Regensburg mathematician Prof. Dr. Richard H?fer, from the Faculty of Mathematics at the University of Regensburg, has been awarded this year’s Heinz Maier-Leibnitz Prize by the German Research Foundation (DFG). This prestigious award is Germany’s most significant distinction for early career scientists and recognizes his research on many-particle systems in fluid flows.
Prof. H?fer will receive a prize sum of �200,000, along with an additional 22% program allowance for indirect project expenses. A total of 180 researchers from all disciplines were nominated for this year’s award, but only ten scientists will receive this highly coveted honor. The selection was made by the responsible committee under the chairmanship of DFG Vice President and biochemist Prof. Dr. Peter H. Seeberger. The awards ceremony will take place on June 3 in Berlin.
Prof. Dr. Richard H?fer’s research focuses on the mathematical properties of differential equations that describe physical phenomena. He has achieved groundbreaking advances in the mathematically rigorous treatment of suspensions—solutions of small particles in liquids or gases. While it is theoretically possible to model each individual particle with its own equation, this becomes impractical when dealing with thousands or even millions of particles. Instead, a comprehensive macroscopic approach is required.
Prof. H?fer aims to gain fundamental insights into interactions that are difficult to explore through experiments or numerical simulations. Rather than modeling individual particles, he models entire clouds of particles. Suspensions are ubiquitous in nature, appearing in aerosols and biological fluids, for example. As a result, Prof. H?fer’s theoretical findings may also be relevant for environmental and medical technologies.
"The DFG's call informing me of the award reached me at a conference in Marseille, shortly after I had given a talk on my research. The prize motivates me to continue working on this fascinating topic, where so many open and mathematically challenging questions remain,” says Prof. H?fer.
“For the University of Regensburg, it is a special honor that, for the second consecutive year, one of our scientists has been awarded the Heinz Maier-Leibnitz Prize by the DFG,” emphasizes Prof. Dr. Udo Hebel, President of the University of Regensburg. “Supporting early career scientists and fostering exceptional scientific potential is a key priority for us. I sincerely congratulate Prof. H?fer on his outstanding research and the well-deserved recognition of his work.”
Prof. Dr. Richard H?fer’s research focuses on the mathematical properties of differential equations that describe physical phenomena. He has achieved groundbreaking advances in the mathematically rigorous treatment of suspensions—solutions of small particles in liquids or gases. While it is theoretically possible to model each individual particle with its own equation, this becomes impractical when dealing with thousands or even millions of particles. Instead, a comprehensive macroscopic approach is required.
Prof. H?fer aims to gain fundamental insights into interactions that are difficult to explore through experiments or numerical simulations. Rather than modeling individual particles, he models entire clouds of particles. Suspensions are ubiquitous in nature, appearing in aerosols and biological fluids, for example. As a result, Prof. H?fer’s theoretical findings may also be relevant for environmental and medical technologies.
"The DFG's call informing me of the award reached me at a conference in Marseille, shortly after I had given a talk on my research. The prize motivates me to continue working on this fascinating topic, where so many open and mathematically challenging questions remain,” says Prof. H?fer.
“For the University of Regensburg, it is a special honor that, for the second consecutive year, one of our scientists has been awarded the Heinz Maier-Leibnitz Prize by the DFG,” emphasizes Prof. Dr. Udo Hebel, President of the University of Regensburg. “Supporting early career scientists and fostering exceptional scientific potential is a key priority for us. I sincerely congratulate Prof. H?fer on his outstanding research and the well-deserved recognition of his work.”
The Heinz Maier-Leibnitz Prize
The Heinz Maier-Leibnitz Prize has been awarded annually since 1977 to outstanding researchers in the early stages of their scientific careers. The prize aims to support and encourage recipients—who do not yet hold a permanent professorship—to continue their academic careers. The award is not solely based on the recipient’s dissertation but also on whether they have subsequently developed an independent scientific profile and contributed significantly to their field, demonstrating the potential for future groundbreaking research.
With the 2023 award cycle, the DFG fully integrated the prize into its funding portfolio, having previously administered it in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF). The prize has borne the name of atomic physicist and former DFG President Heinz Maier-Leibnitz since 1980. It was first awarded during his tenure (1974–1979).
Further information on the Heinz Maier-Leibnitz Prize is available at: https://www.dfg.de/en/funded-projects/award-winners/leibnitz-prize (external link, opens in a new window)
Contacts
Prof. Dr. Richard H?fer
Fakult?t für Mathematik
Universit?t Regensburg
Tel.: +49 (0)941 943 2758
E-Mail: richard.hoefer@mathematik.uni-regensburg.de