Open subjects for BSc and MSc theses

In general, any application with a thesis proposal dealing with our research lines (see below) will be considered for support, upon an evaluation of its technical and strategic soundness, and taking into consideration the resources availability (tutors time and infrastructure) within our Department. Applications can be sent directly to the contact person of the working groups for consideration.

Moreover, the following subjects are currently open within our research groups and the research projects of our Department:

Research Group Renewable Energies

M.Sc. Topic I: “The Use of Artificial Intelligence in Energy System Modeling"

Supervisor: Dr. Danial Esmaeili Aliabadi | E-MAIL

The student will investigate the role of AI in energy system modeling. There are two applications of AI models that we are interested in:
  1. Convolution Neural Networks for image processing, and
  2. Large Language Models for natural language processing.
Tasks:
  • Organizing the inputs for the AI model
  • Implementing and fine-tuning the AI model
  • Preparing the dataset/scenario for the optimization model to use

M.Sc. Topic II: “Spatially-explicit modeling of the bioenergy in Germany”

Supervisor: Dr. Danial Esmaeili Aliabadi | E-MAIL

  • Increasing the spatial resolution of the Bioenergy Optimization (BenOpt) model using GIS information.
  • Developing new tools to facilitate the interaction between backend (i.e., the GAMS solver) and frontend (i.e., user-interface).
  • Analyzing consumers’ behavior using an agent-based model in connection with the produced optimization model.

M.Sc. Topic III: “Modelling and analysis of agroforestry and agri-PV options in the BENOPTex energy system model”

Supervisor: Dr. Matthias Jordan | E-MAIL

In the Renewable Energies working group at the UFZ in Leipzig, we have developed the BENOPTex energy system model to investigate the cost-optimised use of limited biomass in the context of the energy transition and the bioeconomy in Germany. We are also looking at whether and how cultivated biomass should be used for energy and material purposes in the future. Many research projects deal with multifunctional land use. The aim of this master's thesis is to integrate these multifunctional concepts into the model as options, based on literature research, in addition to the existing classic options such as maize, rapeseed, SRC, etc. The focus is on agroforestry and agri-PV. However, the person working on the project has the freedom to introduce other useful concepts or methodological extensions. The concrete work steps to be expected include:

  • Literature research on technically, economically and ecologically relevant data of multifunctional land use concepts for the modelling
  • Implementation of the data in the BENOPTex model
  • Recalculation of existing energy scenarios to analyse, evaluate and assess the new concepts
Experience with script-based programming language is desirable. The modelling work will be done in Matlab and GAMS. If you are interested in working in the exciting field of the energy transition/ bioeconomy and in an interdisciplinary working environment such as the UFZ offers, please contact Matthias Jordan.

M.Sc. Topic IV: “Crop Map Analyses around Biogas Plants - How do plants impact cultivations?”

Supervisor: David Manske | E-MAIL

  • Analyse public crop maps in the Surroundings of biogas plants and in areas without biogas plants

M.Sc. Topic V: “Wind energy in forests: ownership, structural parameters of forests, regional comparison”

Supervisors: David Manske & Nora Mittelstädt | E-MAIL

  • Analyse forest ownership data, forest properties and wind energy site data
  • Compare regional tendencies

B.Sc. Topic VI: “Closest to the energy transition: expansion of renewable energies in (former) lignite mining areas.”

Supervisor: Nora Mittelstädt | E-MAIL

  • Registration of German lignite areas in GIS software and overlap with renewable energy additions and land cover classes
  • Assessment of administrative and political conditions (for example: re-cultivation obligations) for (former) lignite mining areas
  • Qualitative analysis, for example by method of causal-process tracing

B.Sc./M.Sc. Topic VII: “Image recognition of wind turbines on aerial photographs with machine learning and deep learning methods”

Supervisor: David Manske | E-MAIL

  • Existing geodata on wind turbines could be incorrect in terms of their localization. To validate these datasets in terms of their geographical location, image recognition can help identify datasets with incorrect geographical positions.
  • Validation of existing geodata with wind turbines using open source aerial imagery
  • Image recognition with Machine Learning/deep learning methods with Python or R

B.Sc./M.Sc. Topic VIII: “How fair is the energy transition?”

Supervisors: David Manske & Nora Mittelstädt | E-MAIL

  • With the energy transition, there are region-specific winners but also losers. But who are they? Which stakeholders/regions benefit from the energy transition and which are left out in the cold?
  • Assessment of local hotspots of the energy transition in conjunction with socio-economic indicators
  • Stakeholder analysis

B.Sc. Topic IX: “Regional analyses: Wind energy in forests: ownership, structural parameters of forests”

Supervisors: David Manske & Nora Mittelstädt | E-MAIL

  • Analyse forest ownership data, forest properties and wind energy site data for one selected region

Research Group System Analysis of the BioEconomy

M.Sc. Topic I: Development of socio-economic end-point indicators for the bioeconomy in Germany.

Supervisor: Dr. Alberto Bezama | E-MAIL

  • Defining social issues in German waste management of biobased materials / wood
  • Applying the (modified) UNEP/SETAC guidelines to assess social impacts Of recycling
  • Application in a case study: recycling of bio-based materials in Germany
  • Identifying possible aggregation options for the socio-economic indicators to develop end-point indicators

M.Sc. Topic II: Evaluation of selected decision alternatives for internalization or outsourcing of heat utility services in the context of eco-industrial cooperations in bio-based-industries

Supervisor: Dr. Alberto Bezama | E-MAIL

  • Efficiency analysis for selected wood and fiber drying processes
  • Technical-economic pre-feasibility studies of efficiency enhancement alternatives for wood and fiber drying processes
  • Analysis of innovative financing schemes for efficiency enhancement alternatives in complex industrial networks

MSc. /BSc. Topic III: Assessment of woody biomass flows in a regional context – Life cycle inventory and scoping LCA

Supervisor: Dr. Alberto Bezama | E-MAIL