Research
What does research mean at the FH Potsdam? Here you will find information about the profile lines, the research professorships, the research facilities and current projects at the university.
You intend to design a new research project? The Research Service will support you. You can find initial information on funding opportunities and cross-sectional themes such as research data management on our website. Otherwise: Get in touch with us!
Research profile
Our broad range of subjects allows for a wide variety of research activities, which are characterized by a particular focus on application, specific research methods and mostly interdisciplinary approaches. In order to focus our research activities on the current challenges our society is facing, we have continuously developed our research profile, both in terms of disciplines and interdisciplinarily. Our recent teaching, research and transfer activities can be categorized primarily in the areas of urban future, interaction design and information visualization, digitalization and data management, social transformation and early childhood education research. As a result of this development, we have established the three profile lines Digital Transformation - Urban Futures, Forming Society and Design ∙ Build ∙ Preserve, which address the above-mentioned challenges and future issues across all departments.
Research professorships
Since 2008, research professorships have provided special support in sharpening the university's own research profile, intensifying research activities and playing a key role in acquiring third-party funding.
Overview of the research professors and their research areas
Laboratories and research groups
The diversity of our specialist expertise is reflected in our research facilities, as well as in our innovative laboratories and outstanding research groups. They are places of knowledge and networking.
dpi Lab – Digital Participation and Inclusion Lab
The dpi-lab was established in May 2020 at the Faculty of Social and Educational Sciences at the Potsdam University of Applied Sciences to bundle the various research activities at the interface of digital technologies, social work and educational science.
PINA – Potsdam Research Institute for Early Learning and Educational Action
PINA is an interdisciplinary research network of the University of Applied Sciences Potsdam and the University of Potsdam on early childhood education and development and emerged in 2017 from the cooperative research program EQUIP (Development of Quality and Interaction in Everyday Pedagogical Practice).
PINA – Potsdam Research Institute for Early Learning and Educational Action
Interaction Design Lab
The Interaction Design Lab is the research facility of the Interface Design degree programme and is home to an international team of researchers, designers and developers. They form an interface between teaching, research, development, technology transfer, design and knowledge transfer and thus open up a space for multidisciplinary projects.
UCLAB – Urban Complexity Lab
The UCLAB is an interdisciplinary research group that combines expertise from the fields of interface design, computer science and the humanities. The research work focuses on design, development and investigation of data visualizations.
Scientific institutes
Scientific institutes are also part of our research facilities. They offer optimal opportunities for research activities in their respective subject areas.
IaF – Institute for Applied Research Urban Futures
Since its foundation in 2015, the institute has hosted numerous research projects with many motivated employees. The research-oriented Master's degree programme in Urban Futures was established under the umbrella of the IaF in the winter semester 2016/2017.
IFEE – Institut für Fortbildung Forschung und Entwicklung e.V.
IFFE is a non-profit registered association that has been promoting the commitment of university lecturers and students at the University of Applied Sciences Potsdam since 1995. The institute supports projects for further education and training, research and development on a national and international level.
IFEE – Institut für Fortbildung Forschung und Entwicklung e.V.
IBB – Institute for Building Research and Conservation
The Institute for Building Research and Conservation was founded in 2004 as a joint scientific institution of the Faculty of Architecture and Urban Planning with it`s degree programme Restoration and the Faculty of Civil Engineering as an in-house institute of the University of Applied Sciences. The institute serves the purpose of science, research and development. It`s main areas of activity are building conservation, preservation of historical monuments and restoration.
Research projects
More projects
TDR4HAW: Transdisciplinary Research at Universities of Applied Sciences – Status Quo and Potential of a Sleeping Giant
The project consortium analyses research at universities of applied sciences (UAS) with a special focus on transdisciplinary research projects.
ÜberAl – Transitions of Deaf and Hard of Hearing People in Working Life
The research project funded by the Hans Böckler Foundation is investigating the challenges and needs of employees who sign during career transitions.
Human-Robot Interaction in Social Robotics
The aim of the project, which is subsidised by the European Regional Development Fund, is to set up an interdisciplinary test and experimental environment for social robots.
VEStOR: Networking, Expansion, Strengthening of the OER Community OpenRewi
VEStOR expands and strengthens OpenRewi e. V., so far the only community for open legal education materials in law, which aims to promote the breakthrough of open teaching and learning materials in legal studies.
Research support office
We advise researchers of our university on regional, national and European funding opportunities and support them in submitting applications and initiating and implementing research projects by contacting funding organizations and research partners.
Our tasks essentially include:
- coordinating all internal research-related activities
- providing information on funding programs and instruments (regional and federal funding, foundations, DFG, EU, etc.)
- individual advice and support in the application process for research projects
- support in the finding of research and cooperation partners and in the drafting of cooperation agreements
- assistance with administrative issues in research projects
- advice on cross-project topics, e.g. research data management
- data collection for research reporting
We are well connected:
The members of the research support office form the link between researchers of our university who are interested in research and the funding organizations. At the same time, the research support service is networked with the relevant departments of other universities and research institutions in the Berlin-Brandenburg region and beyond, e.g. it represents the University of Applied Sciences Potsdam in the EU competence network of Brandenburg universities.
The research support office is active in various internal groups and committees, e.g. in the FDM-Team.
Contact research support office
The research support office at the Research and Transfer Unit (ZEFT) is available for advice and support in applying for research projects.
