We do research together. Working in the Department of Chemistry at Konstanz means taking an interdisciplinary approach to science, exchanging ideas and researching within a network. Working together with other teams – within our department, but also crossing the border to colleagues from other disciplines – is the rule in Konstanz, not the exception. It is this philosophy which has helped to shape the special profile of our department. This is reflected particularly in the Konstanz Research School Chemical Biology (KoRS-CB), the DFG Research Group FOR 434, the Collaborative Research Centers 969 and 767, and the Center of Applied Photonics, which is operated conjointly with the Biology and Physics departments.
Our main areas of research range from modern, timely questions from life sciences to hot topics of material sciences. Together with national and international research partners, we work as part of a vibrant network to get to the bottom of the complex interplay of molecules, which determine the lives of each and every organism, and to promote the development of new materials with customized structures and properties.
Our interdisciplinary research enables us not only to enjoy the scientific interactions amongst colleagues, but also to rely on excellently equipped laboratories.
Groups
Barra Group - Systemic Chemical Biology
Understanding the genetic and enzymatic basis of non-canonical natural product biosynthetic pathways will enable the development of novel biocatalysts for sustainable production of pharmaceuticals, as well as the genome-based discovery of novel lead structures for drug development
Prof. Dr. Lena Barra
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Cölfen Group - Physical Chemistry
"A thorough understanding of crystallisation and its mechanisms opens up a whole new world of possibilities for the synthesis of highly optimised materials."
Prof. Dr. Helmut Cölfen
Drescher Group - Physical and Biophysical Chemistry
"Our vision is precision measurement of the structure and dynamics of bio-macromolecules right where they are at work - inside a living cell."
Prof. Dr. Malte Drescher
Gaich Group - Natural Product Synthesis and Synthetic Methodology
"The central research focus of the Gaich group comprises the synthesis of such natural products from commercial starting materials. Thereby the goal is to achieve a rationale, elegant and practical approach to these organic molecules that provides enough material for detailed pharmaceutical investigations and paves he way for new marketable substances."
Prof. Dr. Tanja Gaich
Hartig Group - Chemical and Synthetic Biology of Nucleic Acids
"We develop simpler and more precise gens switches: they don't need transcription factors, because they're part of the protein-coding RNA."
Prof. Dr. Jörg Hartig
Hauser Group - Biophysical Chemistry
"Many diseases are caused by misfolded and aggregated proteins. Hence a molecular understanding of the protein folding process is of fundamental interest to science and crucial for the development of medications."
Prof. Dr. Karin Hauser
Huwer Group - Didactics of the natural sciences
"Our vision is to enable modern chemistry lessons with innovative didactic concepts in the field of digitization and sustainability education"
Prof. Dr. Johannes Huwer
Kovermann Group - Physical Chemistry and Nuclear Magnetic Resonance
"We focus on the structure & dynamics of biomolecules obtaining a coherent understanding of their inherent functionality - on an atomic level."
Prof. Kovermann
Marx Group - Organic Chemistry / Cellular Chemistry
"We develop new, chemistry-based approaches for studying complex biological systems that defy state-of-the-art approaches. In particular, we're interested in important biomolecules such as nucleotides, oligonucleotides and proteins."
Prof. Andreas Marx
Mathies Group - Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy
"We develop the biophysical chemistry methods of tomorrow."
Dr. Guinevere Mathies
Mecking Group - Chemical Materials Science
"We’re searching for new and unusual catalytic processes to create materials that have not been possible until now – or have always been believed to be impossible."
Prof. Dr. Stefan Mecking
Peter Group - Theoretical and Computer-Aided Chemistry
"We want to go beyond computer simulations that show us only a single level of resolution. That's why we combine multiple simulation models to produce a meaningful overall picture."
Prof. Dr. Christine Peter
Ruiz Agudo Group - Physical Chemistry
"Fundamental understanding of the formation of industrial crystalline substances is key for developing advanced sustainable materials."
Dr. Cristina Ruiz Agudo
Unterlass Group - Solid State Chemistry
"We have one big goal: We aim at making advanced organic compounds for high-performance materials and biology by efficient and green syntheses."
Prof. Dr. Miriam M. Unterlass
Winter Group - Inorganic Chemistry: Organometallic Chemistry
"Metal-organic π-systems are characterized by redox activity at low potentials, high electron mobilites, intensive absorption bands in the visible spectrum and the near infrared (NIR), and high stabilities of their paramagnetic states. We combine these properties in our research and thereby strive to develop new functions and applications."
Prof. Rainer Winter
Wittemann Group - Colloid Chemistry
"Mordern nanotechnology is a cross-disciplinary field with enormous prospects for the future. The challenge here is to bring different scientific traditions together."
Prof. Dr. Alexander Wittemann
Wittmann Group - Organic and Bioorganic Chemistry
"In nature, carbohydrates do more than just provide energy. They're involved in significant biological recognition process. Our aim is to gain a better understanding of these processes in order to control them and suppress the development of diseases such as cancer."
Prof. Dr. Valentin Wittmann
Zumbusch Group - Physical Chemistry
“We want to understand the dynamic processes in tiny systems. The development of more sensitive and selective methods for optical microscopy set the stage for us in this.”
Prof. Dr. Andreas Zumbusch