research News / 1.9.2022

Algorithms for Manufacturing mRNA-Based Pharmaceuticals

In addition to the development of a Corona vaccine, the company BioNTech is also interested in research on personalized mRNA-based therapy against cancer. For both applications, a team of ITWM researchers has developed two software platforms for the optimal planning and control of the production processes in cooperation with BioNTech.

 

Press Release / 29.6.2022

Rhineland-Palatinate Looks Ahead to Autumn

For a good two and a half years now, the Corona virus has been presenting our society with ever new challenges. What have we learned so far in dealing with the pandemic and what do we need to prepare for in the coming months? Minister President Malu Dreyer discussed these questions with the Corona team of experts, which includes our Division Director Prof. Dr. Karl-Heinz Küfer.

 

Press Release / 22.6.2022

Prof. Rangaraj Is the First Fellow of the Fraunhofer ITWM

Science lives from the exchange, not only with the colleagues on site; equally important are impulses from outside. Therefore, we have established a Fellow Program: Prominent guest scientists come to the institute and dedicate themselves to a topic together with our researchers. We asked our first Fellow Prof. Rangaraj a few questions.

 

Newsletter / 10.6.2022

Further Develop Corrosion Protection

We are involved in the EU project VIPCOAT for innovative corrosion protection technologies. In a just published newsletter our colleague Dr. Peter Klein talks about his work in the project:

 

Interviews / 10.6.2022

Is a Corona Summer Wave Coming?

Is the Omikron BA.5 variant threatening another Corona wave this summer? This question was posed by the Redaktionsnetzwerk Deutschland (RND) to our institute director Prof. Dr. Anita Schöbel, among others. 

SWR also looked at the spread of the latest variant and interviewed our »Optimization« Division Manager Prof. Dr. Karl-Heinz Küfer on the subject.

[both only available in German]

New Projects in the Division

Komplexe Netzwerke in der Trinkwasserversorgung
© Fraunhofer ITWM
Komplexe Netzwerke in der Trinkwasserversorgung

COpt2 – Saving Energy in the Drinking Water Industry

The BMBF sponsored project, H₂Opt, provides prototype software that supports energy efficient design and operation of drinking water plants. It results in energy and cost savings during planning and operations involving the drinking water supply. The software is in daily use at the energy company EWR, located in Worms, Germany. Launched in 2019, a follow-up project is to expand the prototype for the more complex water supply networks in Landau and Jockgrim. We simplify and improve workflows and develop new concepts to prevent water supply shortages. The project is funded by the European Fund for Regional Development (EFRE). Initially, the priority is the investigation of pumping operations because that is where an estimated 30 percent on average can be saved in energy costs.

© Varian Medical Systems

Decision Support for Brachytherapy

In collaboration with Varian Medical Systems, our multi-criteria decision support system has been embedded in the world's leading radiotherapy planning software for cancer patients. Our goal for next year is to make interactive planning available not only for external radiation therapies (IMRT, VMAT) but also for brachytherapy. This therapy directs the radiation source either on the immediate vicinity of the tumor or into the tumor itself, raising new questions that have to be solved, for example, regarding the optimal positioning of the catheter for directing the radiation.

Events

 

Halle (Saale) / Conference / 13.03. – 15.03.2024

National Conference on Infectious Disease Modeling (MONID) 2024

At MONID, interested persons can exchange ideas with experts from the field of mathematical modeling of infectious diseases and the like. Our experts from the division »Optimization« and department  »Transport Processes« will be on site with a presentation and poster.

 

BIC Kaiserslautern / Conference / 10.11.2023

HIH-Summit 2023

Our institute has joined the Health and Innovation Hub (HIH) as a collaborative partner and wants to actively shape the future of healthcare.

Our expert Dr. Alexander Scherrer from the department »Optimization in Life Sciences« represents our institute at the HIH-Summit and is available as a contact person for methodological competencies and health projects.

 

 

Thessaloniki, Griechenland / Assembly / 18.10. – 19. 10.2023

General Assembly Meeting for the EU EH-Project RELEVIUM

The project »RELEVIUM« aims to improve the quality of life of patients with pancreatic cancer by optimizing their lifestyle. This will be realized through the development of smartwatches, mobile applications and a web platform with sensors and AI processes.

 

Mainz and Online / Hybrid Event / 11.10.2023

Central Event of the Sixth Demography Week

The motto of this year's Demography Week is »Digital Opportunities for Demographic Change«.

Our expert, Dr. Alexander Scherrer, will give a lecture and our institute director, Prof. Dr. Anita Schöbel, will take part in the following panel discussion.