Research Strategy

The Graduate School on Applied Network Science investigates networked systems, in particular the analysis and simulation, the optimization, and the control of complex networks.

All our research is motivated by real-world applications. It typically is based on combining methodologies from different areas of the applied sciences. Accordingly, a broad range of scientific disciplines will be involved:

Mathematics, Computer Science, Business and Economics, Electrical and Mechanical Engineering, and Natural Sciences.

The main idea underlying the GSANS is that these disciplines mutually foster their research and in particular benefit from each other’s experience in neighboring areas of research. In this way, the GSANS follows a longstanding tradition of interdisciplinary research at the University of Paderborn. The GSANS brings together leading scientists from a broad range of disciplines, the will pursue research projects in five areas:

(A) Foundations of Network Optimization and Network Dynamics (Mathematics, Computer Science, Physics, Electrical and Mechanical Engineering)

(B) Networks of Optical Systems (Physics, Electrical Engineering, Mathematics, Computer Science)

(C) Molecular and Particulate Networks (Materials Science, Physics, Chemistry, Mechanical Engineering, Mathematics)

(D) Networks of Technical Systems (Mechanical and Electrical Engineering, Mathematics, Computer Science)

(E) Logistics and Economic Networks (Economics, Business, Mathematics, Computer Science)

There are strong connections between all these areas both with respect to the underlying applications and with respect to the scientific methodology used. Most of the principal investigators are part of several application areas. Accordingly GSANS research projects as well as individual PhD topics are highly interdisciplinary. Most PhD students in the GSANS will be required to have advisors from at least two different disciplines.