Life, Light Activation, Cycloaddition, Photocatalysis, Synthesis

Axel G. Griesbeck

Griesbeck group develops light-driven synthetic methods, including photooxygenations, cycloadditions, and electron-transfer reactions. Application areas include artemisinin analogues as antimalarial agents as well as stereochemically complex amino acids and cyclopeptides.

Technetium, Mass Spectrometry, Structure, Material, Synthesis

Erik Strub

The group is interested in fundamental chemistry of the artificial element Technetium. Further, we collaborate with the institutes of geology and nuclear physics in the field of accelerator mass spectrometry. We are performing radiometric analyses, and apply X-ray Fluorescence for archeometry.

Material, Photoswitches, Synthesis, Solid State, MOFs

Uwe Ruschewitz

The research group synthesizes and characterizes novel inorganic solids, including acetylide compounds, fluorinated coordination polymers, and MOF-based composite materials incorporating photoswitchable guest molecules.

Material, Thin Films, Synthesis, Nano, Solid State

Sanjay Mathur

Starting from tailored molecular precursors, the research group synthesizes and characterizes nanostructured materials—such as thin films, nanoparticles, and nanowires—for applications in energy technology, surface functionalization, and nanomedicine.

Material, Luminescence, Synthesis, Complexes, Ligands

Axel Klein

Synthesis and characterization of novel coordination compounds and organometallic complexes via rational ligand design, focusing on luminescence, redox chemistry, catalysis, and theoretical modeling of structure–property relationships using DFT.

Material, Synthesis, Nano, Aerogels, Porous Materials

Barbara Milow

The research group synthesizes highly porous, nanostructured aerogels from inorganic, organic, and biopolymer-based precursors via sol–gel processes and investigates their exceptional thermal, acoustic, and structural properties for applications in aerospace, automotive, and construction.

Life, Proteolysis, Cryo-EM, Proteins, Structure

Ulrich Baumann

Structural biology research on the extracellular matrix and proteolytic systems. The research group combines biochemistry, biophysics, and modern methods such as cryo‑EM and X‑ray crystallography to elucidate protein structures and interactions.

Life, Light Activation, Cryo-EM, Proteins, Structure, Electron Microscopy

Elmar Behrmann

The research group investigates the structure and dynamics of proteins in functional states. Using cryo‑EM, flexible systems and light‑driven mechanisms are elucidated in near‑native environments to better understand molecular modes of action.

Crystallography, Life, Proteins, Enzymes, Structure

Karsten Niefind

The research group uses X‑ray crystallography to determine the three‑dimensional structures of biologically relevant proteins and enzymes, including eukaryotic protein kinases, plant immune signaling proteins, and enzymes involved in bacterial pollutant degradation and biotechnological applications.

Life, Neuroreceptors, Proteins, Enzymes, Redox

Günter Schwarz

Protein Structure–Function group investigates protein structure–function relationships ranging from basic metabolism to molecular neuroscience, with a focus on the biosynthesis of the molybdenum cofactor, molybdenum cofactor deficiency, and the structural biology of inhibitory neurotransmitter receptors.

Crystallography, Material, Luminescence, f-Elements, Synthesis, Solid State

Mathias S. Wickleder

The research group synthesizes and characterizes novel inorganic compounds in the fields of lanthanide, actinide, and technetium chemistry, as well as high-pressure phases and superacid systems, and systematically investigates them for unusual magnetic and luminescent properties using single-crystal X-ray diffraction.

Macrocycles, COFs, Material, Photoswitches, Synthesis

Oliver Dumele

The Dumele group develops novel materials based on polyaromatic frameworks, including crystalline and porous covalent organic frameworks (COFs), strained aromatic macrocycles, and photoswitchable molecular magnets for applications in quantum information science.

Life, Proteins, Peptides, Structure, Nucleotides

Daniel Friedrich

The Friedrich Lab uses NMR to uncover structure–activity relationships in biomolecular interactions and define molecular principles of biological function. It focuses on dynamic transitions at atomic resolution, enabling the rational design of functional biomolecules.

Life, RNA Structure, Immune Signalling, Nucleotides, Synthesis

Stephanie Kath-Schorr

Kath-Schorr group develops chemically modified nucleic acids with artificial base pairs and novel backbone analogues. The aim is precise labeling and targeted functionalization of RNA for structural studies, therapeutic applications, and the enhancement of plant immune responses.

Material, Luminescence, Chirality, Semiconductors, Photonics

Prince Ravat

Ravat group develops chiral π-conjugated molecules whose three-dimensional structure governs optical and electronic functions. The research focuses on helicene-based semiconductors, circularly polarized emission, and materials for chiral optoelectronic devices.

Life, Material, Optoelectronics, Photonics

Malte Gather

The Gather Lab develops molecular photonics, primarily for living systems: microlasers as markers and force sensors in single cells, and OLEDs as biocompatible light sources for optogenetics and implants. Work on strong coupling opens up applications beyond biology.

Life, Biophotonics, Peptides, Ionic Liquids, Chirality

Ralf Giernoth

The research group develops switchable molecules and solvents for biomedical applications, investigates ionic liquids and their interactions, and synthesizes novel chiral anions as strong Brønsted acids for asymmetric applications.

Spectroscopy, Mass Spectrometry, Natural Product Analysis, Life, Structure

Mathias Schäfer

Mathias Schäfer investigates ionization and fragmentation mechanisms as well as the structural analysis of natural products using tandem mass spectrometry, infrared multiphoton dissociation, photoaction spectroscopy, and ion mobility spectrometry, complemented by quantum-chemical calculations.

Material, Optoelectronics, Thin Films, Synthesis, Semiconductors

Klaus Meerholz

The research group conducts research on large-area and printed organic electronics, including organic and hybrid light-emitting diodes, photovoltaics, data storage devices, and organic batteries, with the aim of developing cost-effective and environmentally friendly manufacturing processes.

Material, Polymers, Hybrid Materials, Synthesis, Nano

Annette Schmidt

The research group develops and characterizes functional nanomaterials and polymer systems, including magnetic hybrid materials, self-healing materials, bioactive surfaces, and Pickering emulsions, with a focus on the targeted control of architecture and material properties.

Plasmonics, Material, Meta-Optics, Light–Matter Interaction, Nano

Klas Lindfors

The group studies light and light-matter interactions on the nanoscale. We use state-of-the-art nanofabrication methods to realize advanced structures for engineering light-matter interaction. These are characterised using a broad palette of optical microspectroscopies.

Biophotonics, Material, Optoelectronics, Nano, Photonics, Functional Materials

Marcel Schubert

The research group develops microscopic lasers and biocompatible optical devices for biomedical applications, including bioresponsive sensors and microlasers integrated into biological systems, at the interface of biology, chemistry, and photonics.

Life, Ab Initio, Material, f-Elements, Complexes

Michael Hanrath

The research group develops quantum-chemical methods in the fields of ab initio electron correlation and relativistic effects, generates energy-consistent pseudopotentials for heavy elements, and investigates lanthanide and actinide complexes and their applications using computational methods.

Life, Neuroscience, Biophotonics, Material, Optoelectronics

Sabina Hillebrandt

The lab operates at the interface of chemistry, materials science, and neuroscience. We combine the development of functional organic materials with advanced device engineering and biomedical translation to create next-generation optoelectronic neurointerfaces.

Life, Peptides, Photoswitches, Synthesis, Cellular Uptake

Ines Neundorf

The research group develops and investigates membrane‑active and cell‑penetrating peptides. The focus is on synthesis, modification, and functional analysis to selectively modulate cellular processes and for applications in drug delivery and therapy.

Life, Proteins, Redox, Mitochondria, Proteostasis

Jan Riemer

The research group investigates redox control of cellular processes and the integration of mitochondria into cellular signaling networks, with a focus on redox homeostasis, mitochondrial biogenesis, proteostasis, and the metabolic regulation of proteome plasticity.

Life, Enzymes, Enantioselectivity, Organocatalysis

Bernd Goldfuß

The Goldfuss group investigates the molecular origins of reactivity and stereoselectivity through a close integration of synthesis, asymmetric catalysis, and computational chemistry methods. Key research areas include hydrogen-bond organocatalysis and terpene synthase mechanisms.

Life, Structure

Simone Wiegand

The research group investigates transport processes in aqueous systems, particularly thermodiffusion and thermophoresis, and employs optical scattering methods to study the influence of hydration shells and hydrogen bonding on biological and biocompatible compounds.