Research at Goethe University

The research strength of Goethe University is built on significant traditions, such as Critical Social Theory (Frankfurt School). True to its tradition, the university addresses important contemporary issues. These include biodiversity and climate research, financial market research, heavy-ion physics, the study of biological molecules and processes, as well as medical and pharmaceutical research.

We carry out research across a broad spectrum of the humanities and social sciences, the natural sciences, the life sciences, and medicine. We take pride in this diversity, which offers numerous opportunities for interdisciplinarity and international collaboration, as well as dialogue and cooperation with the public.

The individual networks of our researchers and our strategic partnerships form the foundation for regional, national, and international collaborations. Regionally, this foundation is supported by two strong alliances: Rhine-Main Universities (RMU) and the Frankfurt Alliance, which brings together outstanding non-university research institutions in Frankfurt and the surrounding area.

Goethe University is home to a diverse array of internationally recognized scientific centers, including the Frankfurt Institute for Advanced Studies (FIAS) and the Forschungskolleg Humanwissenschaften (FKH). These institutions cultivate a research culture that is both interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary, fostering openness to a wide range of scientific and cultural perspectives. In close collaboration with our partners, we address contemporary questions and challenges on this cross-disciplinary foundation.

State-of-the-art research infrastructures form another cornerstone of our efforts to explore complex interconnections. Our high-tech facilities are organized under the umbrella of Go4Tec, which provides centralized access to an extensive suite of research instruments — including resonance imaging systems, light-sheet and electron microscopes, isotope production facilities, laboratories, and comprehensive research databases.

These scientific and technological infrastructure centers are integral components of our six research profile areas.