Manfred Wagner

Dr. Manfred Wagner is a Group Leader at the Max Planck Institute for Polymer Research (MPIP), where he has led the High-Resolution NMR Department since 1990. He obtained his diploma in Chemistry from the University of Mainz in 1988 and his PhD from MPIP in 1993, specializing in synthetic chemistry of ladder structures. His career includes project leadership in carbonaceous material development (1990-2002) and pioneering NMR methodology.

His research focuses on:

• Advanced NMR spectroscopy for macromolecular microstructure analysis (polymers, biomolecules)
• Reaction kinetics and material properties studies using multi-nuclei NMR (¹H, ¹⁹F, ²⁹Si, etc.)
• Self-assembly mechanisms of peptides/nucleotides under variable conditions
• ¹⁹F-NMR as a biochemical sensor for protein interactions and drug development

Recent publications (2021-2022) reflect interdisciplinary work spanning polymer synthesis from renewable resources, inorganic complex characterization, and pharmaceutical agent development, consistently utilizing spectroscopic techniques to probe chemical and biological systems.

He leads the NMR Core Facility and collaborates on projects including:

• Alternatives to Gd-based MRI contrast agents
• CRC 1279: Exploration of human peptidomes for antimicrobial/anticancer agents