Students have the opportunity to write their bachelor's and master's theses in cooperation with the university or external partners from industry and research. The thesis is the culmination of the degree programme and enables students to work independently on a practical or scientific topic. In doing so, they apply and deepen the technical and methodological skills they have acquired during their studies. Supervision is provided by experienced professors from the university. Current topics and organisational information support students in the successful planning and completion of their final thesis.
The new Günter Lorenz Prize is awarded to the best final thesis in recognition of outstanding achievement.
Günter-Lorenz-Prize
The motto for the Günter Lorenz Prize is: ‘Keeping an eye on the big picture’.
In order to honour Günter Lorenz's personality, his work and his services to the Faculty of Life Sciences, which will remain relevant long after his death, the Günter Lorenz Prize is awarded each semester to an outstanding graduate of the Faculty of Life Sciences. The prize is worth €500, of which €250 is provided by our industry partner BERGHOF GRUPPE from Eningen.
The prize is awarded to theses that
- demonstrate high innovative potential
- have an interdisciplinary and/or transdisciplinary approach. This refers to an approach that goes beyond the boundaries of individual disciplines and in which, in addition to scientific knowledge, other knowledge resources (e.g. from professional practice) are relevant to the research process.
- In addition to the graduate's outstanding academic/scientific achievements, commitment to the faculty/university or voluntary work, e.g. in the student council, faculty council, student union or environmental protection organisations, in public relations/social media, will also be taken into account in the selection process.
The selection committee for the award ceremony is composed of the programme directors and the dean's office. The meetings of the review committee take place within two weeks of submission. The awards are presented at the graduation ceremony of the Faculty of Life Sciences.
The following documents must be submitted:
- Motivational letter from the student explaining how their work relates to the call for entries
- The final thesis (bachelor's or master's thesis) as a PDF document
- A short reference from the primary supervisor (maximum 1 page) explaining why the thesis is worthy of the award
- Short presentation of the best theses to the selection committee (5 minutes)
- Science slam of the thesis at the graduation ceremony
Prof. Dr. Günter Lorenz was a professor at Reutlingen University from 2007 until his death in 2024. He was Dean of the Faculty of Applied Chemistry (now Life Sciences) from 2010 to 2019 and played a key role in shaping the faculty's development into a centre for forward-looking topics and establishing its excellent reputation for teaching and research.
Particularly noteworthy are:
- 2011 Founding of the Biomedical Sciences (BWB) degree programme and initial programme director
- 2012 Co-founding of the Process Analysis & Technology Teaching and Research Centre (LFZ PAT)
- 2021 Founding of the Chemistry and Sustainable Processes (CNB) degree programme and programme director until his death
- Systematic integration of industry and promotion of entrepreneurship at the faculty
- Initiation and establishment of collaborations with regional universities, in particular the University of Tübingen (initiation of a doctoral programme).
- Advancement of research at the faculty in the field of biomaterials and polymer chemistry through numerous third-party funded projects
With his many years of professional experience in the medical technology industry, he initiated the ‘Biomedical Sciences’ degree programme right at the start of his university career. The programme attracted a high number of applicants from the outset, and its graduates enjoy excellent career prospects in a wide range of industries. He laid the foundation for the faculty's reorientation towards life sciences. With his research and teaching at the interface between materials science and life sciences, he had a decisive influence on the orientation and unique selling point of the faculty in the border area between engineering, chemistry and life sciences. Students were always the focus of his activities and were also involved in research projects.
Prof. Dr. Günter Lorenz died in an accident at the age of 60, in the middle of his active career, and was unable to realise many of his projects, ideas and visions for the faculty. In order to honour his personality, his work and his services to the Faculty of Life Sciences, which will remain relevant long after his death, the Günter Lorenz Prize is awarded each semester to an outstanding graduate of the Faculty of Life Sciences. The prize is endowed with €500.
