Creating Synergies
In their strategic partnership "PIER", DESY and the University of Hamburg combine their strengths in innovation, education and research.
Learn morePartnership for Innovation, Education and Research
PIER is the strategic partnership of DESY and the University of Hamburg ("Partnership for Innovation, Education and Research"). PIER focuses on the research fields particle and astroparticle physics, nanosciences, photon science and infection and structural biology. Additional interdisciplinary areas are theoretical physics and accelerator research. In 2023, artefact profiling was added to the portfolio as a PIER Emerging Topic. Under the umbrella of PIER, DESY and the University of Hamburg jointly provide funding for cross-institutional research projects, promote high-quality education of junior scientists, and foster an innovation-friendly culture on the science campus Bahrenfeld.
The unique research environment of the science campus Bahrenfeld is where all PIER activities unfold. The campus hosts around 3,000 guest researchers from more than 40 countries every year who are attracted by the world-class research facilities available in Bahrenfeld.
PIER News
show all newsPIER Short Visits & Workshops – Call for Applications
NEWS | 25 Sept. 2025
PIER Graduate Week 2025
EVENT | 6 - 10 October 2025 | CFEL
Discover how PIER can boost your scientific career
EVENTS
show all events13 Oct 2025
Thesis defense: Laurids Jeppe
Thesis defense: Laurids Jeppe | 13 October 2025, 10.30 a.m. |
The disputation is open to the UHH university public. Title of thesis: Measurement of the inclusive tt cross section and search for additional scalars in tt final states at ...
15 Oct 2025
Academic Writing - 8 Sessions
8 sessions from 15 October 2025 to 3 December 2025, 5:30 - 7:00 p.m. (Wednesdays) | Campus Bahrenfeld, Building 61 Room 116 (1st floor)
At a basic level, a PhD is about developing the skills of a professional academic researcher. However, without a set syllabus to follow, how do you develop those skills?
15 Oct 2025
Thesis defense: Niels Christian Gießelmann
Thesis defense: Niels Christian Gießelmann | 15 October 2025, 10.00 a.m. |
The disputation is open to the UHH university public. Title of thesis: X-ray Scattering Investigations of the Structure of Water and Ice in Periodic Mesoporous Organosilicas ...
16 Oct 2025
Thesis defense: Tim Erichlandwehr
Thesis defense: Tim Erichlandwehr | 16 October 2025, 01:00 p.m. |
The disputation is open to the UHH university public. Title of thesis: Actinomyosin motility on Novel Material Systems and Automated Filament Tracking
Meet PIER
Take a quick roundtrip and discover the PIER activities and program offers.

»I am so happy to be on the Science Campus Bahrenfeld, because here I can work at incredible institutions, do interesting research, and learn a new language at the same time.«
Blae Stacey | Doctoral Researcher PHGS since 2022 | Learn more
