Johannes Hunger

Dr. Johannes Hunger is a Group Leader at the Max Planck Institute for Polymer Research (MPI-P) in Mainz, Germany. He obtained his PhD in Chemistry from the University of Regensburg in 2006 under the supervision of Richard Buchner. Following a postdoctoral fellowship at the FOM Institute AMOLF in Amsterdam (2010-2012) funded by the German Science Foundation (DFG), he joined MPI-P as a group leader in 2012. In 2016, he established his distinguished research group with a starting grant from the European Research Council (ERC).

His research focuses on dynamics in the condensed phase with particular emphasis on Coulombic and hydrogen-bonding interactions. His group intensively studies room temperature ionic liquids, electrolyte solutions, and solvation phenomena, elucidating fundamental properties of liquids including molecular-level ion transport and molecular association, as well as the relevance of such interactions in biological contexts (osmolyte action, specific ion effects) and technological applications (solvation dynamics, dissolution phenomena). With ERC funding, his group has intensified research on non-covalent interactions within reactive intermediates in organo-catalysis.

The 15 most recent publications (2024-2025) demonstrate continued focus on hydrogen bonding dynamics, ion transport mechanisms, and solvation phenomena across various systems including aqueous interfaces, ionic liquids, and biomolecular environments. His work consistently combines experimental approaches with theoretical insights to unravel fundamental molecular processes.

Scientific Awards:

• Postdoctoral Fellowship from German Science Foundation (DFG)
• ERC Starting Grant

Dr. Hunger leads an active research group currently focused on three main areas: Fundamentals of Asymmetric Organo-Catalysis, Interaction of Osmolytes and Ions with Biopolymers, and Dynamics of Electrolytes. His research program is supported by the ERC grant FASTO-CAT and involves collaborations with numerous international research groups. His group maintains strong connections with the University of Regensburg where he completed his doctoral studies, and with research institutions in the Netherlands where he conducted his postdoctoral work.

The research group operates state-of-the-art facilities for studying molecular dynamics, including advanced spectroscopic techniques for probing hydrogen bonding networks and ion transport phenomena at ultrafast timescales.