Prof. Kai S. Exner is a Professor of Theoretical Inorganic Chemistry at the University of Duisburg-Essen's Faculty of Chemistry and a member of the Zentrum für Medizinische Biotechnologie (ZMB). His research focuses on electrocatalysis , particularly optimizing electrode materials for energy applications such as batteries, electrolyzers, and fuel cells. He employs computational methods like ab initio calculations and microkinetic modeling to bridge theoretical insights with experimental and industrial applications, emphasizing sustainable catalyst design without relying on noble metals. His work integrates basic research with applied medical biotechnology through ZMB collaborations, though his primary affiliation lies in the Faculty of Chemistry. Exner has pioneered concepts like the electrochemical-step asymmetry index and free-energy span model, which are critical for screening electrocatalysts. His research group, 'Theoretical Inorganic Chemistry,' actively explores mechanisms behind oxygen and chlorine evolution reactions, emphasizing selectivity control and reaction pathway complexity. Exner received the Gottschalk-Diederich-Baedeker-Preis (2024) for advancing the energy transition through foundational electrocatalysis research. He leads Aktuelles Projekt funded by third-party grants and collaborates with facilities like the Analytics Core Facility Essen (ACE) and Imaging Center Campus Essen (ICCE). His advisory role focuses on guiding theoretical and computational approaches in electrochemistry, and he has established a reputation for interdisciplinary research connecting computational chemistry with practical energy solutions.
Prof. Dr. Björn Corzilius is a University Professor (W2) of Physical Chemistry at the University of Rostock, Germany, leading the Corzilius group. His research focuses on solid-state NMR spectroscopy, dynamic nuclear polarization (DNP), and applications in biomolecules and materials. He holds affiliations with the Leibniz Institute for Catalysis (LIKAT) and serves on multiple academic boards, including the transregional Collaborative Research Center TRR 386 and the journal Magnetic Resonance . Education: 1999: Studies of Chemistry, TU Darmstadt 2005: Diploma in Physical Chemistry (TU Darmstadt) 2008: Ph.D. in Physical Chemistry (TU Darmstadt) Research Interests: Solid-state NMR, DNP for sensitivity enhancement, paramagnetic metal ions, biomolecular dynamics, and method development. His work bridges theoretical and experimental approaches to advance structural and functional studies of complex systems like proteins, nucleic acids, and catalytic materials. Recent Article Trends: Focus on DNP applications in biomolecular interfaces, novel polarizing agents (e.g., Gd(III) complexes), and methodological advancements like serial polarization transfer and electron-decoupled DNP. Contributions span inorganic chemistry, materials science, and biophysical systems. Awards: Emmy Noether Fellowship (2012) Felix Bloch Lecture (2016) Regitze M. Vold Memorial Prize (2017) Best Ph.D. Supervision (2018) Grants & Labs: Principal Investigator of the Emmy Noether Group (2013–2019), now leading the DNP research team at the University of Rostock. Collaborates closely with LIKAT on catalytic and materials projects. His group actively develops open-access publishing platforms like Magnetic Resonance and hosts international conferences. Labs/Teams: The Corzilius group at the Institute of Chemistry (Rostock) specializes in NMR method development and applications. Associated with LIKAT for interdisciplinary catalysis research.
Michael J. Black is a Professor and Honorarprofessor at the University of Tübingen's Faculty of Science, Department of Computer Science, and a founding Director of the Max Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems, leading the Perceiving Systems department. He holds a B.Sc. from the University of British Columbia (1985), M.S. from Stanford (1989), and Ph.D. in Computer Science from Yale (1992). His research focuses on computer vision, 3D human modeling, motion capture, and AI-driven digital humans. Key contributions include the SMPL body model, optical flow algorithms, and datasets like Middlebury Flow and Sintel. He has received major awards such as the PAMI Distinguished Researcher Award, multiple Koenderink and Longuet-Higgins Prizes, and is a member of the German National Academy of Sciences Leopoldina and Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences. His commercial ventures include co-founding Body Labs (acquired by Amazon) and Meshcapade, advancing 3D human generation and interaction technologies. Recent work includes markerless motion capture systems (e.g., MAMMA, PICO), 3D hair and garment synthesis, and AI tools like ChatHuman for 3D human interaction analysis. His research bridges vision, graphics, and robotics, with applications in animation, healthcare, and robotics.
Prof. Dr. Mathias Christmann is a faculty member at the Institute of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Freie Universität Berlin , leading the research group in Organic Chemistry . His work focuses on strategic and methodological challenges in synthetic chemistry, particularly in total synthesis, organocatalysis, and renewable resource transformations. Position: Professor Contact: mathias.christmann@fu-berlin.de Location: Takustr. 3, Room 24.16, 14195 Berlin Research Interests include: Natural product-inspired small molecule synthesis for biological pathway modulation Minimizing C-C bond formations through selective functionalization of terpene building blocks Organocatalytic and metal-catalyzed reactions in multistep sequences Flow chemistry applications for scalable and sustainable synthesis Biological evaluation of TRPC channel agonists/antagonists for cancer therapy Publication Trends highlight expertise in total synthesis of complex terpenoids, organocatalysis for stereocontrolled reactions, flow chemistry for late-stage transformations, and TRPC4/5 channel modulation in renal cancer studies. His group pioneers asymmetric desymmetrization , photo-oxidation protocols , and electrosynthesis methods with minimal reagent waste. Advisees include PhD candidates Jan-Hendrik Dickoff , Mayar Elbendary , Nadine Kreidt , Tobias Olbrisch , Kamar Shakeri , and Zhen Wang , focusing on terpene-based drug discovery and catalytic reaction design.
Prof. Johannes A. Lercher is a retired professor (as of April 2023) at the Technical University of Munich (TUM), holding the Chair of Chemical Technology II within the Department of Chemistry. His research focuses on heterogeneous catalysis, particularly understanding catalytic processes at solid-liquid and solid-gas interfaces, with applications in sustainable energy production, CO₂ conversion, and catalytic upcycling of polymers. He has held academic positions at the University of Twente (Netherlands) and the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (USA), and has been Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Catalysis . His honors include the Alwin Mittasch Prize (2021), ENI Award (2016), and Kozo Tanabe Prize (2013). His recent work emphasizes low-temperature polymer upcycling, methane activation, and bioinspired catalyst design, leveraging advanced spectroscopic and operando techniques. Despite retirement, his contributions to catalysis research remain impactful. Education: PhD (1980) and Habilitation (1985), Vienna University of Technology Visiting Lecturer, Yale University (1982) Research Interests: Heterogeneous catalysis, catalytic interfaces, sustainable energy carriers, CO₂ valorization, and polymer waste upcycling. Key areas include: Design of catalysts for selective hydrocarbon synthesis Mechanistic studies using advanced spectroscopy Development of scalable catalytic processes for industrial applications Recent Trends in Publications: Focus on low-temperature polymer recycling (e.g., PVC and polyolefin upcycling), methane activation via novel catalysts (e.g., Co 2+ in ZSM-5), and bioinspired catalytic strategies. His work bridges fundamental catalysis with industrial relevance, emphasizing sustainability and energy efficiency. Awards and Recognition: Member, Academia Europaea and US National Academy of Engineering Recipient of multiple international catalysis awards (see full list above) Grants and Labs: Led the Institute for Integrated Catalysis (Pacific Northwest National Lab, 2011–present). His research groups have pioneered studies on zeolite-confined reactions and interfacial catalysis, with collaborations spanning academia and industry. Labs/Teams: Active in the TUM Department of Chemistry and international networks focused on catalytic innovation for a carbon-neutral economy.
Dieter Braun is a Professor in the Faculty of Physics at Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich (LMU), leading the Functional NanoSystems research group. He serves as speaker of the CRC 235 Emergence of Life and coordinates the Molecular Origins component of the Origins Cluster. Dr. Braun holds an ERC Synergy Grant (starting April 2025), leads the CRC 392 Molecular Evolution (starting April 2024), and is a Fellow in the Max Planck School Matter to Life (since October 2023). His research focuses on understanding the physical mechanisms that could have led to the emergence of Darwinian evolution from prebiotic molecules on early Earth. Braun's laboratory investigates non-equilibrium settings, particularly asymmetrically heated open cracks in rocks, which create intricate wet-dry cycles, temperature gradients, and fluidic effects that could drive molecular evolution. His work bridges physics, chemistry, and biology to explore how dead molecules might combine through physical forces into autonomous mechanisms of evolution. Analysis of Braun's recent publications reveals a strong focus on thermal gradients and non-equilibrium physics in prebiotic environments. His research demonstrates how heat flows can concentrate molecules, drive polymerization, create pH gradients, and enable non-enzymatic replication of nucleic acids. The publications span high-impact journals including Nature, Nature Physics, and Nature Chemistry, showing interdisciplinary work connecting physics, chemistry, geology, and biology in the context of life's origins. Klung-Wilhelmy Weberbank Price (2011) Technology Transfer Price of the DPG (with LMU and NanoTemper) Deutscher Innovationspreis (2012) Step Award (2012) Dr. Braun has successfully mentored numerous PhD students, including Stefan Duhr and Philipp Baaske who founded the award-winning startup NanoTemper Technologies. His research is supported by multiple prestigious grants including ERC Starting, Advanced, and Synergy Grants, as well as funding from the Simons Collaboration on the Origins of Life. His laboratory collaborates extensively with other researchers across disciplines and institutions, particularly with Hannes Mutschler in the new ERC Synergy project. The Braun laboratory operates within the CRC 235 Emergence of Life and the Origins Cluster at LMU Munich, with strong connections to the Max Planck Society through the Max Planck School Matter to Life. The research group maintains active collaborations with geochemists, biophysicists, and molecular biologists to create comprehensive experimental models of prebiotic environments.
Andreas Jentys is a Professor at the Department of Technical Chemistry within the TUM School of Natural Sciences at Technische Universität München (TUM). His research focuses on understanding surface reactions and transport phenomena in mesostructured, micro- and mesoporous oxides with acid/base or redox properties, as well as supported metal catalysts for gas and condensed phase reactions. He prepares materials with tailored functionality and studies their sorptive and catalytic properties using in situ electron and vibrational spectroscopy combined with microkinetic experiments. Education: PhD (Dr. techn.) in Chemistry from TU Wien (1991) Postdoctoral: Royal Institution of Great Britain (1992-1993) with Prof. Richard Catlow Academic Career: TU Wien (1998: Associate Professor), TUM (1999: Senior Scientist; 2011: Professor) Teaching: Active in TUM Asia since 2006 Research interests span catalysis, surface chemistry, material science, and chemical reaction engineering. He specializes in zeolites, bimetallic catalysts, and in situ spectroscopic methods. Recent work examines: Hydrogen evolution and carbon-carbon coupling on Cu Methane activation via Co²⁺ sites in ZSM-5 Photocatalytic systems using metal-organic frameworks Solvent effects in palladium-catalyzed hydrogenation CO₂ hydrogenation over bifunctional catalysts Publications trend toward heterogeneous catalysis, with emphasis on: Design of mesoporous and microporous materials Characterization of metal clusters and oxo species Microkinetic modeling of catalytic systems Environmental applications (NOx/CO₂ reduction) Hydrogen and hydrocarbon processing Teaching includes courses on: Reaction Engineering and Kinetics Industrial Chemical Processes I & II Fundamentals of Catalysis TC Praktikum (internship)
Prof. Dr. Andreas Hirsch is a Professor in the Department of Chemistry and Pharmacy at Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU) . His research focuses on organic chemistry , graphene functionalization , carbon nanomaterials , and molecular solar thermal systems , with significant contributions to 2D material engineering and supramolecular chemistry . Chair of Organic Chemistry II (FAU Erlangen-Nürnberg) ResearchGate: Profile Google Scholar: Profile His work spans graphene patterning via laser writing , black phosphorus stabilization using perylenediimides , and covalent functionalization of 2D materials like MoS 2 and carbon nanotubes . Recent studies include non-covalent passivation of BP nanosheets and electroswitchable catalysis for solar thermal energy storage . His scientific awards include the Second Place Poster Award (2023) and Robert C. Haddon Research Award (2021) . Collaborative projects highlight smart nanoparticle systems for radiation therapy and environmental remediation applications.
Prof. Roland A. Fischer is a Full Professor at the Chair of Inorganic and Metal-Organic Chemistry at Technical University of Munich (TUM). Previously, he held a Full Professorship at Ruhr University Bochum (1997–2015). His research focuses on multifunctional metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), clusters, and composites for energy conversion, catalysis, gas storage, and environmental applications. He leads the Catalysis Research Center and has pioneered advancements in MOF-based catalytic systems and stimuli-responsive materials. Education: 1981–1986: Diplom in Chemistry (TUM) 1989: PhD, Dr. rer. nat. (TUM) 1995: Habilitation (TUM) Research Interests: His work integrates molecular and extended catalytic systems, including: - Design of MOFs for photocatalytic fuel production - Nanoparticle encapsulation in robust frameworks - Redox-switchable materials and photochromic systems - Cluster chemistry and superatom complexes - Applications in energy storage, environmental remediation, and biomedical technologies. Major Achievements: Over 680+ publications, h-index 101 (Scopus 2025) Coordinator of EU projects (SURMOF, ENHANCE, DEFNET) Recipient of Heinz-Maier-Leibnitz Award (1993) and Alfried Krupp Award (1996) Editorial roles: Angewandte Chemie , Chemical Vapour Deposition Grants & Teams: He has secured major grants including DFG Priority Programs (CVD-Materials, COORNETs) and led interdisciplinary teams in EU initiatives. His lab collaborates globally, including visiting professorships at Kyoto University and IIT Bombay. Labs & Facilities: His research uses advanced facilities like the Catalysis Research Center and contributes to platforms such as the Munich Catalysis Alliance. Key tools include atomic layer deposition, in situ characterization, and MOF-based device fabrication.
Professor Emiliano Cortés is a faculty member at the Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich (LMU), where he leads research in Plasmonic and Photonic Chemistry at the Nano-Institute Munich. His work bridges the fields of nanotechnology, physical chemistry, and materials science, focusing on light-matter interactions for energy conversion applications. Dr. Cortés' research focuses on plasmonics , photocatalysis , and electrocatalysis at the nanoscale. His group investigates how the dynamics of photons, plasmon-polaritons, carriers, phonons, and molecular states influence chemical reactivity. A key aspect of his work involves developing techniques to study plasmonic systems at the single particle level and designing rational synthesis approaches for plasmonic colloidal photo and electrocatalysts. His research has significant implications for sustainable energy technologies, environmental remediation, and advanced sensing applications. Analysis of Professor Cortés' recent publications reveals a strong focus on energy conversion processes, with particular emphasis on CO2 reduction, ammonia synthesis, and hydrogen production. His work integrates plasmonic effects with catalytic processes to enhance reaction efficiencies, often through innovative interface engineering and nanostructure design. The research spans fundamental studies of charge carrier dynamics to practical applications in energy storage and environmental technologies. Professor Cortés actively mentors doctoral candidates and postdoctoral researchers, currently advertising open positions for projects on Single particle photo and electrocatalysis and Synthesis of hybrid colloids . His research group, the Hybrid Plasmonics Lab (www.hybridplasmonics.org), receives funding from various sources to support their work on plasmon-mediated chemistry for sustainable applications. The Cortés research group operates within the Nano-Institute Munich, utilizing state-of-the-art facilities for nanomaterial synthesis, characterization, and testing. Their work combines experimental approaches with theoretical modeling to understand and harness light-matter interactions at the nanoscale for practical applications in energy conversion and environmental technologies.
Prof. Dr. Aliaksandr Bandarenka is a Professor at the Technical University of Munich (TUM) in the TUM School of Natural Sciences , leading the Assistant Professorship of Physics of Energy Conversion and Storage . His research focuses on electrochemical surface science and energy materials development. Education: PhD in Chemistry from Belarusian State University (2005) Key Collaborations: Ruhr University Bochum, University of Twente, Technical University of Denmark Prof. Bandarenka's research explores: Design of electrocatalytic materials via bottom-up approaches Characterization of electrified interfaces Development of sustainable energy conversion/storage systems Surface structure-activity relationships in catalysis Recent article trends (2024) include: ORR electrocatalyst optimization using ZIF-8 templating Advanced impedance spectroscopy for battery/electrolyzer diagnostics Mesoporous oxide materials for energy applications Surface structure effects on double layer capacitance Scientific Recognition: Ernst Haage-Prize (2016) Hans-Jürgen Engell Award (2013) He teaches graduate courses on: Electrified interfaces Energy materials science Electrocatalysis fundamentals Hands-on experiments in battery technology
Dr. Golo Storch is a Junior Fellow and Research Group Leader at the Technical University of Munich (TUM), where he leads the Emmy Noether Research Group funded by the German Research Foundation and holds an ERC Starting Grant. He is affiliated with the TUM School of Natural Sciences and the Department of Organic Chemistry I, focusing on flavin-based catalysis for organic synthesis. Dr. Storch completed his undergraduate and graduate studies in Chemistry at Heidelberg University (2007-2012), followed by a doctorate in 2016 under Prof. Oliver Trapp, focusing on stereodynamic ligands and self-amplifying catalysis. He then conducted postdoctoral research at Yale University (2016-2018) with Prof. Scott Miller, exploring quinone redox-interconversion and peptide ligands for site-selective catalysis. Since 2019, he has led his independent research group at TUM. Dr. Storch's research centers on designing molecular flavin catalysts for selective organic transformations, inspired by flavoenzyme chemistry. His work focuses on position- and stereoselective catalysis, particularly using non-covalent interactions to control catalytically active sites. Key research directions include photochemical excitation of flavins for oxidation/reduction reactions, activation of molecular oxygen for selective oxygenation, and applications in modifying peptide natural products and complex organic molecules. His group combines synthetic methodology, photochemistry, DFT calculations, and spectroscopy to develop sustainable alternatives to precious metal catalysts. Dr. Storch's recent publications demonstrate significant contributions to flavin catalysis, showing how tailored flavin structures can enable diverse chemical transformations including hydrogen atom abstraction, C-H functionalization, selective oxygenation, and deracemization reactions. His work bridges photochemistry and organocatalysis, with applications in natural product modification and sustainable synthesis. Research Award of the Dr. Otto Röhm Memorial Foundation (2023) ERC Starting Grant 2023 (2023) ADUC Prize of the German Chemical Society (2023) Member of the Young College of the Bavarian Academy of Sciences and Humanities (2023) Exploration Grant, Boehringer Ingelheim Foundation (2024) ORCHEM Award 2024, German Chemical Society Emmy Noether Programme, German Research Foundation (since 2021) Liebig Fellowship, Chemical Industry Fund (2019-2021) Dr. Storch actively mentors PhD and Master's students in his research group, with several successful PhD completions. His research is supported by multiple prestigious grants including the ERC Starting Grant "BifurCAT," the DFG Emmy Noether Programme, and the Boehringer Ingelheim Foundation Exploration Grant for hybrid macrolide natural products research. He is also an Associate PI at the Catalysis Research Center (CRC) and participates in the newly funded CRC 392 on Molecular Evolution. The Storch Lab, part of the TUM Catalysis Research Center, focuses on "Designed Flavins for Catalysis" with the motto "Tailor-Made Catalysts - New Reactivity - Selective Editing." The group collaborates extensively with other research teams at TUM, including the de Vivie-Riedle group, Hauer lab, Bach group, and Dreuw labs, demonstrating strong interdisciplinary connections within the university's chemistry and physics departments.
Kai Leonhard is an Adjunct Professor at the Chair of Technical Thermodynamics , RWTH Aachen University. His research focuses on computational chemistry, thermodynamics, and molecular modeling, particularly in solvent design and reactive chemical processes. Department: Chair of Technical Thermodynamics Email: kai.leonhard@ltt.rwth-aachen.de Prof. Leonhard's work integrates quantum chemistry with computer-aided molecular and process design (CAMD/CAPD), emphasizing solvation thermodynamics, reaction kinetics, and machine learning applications. His projects span biofuel combustion, microgel synthesis, and sustainable solvent development. Recent publications highlight advancements in COSMO-RS-based solvent screening, reaction network exploration via ChemTraYzer-TAD, and multi-fidelity modeling for partition coefficients. He employs machine learning to enhance predictive thermodynamic models and optimize chemical processes.
Christopher J. Stein is an Associate Professor of Theoretical Chemistry at the Technical University of Munich (TUM), part of the TUM School of Natural Sciences. His research focuses on theoretical (electro-)catalysis, developing electronic-structure models and solvation/embedding methods to understand and optimize catalytic processes. He leads the Stein Group, which integrates computational chemistry with high-throughput simulations to advance energy materials and battery technologies. His work emphasizes realistic modeling of catalyst behavior under operational conditions and has contributed to advancements in quantum embedding and automated reaction mechanism exploration. Education and Career: Earned his PhD in Theoretical Chemistry, with postdoctoral research at Caltech (2017-2020). Became an Associate Professor at TU Munich in 2023. He previously held roles at Karlsruhe Institute of Technology and contributed to projects like the BIG-MAP Materials Acceleration Platform. Research Interests: Theoretical chemistry, electrochemical interfaces, battery materials, high-throughput computational methods, and machine learning integration. His group explores topics like solid electrolyte interphases, charge transfer mechanisms, and automated workflows for materials discovery. Awards: While no explicit awards are listed, his contributions to materials acceleration platforms and theoretical catalysis have been widely recognized in the field. His work has been featured in journals like Journal of Chemical Physics , Chemical Science , and Angewandte Chemie . Labs/Teams: Leads the Stein Group at TUM, collaborating with institutions like the Munich Data Science Institute and MIRMI. His lab focuses on computational tools for accelerating energy material development, including quantum embedding and cloud-based simulations.
Prof. Holger Braunschweig is the Chair of Inorganic Chemistry at the University of Würzburg . His research focuses on organometallic and main-group element chemistry , emphasizing the synthesis and reactivity of novel molecular species with applications in catalysis , organic synthesis , and materials science . Education : PhD and Habilitation at RWTH Aachen (advisor: Prof. P. Paetzold); postdoctoral work at Sussex (Prof. M.F. Lappert); Reader at Imperial College London Key research themes include low-valent main-group compounds (e.g., borylenes, diborenes, beryllium species), small-molecule activation (N 2 , CO 2 , CO), and photophysically active boron heterocycles (boroles, alumoles, azaborinines). His work combines sophisticated synthetic protocols with analytical and computational methods . Recent publications (2025) highlight advances in boron-containing polymers , metal-ligand reactivity , and high-pressure molecular studies . Awards include the 2024 ENI Award , 2024 Frederick Hawthorne Award , and ERC Advanced Grants ('multiBB', 'BORYLENEFUN'). Scientific Awards : Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz Prize (2009), RSC Main Group Chemistry Award (2014), Reinhart Koselleck Grant (2018), etc. He leads the Institute for Sustainable Chemistry & Catalysis with Boron (ICB) and is affiliated with the Department of Inorganic Chemistry . His group includes senior researchers , postdocs , PhD students , and technicians .
