Dr. Michael Bodensteiner serves as the Head of the X-ray Structure Analysis Department within the Central Analytics Unit at the University of Regensburg's Institute of Inorganic Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry and Pharmacy. With over a decade of leadership in crystallographic analysis since 2011, he has established himself as a key figure in quantum crystallography and advanced X-ray structure determination techniques. His educational background includes chemistry studies at the University of Regensburg (2001-2007) culminating in a diploma thesis on "Investigations into the oligomerization of Lewis acid/base-stabilized phosphanylalanes" under Prof. Dr. M. Scheer, followed by doctoral research on "Lewis Acid-Base-Stabilized Phosphanylalanes and Crystal Structure Determinations" completed between 2007-2011. Dr. Bodensteiner's research focuses on quantum crystallography, particularly the application of individual aspherical form factors derived from quantum chemical calculations or multipole refinement. His work significantly advances the understanding of electron density distribution, bonding relationships, and precise hydrogen positioning at neutron diffraction levels. He specializes in Cu-Kβ radiation techniques that provide superior resolution for challenging crystal structures like "sponge crystals," and has developed methods for individual determination of anomalous dispersion during structure model refinement. His research directly contributes to the development of the NoSpherA2 software, which he co-developed. Analysis of his recent publications reveals a strong emphasis on quantum crystallographic methods, particularly through the NoSpherA2 platform. His work spans from fundamental charge density analysis to applications in heavy element compounds, organometallic chemistry, and materials science. A notable trend is the integration of computational methods with experimental crystallography to extract maximum information from X-ray diffraction data, with particular attention to anomalous dispersion effects and advanced refinement techniques. Dr. Bodensteiner actively teaches multiple courses in X-ray crystallography across both winter and summer semesters, including practical courses on single-crystal X-ray structure analysis and theoretical components covering the journey from crystal to reflection and back. His teaching extends to general chemistry for biologists, pharmaceutical scientists, and business chemists. As Managing Director of OlexSys GmbH, he bridges academic research with commercial applications of crystallographic software. His professional leadership extends to multiple crystallographic societies where he serves in significant roles, including as board member of the Chemical Crystallography Working Group in the Analytical Chemistry Division of the German Chemical Society, and involvement with multiple special interest groups in the European Crystallographic Association. His laboratory work centers around advanced X-ray diffraction techniques, with particular expertise in quantum crystallography methods, Cu-Kβ radiation applications, and anomalous dispersion parameter refinement. The department under his leadership serves as a critical analytical resource for the university's chemistry research community, providing high-precision structure determinations that inform broader chemical investigations across multiple research groups.
