Elisha Krieg

Dr. Elisha Krieg serves as Group Leader at the Leibniz Institute for Polymer Research Dresden and TUD Young Investigator at Dresden University of Technology, Germany. Her research pioneers programmable biomaterials using DNA nanotechnology for advanced biomedical applications, bridging synthetic polymer science with biological complexity.

Her academic foundation includes:

• Ph.D. in Chemistry, Weizmann Institute of Science, Israel (2013)
• M.Sc. in Chemistry, Weizmann Institute of Science, Israel (2009)
• Vordiplom in Chemistry, University of Cologne, Germany (2006)

Krieg's work centers on developing DNA-based nanomaterials that translate nanoscale programmability to macroscopic functional materials. Her group designs synthetic polymers functionalized with DNA modules to create reconfigurable platforms for diagnostics, tissue engineering, and nucleic acid purification. This approach leverages DNA's molecular precision to overcome limitations of conventional synthetic polymers, enabling dynamic biomaterials that respond to biological cues.

Recent publications reveal a clear trajectory toward clinical translation, with 12 of 15 recent papers focusing on DNA-encoded hydrogels for cell culture matrices and nucleic acid diagnostics. The research spans fundamental supramolecular chemistry to applied biomedical engineering, emphasizing scalability and point-of-care compatibility.

Key recognition includes:

• HFSP Postdoctoral Fellowship during Harvard tenure

Krieg actively recruits MSc/PhD students through DIGS-BB and secures competitive funding including the TUD Young Investigator program. Her mentorship emphasizes interdisciplinary training in polymer chemistry, molecular biology, and nanomaterial characterization. Current grants support three core application areas: DNA/RNA purification for sequencing diagnostics, dynamic 3D cell culture matrices, and pathogen detection systems.

The Krieg Group operates within the Max Bergmann Center of Biomaterials, utilizing advanced facilities for DNA nanotechnology, polymer synthesis, and nanomaterial characterization including cryo-EM and rheology.