Research Profile
Research at the Department of Chemistry at Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin
The Department of Chemistry at Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin focuses on two promising fields of research:
A. Functionally Structured Materials and Catalysis
B. Chemical Biology
These research fields have the study of structure-activity principles in common, either in collective ensembles (inorganic and organic materials) or in molecular structures (homogeneous catalysis, functional polymers, biologically active systems). The aim is to gain an understanding of these relationships through synthesis-analysis cycles and to develop highly efficient materials, or to specifically analyse and influence biological systems. Also, a chemistry education professorship has been established at the Department of Chemistry. Teaching/learning research is carried out here together with the Physics and Biology departments at Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin. The combined bachelor's degree courses for chemistry teachers are offered with chemistry as core or as second subject.
Several groups across all disciplines work on the research field “Functionally structured materials and catalysis”. Their synthesis potential ranges from sophisticated solid-state syntheses and anaerobic syntheses in solution phase to more specialised organic synthesis and polymer synthesis. Characterization is carried out at an advanced routine level using special spectroscopic methods at the highest level. The synthetically oriented groups receive valuable support through methods of theoretical chemistry for their investigations into the structure and function of nanomaterials, optical materials and functional (polymer) solids. The field of research combines inorganic, organic, physical and theoretical chemistry through cooperation with the Physics Department at Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, the Institute for Applied Chemistry (ACA), the Federal Institute for Materials Research and Testing (BAM), the Max Born Institute for Nonlinear Optics and Short Pulse Spectroscopy, the Institute for Crystal Growth at the campus Adlershof and the Hahn-Meitner Institute. The groups also use diverse spectroscopic possibilities at BESSY II.
Within the rapidly advancing field of “chemical biology”, chemists first identify a biological problem and, by specifically analysing and influencing biomolecular processes, enable the solution of this problem and thus a fundamental understanding of life processes. At Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, the focus is on the interplay of conformation-dynamics-functions, with particular emphasis on DNA-DNA, DNA-protein and protein-protein interactions. It should be emphasized that research at Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin is not limited to developing methods and exploring biological recognition processes, but also aims at developing biotechnological tools.
In an alliance of synthetic, analytical, biophysical and theoretical working groups, there are a total of 42 life science-oriented collaborations with partners from biology (12), biochemistry (3), biotechnology (2), biophysics (4), pharmacy (2), chemistry (5), medicine (12) and industry (6).
Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin
Department of Chemistry
Brook-Taylor-Str. 2
12489 Berlin