Alexander Breder

Prof. Alexander Breder serves as Professor of Organic Chemistry at the University of Regensburg, leading the Breder Research Group within the Institute of Organic Chemistry (Faculty of Chemistry and Pharmacy). His research program integrates synthetic organic methodology, asymmetric (organo)catalysis, and target-oriented synthesis of biologically relevant molecules, emphasizing innovative catalyst design and sustainable synthesis solutions.

His academic background:

• Diploma (2005), Bielefeld University: Research on cyclic peptides via ruthenium-catalyzed ring-closing metathesis (Prof. Norbert Sewald)
• Ph.D. (2009), ETH Zurich: Synthesis of marine natural products (Prof. Erick M. Carreira)
• Postdoc (2009-2011), Stanford University: Ruthenium-catalyzed domino reactions (Prof. Barry M. Trost)
• Junior Group Leader (2011-2019), Georg-August-University Goettingen
• Full Professor (2019-present), University of Regensburg

Research in the Breder Laboratory targets two main goals: (1) developing new chemical reactions through innovative catalyst and reagent design to address challenges in chemo- and stereoselectivity and sustainability; (2) creating strategic syntheses of biomolecules and analogs with pharmacological profiles, particularly focusing on asymmetric carbon-carbon and carbon-heteroatom bond formation.

Notable scientific awards and fellowships:

• ERC Starting Grant – ELDORADO (European Research Council, 2018)
• Dr. Otto Röhm Memorial Foundation Award (2015)
• Thieme Chemistry Journals Award (2013)
• Emmy Noether Program (Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft, 2014-present)
• Liebig-Fellowship (Fonds der Chemischen Industrie, 2011-2014)
• DAAD Postdoc-Fellowship (2009-2011)
• Ph.D. Student Fellowship (Novartis AG, 2006-2007)
• ISAP Fellowship (DAAD, 2003)

Prof. Breder actively supervises 8 postdoctoral researchers, 15 PhD students, and 6 Master's students. His research is funded by the ERC Starting Grant ELDORADO and the Emmy Noether Program, with previous support from University of Goettingen seed funding. The group operates advanced laboratories in Building CH (rooms 13.1.82 and 23.1.x series) at the University of Regensburg.