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Research

Referentin hält einen Vortrag vor Publikum
© Gilbert Wigankow

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!

Einblick in eine Werkstatt des Labor- und Werkstattgebäudes
© Gilbert Wigankow

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.

Foto von einer Reihe an Menschen, posierend zur Kamera, bei einer Wattwanderung

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.

dpi Lab – Digital Participation and Inclusion Lab

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.

Interaction Design Lab

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.

UCLAB – Urban Complexity Lab

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.

IaF – Institute for Applied Research Urban Futures

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.

IBB – Institute for Building Research and Conservation

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.

Current job offers & information

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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

Please note that the first point of contact for DAAD activities is the International Office.

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.

Numerous organizations fund application-oriented and interdisciplinary research upon application. We list the most common funding programmes as well as our internal support services, provide a searching tool for funding and briefly explain the application procedure.


Further information on research funding opportunities.

We offer assistance, tips and contacts on the following topics: 

  • a manual for successful project starts,
  • data protection,
  • gender aspects in research,
  • publishing and Open Access,
  • reporting publications.

Further information are provided in the Guide for researchers.

We have also compiled an overview "Ways to a research project".

Research data management is an elementary component of any research project when dealing with research data. We have compiled background information, examples of data management plans and tools for creating them as well as a collection of links to external training and qualification offers.


Further information on research data management.

International guests for a teaching or research stays are welcome at our university! We are pleased when guest researchers enrich academic life, e. g. by integrating them into teaching.

Further information on research stays at the University of Applied Sciences Potsdam.

In order to maintain good framework conditions for academic integrity, the University of Applied Sciences Potsdam has created the function of "Ombudspersons for Good Scientific Practice" in implementation of the DFG Code. The Senate has appointed persons of trust to whom its members can turn in matters of good research practice and suspected scientific misconduct.


Further information and contacts.

Here you will find a selection of organizations that offer courses on writing research proposals, both in general and in relation to specific funding bodies and programmes:

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.

ZEFT – Research & Transfer Unit

Room 3.14