How to Work with ZARM at the University of Bremen

ZARM (Zentrum für angewandte Raumfahrttechnologie und Mikrogravitation, the Center of Applied Space Technology and Microgravity) is a research center at the University of Bremen that studies space and conditions under space. If you are a researcher or student who wants to collaborate, visit, or join, the practical starting point is the "Work with us" entry on zarm.uni-bremen.de, which points to the ways of participating in research, visiting, or partnering. The site does not publish a single application form or a public list of open positions, so you will need to explore the relevant sections and follow the News for activities such as scientific talks and education programs.

What ZARM is and what it covers

ZARM describes itself as conducting research for space and under space conditions, on the premise that fundamental research must pave the way before anything can be used in everyday life. Its stated expertise spans:

• Quantum and gravitational physics
• Fluid dynamics
• Space exploration
• Experiments under microgravity conditions

The people at ZARM "come from all over the world and cover all STEM disciplines – from engineers to physicists, mathematicians and IT specialists." This matters for collaboration: the center frames diverse, multidisciplinary teams as a key factor for sustained technological and scientific progress, so partners and applicants are typically matched to a discipline rather than a single narrow topic.

Microgravity facilities you could work with

The most concrete reason to work with ZARM is access to its microgravity facilities. Two are highlighted on the homepage:

If your research depends on microgravity or partial-gravity conditions, these facilities define what kinds of experiments are feasible and how you would plan a campaign. The site presents them as the center's "most impressive laboratory" and its step-ahead capability, but it does not list user fees, proposal deadlines, or a separate user portal in the provided material — so treat facility access as something to clarify directly with ZARM rather than assume from the homepage.

Ways to engage: research, study, and outreach

The "Work with us" section is the site's own entry point for cooperation or joining. Based on what the site states, engagement can take several forms:

• Research collaboration — working with ZARM's teams in quantum and gravitational physics, fluid dynamics, space exploration, or microgravity experiments.
• Joining the team — ZARM recruits across STEM disciplines, from engineers to physicists, mathematicians, and IT specialists, and its staff come from around the world.
• Education and outreach — the News shows ZARM acting as an ESERO partner site (Bremen), strengthening efforts to inspire the next generation of space explorers, with a first joint activity, "Explore Science," in Bremen's Bürgerpark. There is also the German CanSat Competition, whose 2026/27 application phase has begun for German school students.

For students, the CanSat competition and ESERO activities are the clearest documented entry points; for researchers, the facility and expertise areas are the natural match.

Following ZARM's activities

The News section is where ZARM announces scientific talks and programs. One example is the ZARM Talk "Bubble breakup in turbulence" on Sep 16th, in which Aliénor Riviere explains how random flow fluctuations trigger breakup using stochastic models and stability analysis. ZARM also notes a mural project (Mural City 2026) in which two ZARM researchers inspired large-scale murals in Bremen's "Viertel" — a reminder that the center's public-facing activity extends beyond the lab.

If you want to stay oriented without over-reading announcements, use the News as a signal of what ZARM is currently active in, then go to "Work with us" for the actual engagement path.

Practical next steps

1. Go to zarm.uni-bremen.de and open the "Work with us" section to see the cooperation and joining routes ZARM itself points to.
2. Identify which of ZARM's areas — quantum and gravitational physics, fluid dynamics, space exploration, or microgravity experiments — matches your work.
3. If your project needs microgravity or partial gravity, read up on the Drop Tower Bremen (9.3 s of weightlessness) and the GraviTower (20 experiments per hour, partial gravity) to judge feasibility.
4. Check the News for talks, ESERO activities, and the CanSat competition to find time-bound opportunities.
5. Contact ZARM directly for specifics the site does not publish, such as current openings, facility access conditions, or collaboration terms.

The site does not state pricing, login requirements, or a formal application deadline, so do not assume any of these are open or free — confirm them with ZARM.