Goethe-Universität — Press releases

Goethe University PR & Communication Department

May 6 2026

14:47

Goethe University launches new master’s program “AI and Digital Technology in Learning and Instruction” (ALI) in the 2026/27 winter semester. Applications are open until June 30, 2026.

Shaping the Future of Learning with AI and Digital Technologies

FRANKFURT. Artificial intelligence and digital technologies are rapidly transforming the way people learn – from schools and universities to professional training and lifelong education. They enable more personalized learning experiences, support learners and educators alike, and open up entirely new approaches to teaching and instruction. Yet their effective and responsible use requires expertise that is still rarely taught in a systematic way. This is the starting point for the new master’s program “AI and Digital Technology in Learning and Instruction” (ALI) at Goethe University Frankfurt. The interdisciplinary, research-oriented program prepares students for scientific, strategic, and applied roles at the intersection of artificial intelligence, digital technologies, and education.

Designed primarily for graduates in psychology and computer science, ALI combines the strengths of both disciplines. Students first build foundational knowledge in the complementary field before deepening their expertise through shared interdisciplinary modules. The result is a distinctive qualification profile that brings together technological expertise, educational and psychological perspectives, as well as strong methodological skills.

Interdisciplinary and International by Design
ALI is currently unique in Germany in both its thematic focus and interdisciplinary structure. The program is internationally oriented from the outset, with English serving as the primary language of instruction and communication. This international perspective is intended to prepare graduates for a rapidly evolving global job market and to foster international collaboration and mobility. Students are also encouraged to gain practical experience abroad, including through internships with partner organizations.

Linking Research, Technology, and Practice
A defining feature of the program is its close integration of theory and practice. AI and digital technologies are not only the subject of study but are also embedded directly into teaching and learning processes. Students work with state-of-the-art AI applications, develop their own solutions, and critically examine their societal implications – particularly with regard to ethics, transparency, and data protection. The program places particular emphasis on collaborative and problem-based learning formats. Through project-oriented work, students strengthen key competencies such as critical thinking, creativity, teamwork, and problem-solving – skills that are increasingly essential across both academic and professional contexts.

Broad Career Prospects
Graduates of the ALI program will be well positioned for roles that bridge technology development and educational research. Career opportunities range from public institutions and education policy to private-sector roles in e-learning, instructional design, and AI-driven product development, as well as academic careers at universities and research institutes.

By combining expertise in psychology, learning sciences, and AI technologies, the program equips graduates to navigate and shape the growing interface between computer science and education in both research and industry settings.

“Learning is one of the defining resources of the 21st century,” says Prof. Dr. Holger Horz, Professor of Educational Psychology at Goethe University. “Our degree program combines the analytical depth of educational psychology with the innovative potential of artificial intelligence. ALI addresses one of the central questions of our time: how we can shape learning and education in an AI-driven world in ways that are both technologically forward-looking and grounded in a deep understanding of human cognition and behavior.”

Embedded in Research and Strategic Development
The ALI degree program is closely connected to the research profiles of Goethe University and the participating faculties. It addresses key societal questions surrounding the use of AI in education while contributing to the further development of the field through interdisciplinary research. Ethical and societal dimensions of AI are integrated throughout the curriculum alongside technological and educational perspectives.

The four-semester master’s program begins each winter semester and follows a modular structure. Applications for the 2026/27 winter semester are open until June 30, 2026. Further information about the program is available online: https://www.uni-frankfurt.de/de/studium/studiengaenge/ai-and-digital-technology-in-learning-and-instruction-master

Contact:

ALI Study Coordination Team: ali_masterprogram@uni-frankfurt.de

May 5 2026

15:27

Goethe University Frankfurt study offers first systematic insight into diversity and discrimination in academic careers

Fair Careers in Academia

Academic excellence depends on diversity, freedom and fair opportunities. But independent research can only thrive when institutions provide the right conditions: strong onboarding, awareness of diversity, and reliable support for researchers with different career paths and life circumstances. Goethe University Frankfurt is breaking new ground in this area. A new university-wide study examines the experiences and needs of researchers across all career stages – and identifies where action is needed.

FRANKFURT. How do researchers with migration backgrounds, disabilities or from LGBTQ+ communities experience academic careers? Which structures support participation – and which create barriers? While countries such as Canada have long established diversity monitoring in higher education, many of these questions remain underexplored in Germany. Gender inequalities in academia can increasingly be addressed through data-based measures, but other dimensions of diversity have received far less systematic attention in German-speaking higher education systems. Reliable tools for capturing diversity and discrimination in academic settings are still limited. At the same time, the issue is becoming increasingly important in research policy, university governance and funding frameworks.

Goethe University Frankfurt has now completed an internal study – the first of its kind at the institution – to systematically examine diversity, career conditions and experiences of discrimination among its researchers. The findings will inform the further development of the university’s diversity strategy. The project has already attracted considerable expert interest and may serve as a model for other universities.

“Goethe University aims to be a leader in advancing equity and diversity – not only because fair and transparent career opportunities are a matter of responsibility, but because diversity strengthens research itself. Excellent science depends on different perspectives and talents. We cannot afford barriers that prevent brilliant minds from contributing,” says Enrico Schleiff, President of Goethe University Frankfurt. “This survey gives us an important evidence base for removing those barriers more effectively.”

“One important message from the study is that many researchers value the university’s commitment to diversity and anti-discrimination measures and are broadly satisfied with their working conditions,” says Prof. Dr. Sabine Andresen, Vice President for Opportunities, Career Development, Diversity and Equality. “At the same time, respondents offered clear suggestions for improvement. Awareness matters: only those who recognize disadvantage can address it. Strong support services, visible contact points, and clear rules are essential. Discrimination must have consequences. Above all, respondents value reliable structures and transparent processes – and that feedback will guide our ongoing work.”

A total of 726 researchers from all faculties took part in the survey, conducted in autumn 2023. Of those surveyed, 72% were academic and teaching staff, 18% professors, 9% scholarship holders, external doctoral candidates or postdoctoral researchers without employment contracts at Goethe University, and 1% lecturers on contract.

The results will be presented and discussed with members of the university community during Goethe University’s Diversity Day on May 19, 2026. A full report and executive summary are available.

Key Findings:

High Satisfaction with Working Conditions
Most respondents view their working environment positively. They particularly value the opportunity to conduct research and teach, the autonomy of academic work, and meaningful engagement with students. The freedom to shape their own work and contribute to new knowledge were seen as major strengths of academic life at Goethe University.

Motivation alone is not enough: onboarding matters
The study also shows that personal commitment and intrinsic motivation cannot replace structured institutional support. A systematic onboarding process – rather than one dependent on individual goodwill – can significantly improve career development and long-term satisfaction. Respondents identified this as an area for further development.

Awareness and clear procedures strengthen diversity and help prevent discrimination
The findings highlight both the diversity of Goethe University’s research community and the need for continued action. Researchers bring different backgrounds, biographies and perspectives. At the same time, no institution is entirely free from discrimination. As a large public organization, the university also reflects wider social inequalities. Creating fair career and working conditions therefore requires continuous effort.

More information about the study:
https://www.uni-frankfurt.de/132117102/Diversity_Survey?locale=en

May 5 2026

13:00

Goethe University publication highlights the role of chemistry in understanding how complexity develops

How Life Could Arise from Molecules

Many properties of molecules cannot be predicted from the properties of the atoms they consist of these properties only emerge when they are combined – a phenomenon known in science as “emergence." A publication by Goethe University Frankfurt examines, from chemical, biological, and philosophical perspectives, how emergence and complexity are connected. The researchers show how systems arise from simple building blocks through many intermediate steps – systems that can store information, replicate, and ultimately perform functions. Their work offers a new perspective on the transition from non-living to living matter.

FRANKFURT. Bacteria are living organisms consisting of just a single cell, and at first, they only regulate themselves. Nevertheless, many types of bacteria can form colonies that behave like a complex organism. Within these, individual microbes suddenly take on different roles: some produce a slime that holds the colony together; others supply their “siblings" with nutrients and energy; still others are especially mobile and help the colony spread. Together, they achieve something that no single one could accomplish alone.

The sudden appearance of a new, unpredictable property in a system is a phenomenon researchers call emergence. “Emergence also exists in the world of molecules," says Professor Harald Schwalbe from the Institute of Organic Chemistry and Chemical Biology at Goethe University Frankfurt. “Take water, for example: it consists of two hydrogen atoms and one oxygen atom. When these combine to form water, a molecule with entirely new properties emerges—properties that cannot be derived from those of the individual atoms."

Water Shaped the Emergence of Life

Water is polar: the oxygen atom carries a slight negative charge, while the hydrogen atoms are slightly positive. Without the combination of these properties in water, life would not exist – at least not in its current form. The polarity causes water molecules to attract each other, like weak magnets. This cohesion is why water is liquid between 0 and 100 degrees Celsius rather than gaseous. This is the temperature range on Earth – determined by its distance from the Sun. Under the physical conditions on Earth, water is the liquid environment in which the molecules of life can form and in which chemical reactions in organisms are accelerated.

“This, in turn, is a prerequisite for DNA to store information and for proteins to adopt a specific structure," explains the chemist. DNA consists of different molecular building blocks that formed even before life emerged; some are polar, while others are nonpolar. The polar components interact well with water and therefore orient outward in an aqueous environment, while the nonpolar ones are positioned inward. This is one reason why DNA adopts a double helix structure under natural conditions – similar to a spiral staircase, where the polar railings are on the outside and the nonpolar steps are stacked and twisted inside.

“The emergent properties of water thus impose a certain order on more complex molecules," explains Schwalbe. “It's like a conductor ensuring that musicians don't just play randomly." This order, in turn, forms the basis for these complex molecules to develop specific, unpredictable properties of their own. It is partly responsible, for example, for DNA consisting of two intertwined strands. These usually behave complementarily – like matching puzzle pieces. As a result, DNA has the ability to replicate, meaning it can create copies of itself. During this process, the DNA strands separate, and matching “puzzle pieces" attach themselves anew to each strand. The ability to replicate is central to the emergence of life.

The Evolution of Complex Systems Will Not Repeat Exactly

The publication identifies a total of 13 characteristics of complex systems. One of them is the phenomenon that such systems can reach critical states in which their properties fundamentally change through emergence. This suddenly enables new functions. Exactly when this happens cannot be predicted. These leaps were often key steps on the path to the emergence of life. For them to occur, systems require a constant input of energy – on Earth, this comes from the sun.

A driving force behind this development is evolutionary mechanisms, which began shaping molecules even before life emerged. Together with emergence, they have led to the diverse forms of life we observe on Earth today. Despite these forces, however, the exact course of this development was not predetermined, Schwalbe emphasizes: if we could turn back the clock four billion years, entirely different life forms would arise than those we know today.

Publication: Harald Schwalbe, Josef Wachtveitl, Alexander Heckel, Florian Buhr, Sabrina Toews, Thomas M. Schimmer. The Role of Chemistry Across Disciplines From Humanities to Life Sciences in Understanding Complexity and Emergence. Angewandte Chemie International Edition (2026); https://doi.org/10.1002/anie.202523427

Picture download:
https://www.uni-frankfurt.de/185165244

Caption: Polar water molecules cause DNA to form a double helix, with nonpolar elements on the inside and polar ones on the outside. Image: Markus Bernards / ChatGPT, Goethe University Frankfurt

Contact:
Professor Harald Schwalbe
Institute of Organic Chemistry and Chemical Biology
Center for Biomolecular Magnetic Resonance
Goethe University Frankfurt
Tel. +49 (0)69 798 29737
schwalbe@nmr.uni-frankfurt.de
Homepage https://schwalbe-lab.de/team/

Bluesky: @goetheuni.bsky.social @harald-schwalbe.bsky.social @wachtveitl-lab.bsky.social
LinkedIn: @Goethe-Universität Frankfurt @Harald Schwalbe @Josef Wachtveitl @Alexander Heckel @Florian Buhr @Sabrina Töws @Thomas Schimmer

Apr 30 2026

14:15

Goethe University Frankfurt and Eintracht Frankfurt are joining forces to strengthen interdisciplinary teaching and research in sport.

Advancing Research in the Future of Sport

Goethe University Frankfurt and Eintracht Frankfurt Fußball AG have signed a cooperation agreement that expands their existing partnership. Planned initiatives include the exchange of expertise, joint research projects, public events, and mutual support through both institutions' networks. A jointly developed part-time MBA program is set to launch in April 2027. In addition, one of the university's sports science units has moved into the “Sportquartier im Stadtwald" on Otto-Fleck-Schneise, close to the soccer club's home stadium in Deutsche Bank Park. More broadly, the university aims to further develop its sport-related expertise through interdisciplinary collaboration.

FRANKFURT. The partnership between the university and Eintracht Frankfurt is designed to bring academia and practice closer together in shaping the future of sport, while creating new momentum for research, teaching, and society. Both parties see each other as ideal partners in this endeavor. The framework for the cooperation is set out in a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed on April 30, 2026, by Prof. Dr. Enrico Schleiff, President of Goethe University Frankfurt, and Axel Hellmann, Spokesman for the Board of Eintracht Frankfurt Fußball AG in the presence of Frankfurt Mayor and Sports Commissioner Mike Josef.

“Frankfurt sees itself as a city of sport – not only because of its major events and successful clubs, but because sport is deeply embedded in the fabric of urban life," says Mike Josef, Frankfurt's mayor and the city's sports commissioner. “Goethe University Frankfurt's decision to expand its academic engagement in this field, and to enter into a partnership with Eintracht Frankfurt, represents a significant boost to Frankfurt's standing as a center of academic excellence. It also marks an important step toward establishing an interdisciplinary hub for sports. In the longer term, this will enable Frankfurt to position itself more comprehensively within the international world of sport."

Researchers from Goethe University's Faculty of Sports Sciences recently moved into dedicated premises at Eintracht Frankfurt's newly developed “Sportquartier im Stadtwald", bringing them in direct proximity to the soccer club's home stadium as well as leading sports institutions. Prof. Dr. Karen Zentgraf is now based here, near partners such as the German Olympic Sports Confederation (DOSB), the State Sports Confederation of Hesse, the Olympic Training Center, and the Carl-von-Weinberg School. Prof. Zentgraf's research focuses on the interaction of mind and body in sport. Starting in the 2025/26 winter semester, Goethe University has been offering its students tickets for Eintracht home matches through a raffle – an initiative that proved highly popular.

“Sport is a field of the future. It conveys values, promotes health, and is a major economic force. Goethe University intends to broaden and deepen its engagement in this area in the years ahead," said University President Schleiff. “With Eintracht Frankfurt, we have gained a partner with strong international visibility and a reputation for the highest professional standards – an ideal combination of academic excellence and practical expertise." The university also sees particular value in the club's experience in digitalization and sustainability.

One of the first major joint projects is the Sports Management MBA, due to launch at Goethe Business School in the 2027 summer semester. Developed and run in close collaboration with Eintracht Frankfurt, the part-time program is aimed primarily at professionals and executives working across the sports sector. It will focus strongly on innovation, technology, and media – all central pillars of future sports management.

Axel Hellmann, spokesman for the board of Eintracht Frankfurt Fußball AG, said: “The partnership with Goethe University Frankfurt brings together talent development, research, and innovation in sport. Together, we are creating new formats at the interface of academia and practice. The Sports Management MBA is a core element of this collaboration and, for us, a flagship project."

Goethe University plans to further consolidate its sport-related expertise across disciplines under the research profile area “Science for Health", by bringing together researchers from sports science, medicine, computer science, law, and beyond. Existing examples already include the continuing education program “Conflict Resolution in National and International Sports," developed by the Faculty of Law in cooperation with the German Football League (DFL).

Image for download: https://www.uni-frankfurt.de/185380118

Caption: University President Prof. Enrico Schleiff, Frankfurt Mayor and Sports Commissioner Mike Josef, and Axel Hellmann, Board Spokesman of Eintracht Frankfurt Fußball AG (from left to right). Photo: Benjamin Heinrich

Apr 29 2026

10:00

International research consortium develops novel agent to stabilize mutated p53

Cancer Research: Mini-Antibodies Reactivate the Guardian of the Genome

The protein p53 is mutated in many cancer cells, meaning it can no longer fulfill its protective function against tumor development. A team of scientists from Goethe University Frankfurt, along with the universities of Marburg, Cologne, and Zurich, has now succeeded in developing a type of mini-antibody (known as DARPins) that restores p53 functionality in the laboratory. These mini-antibodies can stabilize many p53 mutants and could therefore be suitable as therapeutic agents for a wide range of cancers in the future.

FRANKFURT. Each year, 20 million people are diagnosed with cancer. Various organs can be affected, and cancer types sometimes differ greatly at the cellular and molecular level. In about half of all cases, however, the protein p53 is mutated. Known as the “guardian of the genome," it plays a central tumor suppressor role: in healthy cells, it ensures that DNA damage is detected and repaired. If this is not successful, the affected cell is selectively eliminated through apoptosis – an important protection against cancer. Conversely, cells can often only develop into tumor cells when the protein p53 is inactivated by a mutation. In many cases, it becomes unstable as a result of the mutation and loses its functional structure.

Due to the central importance of p53, therapeutic approaches have been sought for decades to reactivate such p53 mutants—in the hope that this will cause cancer cells to die in a targeted manner. Researchers at University Medicine Frankfurt, for example, are currently testing whether p53 can be restored in ovarian cancer using introduced, intact mRNA constructs. The mRNA is packaged in lipid nanoparticles, a technology that achieved its breakthrough in the development of SARS-CoV-2 vaccines.

Other approaches aim to stabilize the mutated p53 so that it can regain its function. A first clinical success was recently reported for the substance Rezatapopt, which reactivates a specific mutation in p53 and thereby inhibits the growth of tumors with that mutation. The problem: more than 2,000 different mutations have already been described in tumors, and only a small fraction is accessible to small molecules such as Rezatapopt.

A consortium comprising research groups from Goethe University Frankfurt, Philipps University Marburg, the University of Cologne, and the University of Zurich has now developed a novel method that can reactivate a large number of p53 mutants in the laboratory. Instead of synthesizing small molecules, the consortium relies on the development of small proteins, so-called DARPins, which bind to p53 very selectively and with high affinity, like miniature antibodies. The scientists were able to show that this binding enables many p53 mutants to regain sufficient stability, thereby restoring p53 functionality.

Prof. Volker Dötsch from the Institute of Biophysical Chemistry at Goethe University explains: “The major advantage of our approach is that one of these miniature antibodies stabilizes not just a single, but many different p53 mutants, meaning it could potentially be used against various types of tumors. This also suggests that it may not be necessary to develop a specific therapeutic agent for each individual mutant."

Antibodies have long been used successfully in cancer therapy, but until now exclusively for binding to target proteins outside the cell. The results presented here open up a new approach by offering a perspective for the use of protein-based therapeutics inside the cell as well. The co-organizer of the study, Dr. Andreas Joerger from the Institute of Pharmaceutical Chemistry at Goethe University, explains: “In the future, our p53-reactivating DARPins could be introduced directly into tumor cells via corresponding mRNA templates packaged in lipid nanoparticles." The consortium partners now aim to further develop this technology for the therapeutic application of p53 stabilizers.

Publication: Philipp Münick, Dimitrios-Ilias Balourdas, Julianne S. Funk, Büşra Yüksel, Danai Mavridi, Justin Heftel, Birgit Dreier, Jonas V. Schaefer, Birgit Schäfer, Stefan Knapp, Tümay Telatar, Baki Akgül, Andreas Plückthun, Thorsten Stiewe, Andreas C. Joerger, Volker Dötsch: DARPins as pan-reactivators of temperature-sensitive p53 cancer mutants. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, PNAS (2026) https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2531747123

Picture download:
https://www.uni-frankfurt.de/185240585

Caption: Structure of the DNA-binding domain of a reactivated p53 cancer mutant in complex with a stabilizing DARPin. Image: Andreas Joerger, Goethe University Frankfurt

Contacts:
Professor Volker Dötsch
Institute for Biophysical Chemistry
Goethe University Frankfurt
Tel.: +49 (0)69 798-29631
vdoetsch@em.uni-frankfurt.de
https://doetsch-lab.de/

Dr. Andreas Joerger
Institute for Pharmaceutical Chemistry
Goethe University Frankfurt
joerger@pharmchem.uni-frankfurt.de

Bluesky: @goetheuni.bsky.social @unicologne.bsky.social
LinkedIn: @Goethe-Universität Frankfurt @Volker Doetsch @Andreas C. Joerger @Universität zu Köln @Universität Zürich