Ulrich Schwaneberg

Prof. Ulrich Schwaneberg serves as a University Professor at RWTH Aachen University's Faculty of Mathematics, Computer Science and Natural Sciences within the Institute of Biotechnology. His research group operates from the Biology Sammelbau facility (Worringerweg 3, Aachen) and maintains strong ties with the DWI - Leibniz Institute for Interactive Materials.

His primary research focuses on protein engineering and biocatalysis, with significant contributions to plastic degradation technologies (particularly PET hydrolases), material-binding peptide development, and high-throughput screening methodologies. Key research thrusts include engineering enzymes for plastic recycling, developing anchor peptides for industrial applications, and creating novel biocatalytic systems for sustainable chemistry.

Recent publications reveal a strong trend toward computational-guided enzyme design (using MD simulations and machine learning) combined with practical applications in environmental remediation. His team actively develops solutions for microplastic detection, phosphate recovery, and textile functionalization using biohybrid systems. The 2025 article portfolio demonstrates particular emphasis on PET degradation technologies and enzyme immobilization strategies.

Prof. Schwaneberg leads the recently launched Materials Lab Incubator (MerLIn) funded with over 7 million euros from BAFA, and coordinates the Bio4MatPro competence center connecting industry partners with academic research. His group actively recruits Chinese students through CSC fellowships and organizes the annual Aachen Protein Engineering Summer School (AcES2).

The Schwaneberg group maintains state-of-the-art facilities for directed evolution, high-throughput screening, and biocatalytic process development, with strong industry partnerships focused on sustainable material innovations. Current initiatives include the development of flame-retardant textile coatings using biohybrid anchor peptides and scalable systems for plastic upcycling.