Thomas Bein

Thomas Bein serves as Chair of Physical Chemistry and Nanoscience in the Department of Chemistry at Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich (LMU), Germany, a position held since 1999. He currently coordinates the National Excellence Cluster "e-conversion" and previously held professorships at Purdue University (1991-1999) and the University of New Mexico (1986-1991).

Educational background includes a PhD in Physical Chemistry from the University of Hamburg and Catholic University of Leuven (1984) and a Master in Chemistry from the University of Hamburg (1981).

His research pioneers mesostructured materials, covalent organic frameworks (COFs), and energy conversion systems, with emphasis on electroactive donor-acceptor architectures. Work spans porous materials design, nanoscale phenomena, and sustainable energy applications, evidenced by consistent recognition as a Highly Cited Researcher (2018-2021).

Major honors include:

• 2020 Elhuyar-Goldschmidt Award (Royal Spanish Chemical Society)
• 2018 Lifetime Achievement Award (International Mesostructured Materials Association)
• ERC Advanced Grant for "Electroactive Donor-Acceptor COFs" (2013-2018)
• Multiple prestigious fellowships including Alfried Krupp and DAAD

Leadership extends to presidency of the International Mesostructured Materials Association (2010-2015), coordination of LMU's "Advanced Materials Science" Master's program (2005-2015), and direction of DFG Excellence Clusters "Nanosystems Initiative Munich" (2015-2018) and "e-conversion" (2018-present). Editorial roles span Chemistry of Materials, Journal of the American Chemical Society, and Matter.