URPP as of 2013

Social Networks
Regulation of Financial Markets
Language and Space
Dynamics of Healthy Aging
Translational Cancer Research
Solar Light to Chemical Energy Conversion (LightChEC)
Evolution in Action: From Genomes to Ecosystems
Global Change and Biodiversity

Social Networks

Prof. R. Algesheimer
Participating faculties: WWF, PhF

Social Networks influence how individuals and firms interact in societies. The relationships between social structures and economic behavior are going to be examined by focusing on complex, networked systems instead of analyzing particular and individual behavior.
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Regulation of Financial Markets

Prof. R. Sethe, Prof. C. von der Crone, Prof. R. Weber
Participating faculties: RWF, WWF

The global financial crisis has caused a political debate about stricter regulation of financial markets which is economically significant for Switzerland and particularly for Zurich as a financial center. The URPP aims to examine existing regulatory concepts and approaches in the light of their history and international rulebooks. It further intends to analyze national as well as international regulatory needs and proposals.
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Language and Space

Prof. E. Glaser, Prof. H. Hausendorf
Participating faculties: PhF, MNF

Communication is inevitably linked to physical and social space. This holds true for both dialect and language contact situations ("Sprachräume") and interactional spaces ("Interaktionsräume"). Choosing a particular language or regional variety allows us to identify with and distinguish ourselves from others, but modelling these choices is far from straight forward. Interactional spaces pose a challenge to linguistic research at the micro-level of face-to-face communication which is linked to space in a complex ways involving perception, movement and action. The UFSP approaches these relations between language and space with cutting-edge technology, combining insights from dialectology with language typology and interactional linguistics.

Dynamics of Healthy Aging

Prof. L. Jäncke, Prof. M. Martin
Participating faculties: PhF, MeF

Most of aging-related research to date has focussed on age-related deficits and their rehabilitation. This URPP focuses instead on the application-oriented exploration of the neurophysiological, neuroanatomical, psychological, and medical underpinnings of psychological health in middle to old age. The goal of this research project is to examine how quality of life and health can be stabilized on a long-term basis.

Translational Cancer Research

Prof. L. French, Prof. K. Basler
Participating faculties: MeF, MNF

Cancer is caused by complex interactions of genetic, immunological and microenvironmental factors. The main incentive for this URPP is to foster collaboration between the best clinical and basic researchers at the University of Zurich to accelerate the development of new therapeutic approaches.
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Solar Light to Chemical Energy Conversion (LightChEC)

Prof. R. Alberto
Participating faculty: MNF

Discovery and development of new materials and processes for the direct storage of solar light energy in chemical bonds are the main objectives of this URPP. Artificial photosynthesis is the working principle: Water will be split via light harvesting units directly into oxygen and hydrogen, the latter representing a highly efficient carrier for energy storage and conversion. An architecture of catalysts and antennas shall mimic the natural photosynthesis model. The individual steps - light harvesting, oxidation and reduction of water - will be combined into one single functional system. The project will contribute to supply the 21st century's demands for sustainable energy resources.

Evolution in Action: From Genomes to Ecosystems

Prof. B. Keller, Prof. U. Grossniklaus
Participating faculties: MNF, MeF, PhF

This URPP integrates the diverse research in evolutionary biology and medicine at the University of Zurich and is unique in Switzerland. It is based on the innovative potential of new methods in genome analysis to understand processes in biological evolution. There are projects both on basic questions on the origin of new diversity as well as on applied aspects of evolutionary biology, such as the diversification of pathogens and the evolution of genes relevant in human disease.
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Global Change and Biodiversity

Prof. M. Schaepman, Prof. O. Petchey, Prof. B. Schmid
Participating faculties: MNF, PhF

The loss of biodiversity associated with global change is a current challenge. The impact of this loss on the environment and humans is not well understood. This URPP will investigate feedback mechanisms of biodiversity and global change at different spatial and temporal scales using coupled approaches. To enable this, large scale observations, field and laboratory experiments, and models/simulations will be jointly used in a comprehensive fashion.
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