معرفی
Prof. Dr. Kevin Pagel is an Associate Professor (W2) of Organic Chemistry at the Free University Berlin, where he leads the Pagel Group within the Institute of Chemistry and Biochemistry in the Department of Biology, Chemistry, Pharmacy. His research focuses on structural analysis of biological macromolecules using ion mobility-mass spectrometry (IM-MS) and gas-phase spectroscopy. He also maintains a guest scientist position at the Fritz Haber Institute of the Max Planck Society in Berlin.
Dr. Pagel's educational background includes undergraduate and graduate studies in chemistry at the University of Leipzig (1998-2002), a Diploma in Chemistry with grade 1.3 (2002-2003), and PhD research conducted jointly at the University of Leipzig and Free University Berlin (2003-2007), completed with summa cum laude honors. His postdoctoral work spanned the Free University Berlin, University of Cambridge, and University of Oxford, supported by a Leopoldina Fellowship.
His research program centers on applying IM-MS and gas-phase spectroscopy to characterize complex carbohydrates involved in protein glycosylation and study protein folding/misfolding related to neurodegenerative disorders. His group utilizes the FHI free electron laser for gas-phase IR spectroscopy, providing structural insights not possible in solution studies. Current projects include carbohydrate sequencing, glycosylation mechanism analysis, protein aggregation studies, and development of novel analytical instrumentation combining IM-MS with cold-ion spectroscopy.
Analysis of his recent publications reveals a strong trend toward integrating cryogenic infrared spectroscopy with computational approaches for understanding glycosylation mechanisms and developing advanced methods for glycan analysis. His work bridges analytical chemistry, biochemistry, and physical chemistry with applications in glycobiology and neurodegenerative disease research.
Dr. Pagel's scientific contributions have been recognized with numerous awards:
- Fresenius Lectureship of the Gesellschaft Deutscher Chemiker (2024)
- Fachgruppenpreis der GDCh Fachgruppe Analytische Chemie (2017)
- Ron Hites Award of the American Society of Mass Spectrometry (2016)
- Mattauch Herzog Award of the German Society of Mass Spectrometry (2016)
- Jochen Franzen Poster Award (2010)
He actively mentors approximately 10 PhD candidates and numerous postdoctoral researchers. His group includes specialists working on glycosaminoglycan sequencing, protein aggregation, glycan fragmentation mechanisms, and instrument development. Dr. Pagel serves on the editorial advisory board of the Journal of Proteome Research and teaches Bioorganic Chemistry, Instrumental Analysis, and Vibrational Spectroscopy courses.
The Pagel Group operates from the Research Building SupraFAB at Altensteinstraße 23A in Berlin, utilizing advanced instrumentation including modified Waters Synapt systems for gas-phase tagging spectroscopy. The group's collaborative structure enables comprehensive investigation of biomolecular structure and function across multiple research fronts.
