International Staff Week "Research at Osnabrück University of Applied Sciences"

Since November 2022, the Growing Knowledge© working group at Osnabrück University of Applied Sciences has access to the new "Agricultural Systems of the Future" research center with indoor farm and rooftop greenhouse units and a laboratory. With this new research infrastructure, plant cultivation experiments can be carried out under standardized and controllable environmental conditions (CEA) with regard to temperature, relative humidity, individual day and night times, light intensity and quality as well as CO2 content. The aims of current research projects (including SUSKULT, LightSaverAI, SustainVanil, Nutrient+ControlIVF and IKARUS) are: i) the development of new plant production systems (especially hydroponic systems) and cultivation concepts, ii) the increase in product quality through optimized cultivation management, iii) the development of sustainable, regional, urban plant cultivation concepts with the aim of using material and energy resources in urban areas and iv) the identification of new crop species as future food and luxury foods.

The research project 'LightSaverAI' aims to (automatically) record the chlorophyll fluorescence of plants using appropriate (imaging) measuring instruments. This is done under strictly controlled growth conditions in an indoor farm/phytotron. The data is then used together with telemetry data (temperature, relative humidity, CO2, irrigation, etc.) to create a predictive model (AI). The 'AI' should then predict the light requirements of our model plants (lettuce) depending on all factors - especially the plant age - or to bring the optimal amount of light (at any given time) to the plants. This should ensure that the plants are not stressed by 'superfluous' light during cultivation, thus saving costs for indoor farm lighting.

The main focus of another project is in the field of Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA), including the development and operation of innovative, vertical, cycle-based and resource-efficient hydroponic cultivation processes for plants with valuable ingredients and high value-added potential.

Our teams in Health Informatics and Nursing Sciences invite you get insights into their current research projects, including health care, informatics, continuity of care and IT standards, AI and prediction models in wound care, health informatics competencies, implementation science and human centered design.

You will also have the opportunity to learn about studies of the “The German Network for Quality Development in Nursing” and on „Home Care“. The latter embraces research on home care arrangements, the situation of (family) caregivers and care recipients as well as the role of nurses and professional home care services. The research on home care is focused on all aspects related to long-term and primary care at home and includes aspects of community care and the regulatory frameworks that govern home care delivery.

Steel is the material of choice for a wide range of structural applications. It is durable, abundant on the earth, easily recyclable, and offers adjustable properties through thermal and mechanical processing. Accordingly, steel is also central to the projects dealt with in the “Materials Design and Structural Integrity Laboratory” of Osnabrück University of Applied Sciences. As part of the “International Staff Week”, international colleagues will be introduced to research projects involving low-alloy steels for applications in the agricultural sector and high-alloy steels for applications in corrosive environments, commonly known as stainless steels. The program also encompasses a lab tour, showcasing the equipment available on campus for microstructural characterizations, destructive and non-destructive testing, as well as the casting and welding of metallic materials. This experience will enable knowledge exchange, possibly leading to international collaborations in the field of Materials Science and Engineering.

One of our research groups/labs is called S-TEAM (STrengthening Evidence-based Physiotherapy And Musculoskeletal care) research program, which has the overarching goal of promoting and integrating research into initiatives that seek, develop, and support improvement of the health care system in the area of physiotherapy and specifically in Musculoskeletal (MSK) disorders. Our group is interested in optimizing and validating methods used to synthesize research, and to conduct high quality clinical research particularly in the area of allied health professions. Our major field of research is diagnosis, evaluation, and treatment of patients with musculoskeletal pain especially orofacial pain, temporomandibular disorders, cranio-cervical disorders including neck pain and headaches. In addition, another strong area of our group is evidence-based practice, clinical epidemiology, knowledge synthesis, and knowledge translation in health research areas.

The other research group conducts research in two relevant areas. In the area of musicians' health, we investigate the playing behavior of musicians using, among other things, physiotherapeutic assessment and sensor-based motion analysis and we use various study designs to identify risk factors regarding the occurrence of playing-related musculoskeletal disorders and, with the support of artificial intelligence, to develop a predictive model of these disorders. In the area of sports, we investigate the occurrence of injuries among athletes, particularly among soccer players. Here we work with the youth centers of various Bundesliga soccer clubs and try to identify risk factors and develop targeted management strategies. We also regularly carry out smaller research work on various clinical questions.

The Research, Cooperation, Third-Party Funding team, in total 17 people, advises scientists on the implementation of research projects. Among other things, the offer includes support in the search for funding programmes and research partners as well as support with formalities in the application process. In addition, the team advises on research, cooperation and third-party funding for the financing of projects. With the approval of the project, the Financial Project Management team will support in the implementation.

As part of the Center for International Mobility (CIM), the Welcome Center addresses international scientists who would like to teach or conduct research at Osnabrück University of Applied Sciences. At the Welcome Center international, doctoral candidates and researchers can get support and advice on all organizational questions related to their prospective stay in Germany and benefit from the close cooperation of the Welcome Center with various institutions of Osnabrück University of Applied Sciences and external partners. Being part of the project "CarLa” the Welcome Center also aims to support young scientist who are interested in becoming a professor at a University of Applied Sciences in Germany.

We look forward to exchanging our experience on how to recruit and support international researchers with you!

Please take a look at the preliminary schedule.

The language of communication will be English.

Please arrange for your arrival on Sunday, June 9 and your departure on Friday, June 14, 2024.

There are various options for hotels or AirBnB in Osnabrück. We have booked allotments for Osnabrück International Staff Week guests in two different hotels. Please make your hotel reservation directly to the hotel as early as you have received our acceptance letter by email.The hotels have offered special rates for our guests. Please use the group name mentioned for each hotel when making your reservation.

1. Hotel Vienna House Easy
The Vienna House Easy is located close to the city center.

Address: Neuer Graben 39 | 49074 Osnabrück | Tel. +49 (0) 541 56954 111 |  reservation.easy-osnabrueck@hrg-hotels.com
Transportation possibilities: bus stop right in front of hotel for direct bus connection to the university (bus no. 21 and 22)

Prices: June 9 - 14, 2024: 110 euros per night / standard single room non-smoking
Price includes buffet breakfast and VAT.

The Hotel allotment reservation and the prices are valid until March 17, 2024.
Please refer to the group name 'HS Staff Week' when booking the room

2. Hotel Walhalla
The Romantik Hotel Walhalla is located in the historic part of Osnabrück, right across the street from the historic town hall and the market place.

Address: Bierstrasse 24  | 49074 Osnabrück | Tel. +49 (0) 541 34910 |  info@hotel-walhalla.de 
Transportation possibilities: 20 minute walk from the hotel to the university campus or short walk to the bus stop for direct bus connection to the university (bus no. 11 and short walk from the bus stop to the campus)

Prices: 104 euros per night / standard single room non-smoking
Breakfast is available for 23 € / person.

The Hotel allotment reservation and the prices are valid until April 11, 2024.
Please refer to the group name 'HS Staff Week' when booking the room.

Travel costs, hotel accommodation and meals will have to be paid by the participants individually.

The program including social and cultural events will be offered by Osnabrück University of Applied Sciences free of charge.

Please check ERASMUS staff mobility funding with your home university. We can confirm ERASMUS staff mobility for training (not for teaching).