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New professor in Berlin: 13.7 million euros for cloud research!
Professor Fabian Hoffmann leads an ERC-funded project on the microphysics of stratocumulus clouds at the FU Berlin.
New professor in Berlin: 13.7 million euros for cloud research!
There is exciting news in the world of meteorology: Fabian Hoffmann has taken over the professorship for general meteorology at the Free University of Berlin in October 2025. Previously, he led an Emmy Noether young research group at the Meteorological Institute of the Ludwig Maximilian University in Munich, where he worked until September 2025. His research focuses on the microphysics, dynamics and role of clouds in the climate system - a topic that continues to have great importance in the scientific community. IDW reports that Hoffmann is in close contact with renowned institutes.
A very special highlight is the ERC Synergy Grant, which Hoffmann receives in collaboration with researchers from the Max Planck Institute for Dynamics and Self-Organization, the University of Gothenburg and the University of Delft. This prestigious award supports interdisciplinary research projects to enable real scientific breakthroughs. Under the title “TurPhyCloud” (The Role of Turbulence in the Physics of Clouds), the project is being financed with a total of 13.7 million euros over six years. Hoffmann can look forward to receiving 2.5 million euros for his research work at the Free University.
The TurPhyCloud research project
The TurPhyCloud project has an ambitious goal: it studies the processes that influence the formation of stratocumulus clouds. In addition to being the most common type, these clouds cover about 20% of the Earth's surface and reflect around 40% of solar radiation back into space, making them an essential part of the climate system. Together with an interdisciplinary team consisting of experts such as Eberhard Bodenschatz from Göttingen, Bernhard Mehlig from Gothenburg and Pier Siebesma from Delft, high-resolution measurements are being carried out on the Finnish island of Utö to capture the complexity of these clouds. Max Planck Institute reports on the team's innovative approach to studying the dynamics and behavior of stratocumulus clouds in the context of climate change.
A central element of the research is the CloudKite observatory, which enables precise measurements of cloud parameters. In addition, a fleet of research drones from TU Delft is used to collect continuous data on wind, temperature, humidity and pressure. These data are crucial to develop models for turbulent processes in the stratocumulus clouds, which are then validated using additional measurements. The team's goal is to create a new simulation tool that will be integrated into existing weather and climate models.
With Hoffmann's involvement in international research collaborations, including partnerships with NOAA and other institutions, his ambitions and impact on the field of meteorology are far-reaching. The ERC Synergy Grant shows once again that scientists can make significant progress through collaboration and interdisciplinary approaches to better understand the challenges of climate change.