Moritz Schmidt

Prof. Dr. Moritz Schmidt is the Head of the Department of Chemistry of the f-elements at the Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR), within the Institute of Resource Ecology. His research focuses on the chemical behavior of f-elements, particularly actinides and lanthanides, in environmental and nuclear waste contexts. He leads a major research group investigating mineral-water interfaces, actinide speciation, and long-term safety of nuclear repositories.

• PhD in Chemistry, University of Heidelberg (2009)
• Diplom (M.Sc.) in Chemistry, University of Heidelberg (2006)
• Helmholtz Young Investigator Group Leader, HZDR (2013–2018)
• Research Associate, Argonne National Laboratory (2010–2012)
• Research Associate, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (2012–2013)

His research interests lie at the intersection of inorganic chemistry, environmental science, and nuclear safety. He specializes in actinide chemistry, geochemical modeling, mineral/water interface reactions, and structural incorporation of radionuclides into secondary phases. His group employs advanced techniques such as site-selective time-resolved laser fluorescence spectroscopy and surface X-ray diffraction to probe molecular-scale interactions. A major focus is understanding the environmental mobility of f-elements and improving nuclear waste disposal safety.

The recent publications reflect a strong trend in molecular-level actinide and technetium chemistry, with emphasis on coordination behavior, redox transformations, and spectroscopic characterization. Many studies support national and international safety assessments for nuclear waste repositories. The work spans from fundamental bonding studies to applied environmental modeling.

Scientific awards and honors include leadership of competitive research grants, though specific prizes are not listed in the provided text.

• ActiDecorp (ANR/DFG, 04/2024–03/2027): Bioinspired chelating agents for actinide decorporation
• Am-BALL (BMUV, 05/2023–04/2026): Actinide-metal bonding at atomic level
• FENABIUM-II (BMBF, 04/2023–03/2026): f-element interactions with biological motifs
• KuRSiV (BMUV, 01/2023–06/2026): Sorption competition and reversibility
• f-Char (BMBF, 10/2020–03/2024): Spectroscopy of f-element complexes
• FENABIUM (BMBF, 10/2016–05/2021): Structure-effect principles for mobilization
• SMILE (BMWi, 09/2018–02/2022): Smart-Kd applications for safety assessment
• Helmholtz Young Investigator Group VH-NG-942 (2013–2018): Aqueous/mineral interface reactivity

He advises PhD students and postdoctoral researchers as part of HZDR’s Career Center for Doctoral Researchers and Postdocs. His department functions as a core research unit within the Institute of Resource Ecology, collaborating with national and international partners in nuclear safety research. The team operates advanced laboratories for radiochemistry, spectroscopy, and surface analysis, contributing to both fundamental science and regulatory safety cases.