Martin Albrecht

Martin Albrecht is a full Professor of Chemistry at the University of Bern since 2015 and Deputy Director of the Department of Chemistry, Biochemistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences since 2021. His research focuses on designing modular and electronically flexible ancillary ligands for transition metal catalysis, particularly in C–H amination, formic acid dehydrogenation, and ligand-mediated water oxidation. Key projects include the development of triazolylidenes and pyridylidene amines/amides (PYE/PYA) as alternatives to classical phosphines and NHC ligands.

• B.Sc./M.Sc.: University of Bern (1996)
• Ph.D.: Utrecht University (2000) under Gerard van Koten
• Postdoctoral: Yale University (2001-2002) with Robert H. Crabtree
• Academic Career: University of Fribourg (2003-2009), University College Dublin (2009-2015), University of Bern (2015–present)

His group investigates first-row transition metals (Fe, Mn, Ni) for sustainable catalysis, including homogeneous hydrogenation, alcohol oxidation, and CO2 electroreduction. Recent work highlights Earth-abundant metal complexes for LOHC systems (up to 3 million TON for formic acid dehydrogenation) and bioconjugation of NHC ligands into metalloenzymes.

Scientific honors include:

• ERC Consolidator Grant (2014-2018)
• Bessel Research Award (Humboldt Foundation, 2013)
• Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry (2011)
• ERC Starting Grant (2007)

His group trains multiple PhD students (Fabienne, Francisca, Taj, etc.) and collaborates with institutions in Italy (University of Perugia), Spain (University of Huelva), and Germany (Friedrich Alexander University of Erlangen-Nürnberg).