LEIBNIZ-INSTITUT FUR ASTROPHYSIK POTSDAM (AIP)

Their core work

AIP is a German research institute focused on astrophysics, specializing in understanding cosmic structures from solar physics to galaxy formation and the intergalactic medium. They run large-scale numerical simulations of galaxies, galaxy clusters, and cosmic plasma, and contribute to major European astronomical infrastructure like the European Solar Telescope and ESFRI research facilities. Their work spans observational astronomy (optical, infrared, X-ray, multi-messenger) and computational astrophysics, making them both a science producer and an infrastructure partner for Europe's largest telescope and detector projects.

What they specialise in

How they've shifted over time

In the early H2020 period (2015–2018), AIP focused on foundational astrophysics — solar physics, solar telescope development, and galaxy-scale simulations like cosmic ray impacts and Magellanic Cloud interactions. From 2019 onward, their work shifted toward large-scale research infrastructure coordination (ESCAPE, EOSC, ESFRI facilities) and increasingly ambitious computational projects bridging plasma physics with cosmological scales. The most recent grants (SPECMAP-CGM, PICOGAL) are their largest ERC awards, signaling a deepening investment in frontier computational astrophysics.

AIP is scaling up toward computationally intensive, large-budget ERC projects in galaxy and plasma astrophysics while maintaining strong ties to pan-European observatory infrastructure.

How they like to work

AIP balances leadership and partnership almost equally — coordinating 6 projects (mostly ERC grants where they are PI-driven) and participating in 7 (mostly large infrastructure consortia). Their 130 unique partners across 28 countries indicate they operate as a well-connected hub rather than a closed group. This dual profile means they can lead focused research and also integrate smoothly into large multi-partner infrastructure networks.

AIP has collaborated with 130 distinct partners across 28 countries, giving them one of the broader European networks in astrophysics. Their infrastructure projects (ESCAPE, OPTICON, ChETEC-INFRA) connect them to flagship facilities like CERN, ESO, and SKA, while ERC grants anchor deep bilateral research ties.

What sets them apart

AIP combines world-class computational astrophysics with direct involvement in Europe's largest telescope and detector infrastructure projects — a rare dual capability. Their ERC success rate is exceptional, with 6 ERC grants (2 Starting, 2 Consolidator, 2 Advanced) demonstrating sustained individual research excellence. For consortium builders, AIP brings both the simulation expertise to model astrophysical phenomena and the institutional credibility of a Leibniz institute embedded in Germany's research infrastructure landscape.

Highlights from their portfolio

• PICOGAL
  Largest single grant at EUR 2.5M (ERC Advanced), ambitious bridging of plasma kinetics with cosmological galaxy formation — signals AIP's research frontier.
• ESCAPE
  Connected AIP to the full ESFRI astronomy ecosystem (SKA, CTA, KM3NeT, CERN, ESO) and the European Open Science Cloud, expanding their infrastructure network significantly.
• INTERCLOUDS
  Nearly EUR 2M ERC grant studying Magellanic Cloud interactions — one of their longest-running and best-funded early projects, establishing their galaxy evolution credentials.