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The German Chemical Society (GDCh) will award Verena Tang, editor at Spektrum der Wissenschaft, Heidelberg, the GDCh Prize for Journalism and Literature on May 6. The award ceremony will take place during the 10th SEC Annual Meeting, themed "Shaping the Future with Chemistry." The Senior Expert Chemists (SEC) are a Division within the German Chemical Society (GDCh) that brings together retired chemists. A diverse program featuring distinguished speakers—including a Nobel laureate—has been organized for the Conference, which will also mark the SEC's 20th anniversary.
Communicating knowledge in an understandable way – that is something the senior experts are passionate about. Therefore, the awarding of the GDCh Prize for Journalism and Literature is an important highlight of the Conference.
Verena Tang has been awarded the €7,500 prize for her column "A Pinch of Chemistry" in the magazine "Spektrum der Wissenschaft" (Spectrum of Science). The chemist explains kitchen phenomena and food scandals from a chemical perspective – thoroughly and in an easily understandable way. Tang brings practical experience to the table: she worked at the Max Planck Institute for Biophysical Chemistry and as a press officer at the Fraunhofer IAO (a research institute). This experience informs the depth of her writing.
Verena Tang was born in Tübingen in 1985. She studied chemistry at the Universities of Stuttgart and Hohenheim, including a semester abroad at KTH Stockholm, Sweden, and graduated with a diploma in chemistry in 2010. After an internship at the Stuttgarter Zeitung newspaper, she completed a traineeship in the press office of the Max Planck Institute for Biophysical Chemistry in Göttingen. From 2012 to 2019, she was press officer for the Fraunhofer IAO and the IAT at the University of Stuttgart, and from 2017, press spokesperson for the Fraunhofer Innovation Research Alliance. Since February 2019, she has been an editor at Spektrum der Wissenschaft (Spectrum of Science).
The award ceremony is part of a Conference steeped in history: 20 years ago, retired chemists in Frankfurt founded the Senior Expert Chemists (SEC). They didn't want to leave their field behind – but rather continue to contribute their ideas. From May 4th to 6th, 2026, they will celebrate their anniversary in Bayreuth.
The program is created and organized by senior members and moderated by young members of the German Chemical Society (GDCh). This allows young and experienced GDCh members to network, exchange ideas, and learn from each other. Leading researchers present how chemistry helps solve current challenges. Nobel laureate Prof. Dr. Ben Feringa, University of Groningen, Netherlands, speaks about light-guided drugs. Prof. Dr. Ferdi Schüth, Max Planck Institute for Coal Research, Mülheim an der Ruhr, presents pathways to greenhouse gas-neutral chemistry. Prof. Dr. Katharina Landfester, Max Planck Institute for Polymer Research, Mainz, explains how nanomaterials are transforming medicine . Prof. Dr. Peter Seeberger, Max Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces, Potsdam, and Prof. Dr. Stefan Mecking, University of Konstanz, address the circular economy and recyclable plastics. And young startups answer questions from the experienced researchers.
The Conference is open to everyone interested in chemistry.
Further information can be found at www.gdch.de/sec2026.
This event is supported by the Federal Ministry of Education, Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth. This publication does not represent the opinion of the BMBFSFJ. The author is responsible for the content of this publication.
The German Chemical Society (GDCh), with approximately 28,000 members, is one of the largest chemical societies worldwide. It comprises 33 GDCh structures, including the Senior Expert Chemists (SEC) with over 400 members. Most Senior Experts hold university degrees and have held responsible positions in industrial companies, educational institutions (such as universities and schools), research institutes, or government agencies throughout their careers. Today, they volunteer their time in the SEC working groups "public relations" and "School-Education-Career," as well as in ten other working groups.
Since its founding, the communication of chemical topics has played a central role. SEC members give presentations – both in person and online – and write articles for various media outlets. Their topics range from genetic engineering and plant protection to the energy transition and drug effects, as well as long-lasting chemicals, microplastics, and historical contexts.
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The Society of Water Chemistry, a Division of the German Chemical Society (GDCh), is celebrating its centenary with the annual conference "Water 2026." From May 11 to 13, 2026, experts from science, research, and industry will meet in Kiel – the founding city of the Division. Discussions will focus on current challenges in water chemistry, including so-called permanent chemicals (PFAS), which are found in the environment and drinking water and are difficult to remove.
“The Society of Water Chemistry looks back on a 100-year history and is simultaneously deeply involved in the current challenges of water research,” says Professor Dr. Thomas Ternes, Chair of the Society of Water Chemistry and Head of the Department of Qualitative Hydrology at the Federal Institute of Hydrology (BfG). “Founded in 1926 as a Division for water chemistry , the society quickly developed into an interdisciplinary community that addresses pressing issues surrounding surface water and drinking water, such as climate change adaptation, with a broad range of expertise. This breadth is its defining characteristic and makes it well-equipped to tackle challenges like climate change and PFAS. The Society of Water Chemistry will continue to be a key driver in bringing together research, practice, and young scientists to develop solutions for the water issues of tomorrow.”
The program of "Water 2026" reflects the breadth of water research. It focuses on current challenges such as microplastics in marine and inland waters, as well as the pollution of surface waters and drinking water by trace substances. A key focus of the three-day conference is on persistent chemicals – per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS for short. PFAS are frequently used to make materials water- or grease-repellent: In the private sector, for example, they are used in outdoor clothing and rain jackets (waterproofing) or in non-stick pans (e.g., PTFE). An important area of application is fire protection and industry, where they are found in fire-fighting foams (e.g., at airports), in electroplating and metal processing, semiconductor and electronics production, and in the chemical industry. The problem: These compounds are detectable in the environment and in drinking water and can be critical even at low concentrations. They are extremely difficult to remove using conventional water treatment and wastewater purification methods. Comprehensive solutions are urgently needed. The Conference will present current findings on the detection and removal of PFAS.
Excellent water chemistry
Four prizes will be awarded during the Conference . The Division Award Society of Water Chemistry , the water chemistry PhD Award , and the Student Water Award are sponsored by the Walter Kölle Foundation. The Division Award Society of Water Chemistry (3,000 euros) will be awarded to Dr. Stephanie Spahr, group leader at the Leibniz Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries (IGB) in Berlin, for her work on the chemical pollution of urban waters and the treatment of rainwater as a water resource. The water chemistry PhD Award (1,500 euros) will be awarded to Dr. Finnian Freeling for his dissertation at the University of Koblenz on the occurrence, formation, and fate of persistent transformation products of trace substances. The Student Water Award (500 euros and a one-year membership in the Society of Water Chemistry) will be awarded for the first time in 2026 and will go to Jennifer Schmidt for her master's thesis at Goethe University Frankfurt, to Anita Lopes Souto for her master's thesis at the University of Zurich and eawag in Dübendorf (Switzerland), and to Emily Lichtenwald for her master's thesis at the University of Leipzig and the Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research in Leipzig. The Society of Water Chemistry 's honorary pin will be awarded to Dr. Michael Petri of the Lake Constance Water Supply Association.
Further information can be found at www.gdch.de/wasser2026
The German Chemical Society (GDCh), with approximately 28,000 members, is one of the largest chemical societies worldwide. It comprises over 30 GDCh structures, including the Society of Water Chemistry , which was founded in 1926 as the " water chemistry Division " within the Association of German Chemists. In 1948, it was re-established as the " water chemistry Division " within the GDCh, and since 2000, it has been known as the " Society of Water Chemistry – Division within the GDCh." Its approximately 850 members are committed to the effective protection, responsible use, appropriate treatment and purification, as well as the proper testing and evaluation of water.
Note to editors:
We cordially invite media representatives to WATER 2026. For free accreditation, please contact pr@gdch.de.
05/2026
February 24, 2026
From March 24 to 27, analytica, the world's leading trade fair for laboratory technology, analysis, and biotechnology, will take place at the Munich Trade Fair Center. It will be accompanied by the analytica conference from March 24 to 26. In numerous sessions, scientists will present current topics in analysis, quality control, diagnostics, measurement and testing technology, as well as biotechnology and the life sciences. The scientific program of the analytica conference is organized by the Forum Analytik, which comprises the German Chemical Society (GDCh), the German Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (GBM), and the German Society for Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine (DGKL).
The Forum Analytik has put together a comprehensive program for the conference, covering almost all areas of analytical chemistry and presenting the latest trends and developments. The topics have a strong practical focus, so that both research and application benefit equally.
The program highlights the relevance of these topics: one session is dedicated to "Green Analytical Laboratories of the Future." Analytical laboratories worldwide are seeking ways to minimize their environmental impact without compromising performance. This session brings together leading scientists, experts, and industry innovators. They will demonstrate how innovative methods and new technologies are paving the way for greener, smarter, faster, and more cost-efficient laboratories. A subsequent discussion will provide an opportunity for direct exchange with the experts.
The session “The Future of analytica conference: Early-career analysts” focuses on the next generation of analytical scientists. Four early-career researchers will offer insights into their current research topics and share their personal career paths – in academia, industry, or the startup scene. Thematically, the session covers key future topics: analytically capturing biological complexity, sustainability through innovative methods, digitalization as a cornerstone of modern data analysis, and new career paths for young analysts. The session combines methodological innovation, practical application, and personal career prospects – ideal for anyone who wants to actively shape the future of analytics.
In addition to these and many other sessions, an accompanying poster exhibition, supported by the companies Shimadzu, Agilent and YMC Europe, rounds off the program.
At the analytica conference 2026, two working groups of the GDCh Division of Analytical Chemistry will award prizes primarily aimed at young scientists. The German working group for Analytical Spectroscopy will recognize outstanding achievements with the "Bunsen-Kirchhoff Award for Analytical Spectroscopy." This prize, endowed with €3,000 and supported by Analytik Jena GmbH, is aimed at experienced early-career researchers from universities, research institutes, or industry. The Working Group Archaeometry (AKA) will award the "Gerhard Schulze Young Scientist Prize" for the first time. This prize, endowed with €500, recognizes outstanding theses in the field of archaeometry and commemorates Professor Gerhard Schulze, who significantly advanced archaeometric research within the analytical chemistry community. Additionally, the Division of Analytical Chemistry of the European Chemical Society (EuChemS) will award the "EuChemS-DAC Tribute."
The analytica conference takes place at the ICM – International Congress Center Munich on the exhibition grounds. The conference language is English. Admission to the conference is free for analytica attendees. The GDCh booth is located in Hall B2, Booth 511.
On March 27, the GDCh, together with the GBM and the Association for Biology, Biosciences and Biomedicine in Germany (VBIO), is hosting a study information day at the ICM. Teachers can register their classes free of charge at ab@gdch.de.
The current program for the analytica conference can be found at www.gdch.de/analyticaconf2026 or in the event database at www.analytica.de/konferenz.
Press contacts:
analytica conference
Maren Mielck
German Chemical Society
public relations
Tel.: +49 69 7917-327
Email: pr@gdch.de
analyticala
Claudia Grzelke
PR Manager Messe München
Tel.: +49 89 949-21498
Email: press.shows@messe-muenchen.de
On March 17, the German Chemical Society (GDCh) will award Professor Dr. Claudia Höbartner of Julius-Maximilians-University Würzburg the Albrecht-Kossel Award . She will receive the €7,500 prize for her outstanding work in the field of biochemistry. The award ceremony will take place during the "GDCh Biochemistry 2026" Conference of the GDCh Division of Biochemistry, which will be held in Würzburg from March 16 to 18 under the motto "From chemical structures to biological functions."
Claudia Höbartner has been awarded the Albrecht-Kossel Award for two significant discoveries in the field of catalytic nucleic acids (DNA and RNA with enzyme function). She achieved the first structural elucidation of a DNAzyme – a breakthrough that provides fundamental insights into catalysis and enables diverse applications. She also discovered a ribozyme with methyltransferase activity (the ability to transfer methyl groups). This property is significant for research into the origins of life and offers prospects for applications in synthetic biology. Both works were published in the journal Nature and lend considerable relevance to the field of research.
Claudia Höbartner studied technical chemistry at the Vienna University of Technology (AT) until 2001 and received her doctorate in Chemistry from the Leopold-Franzens University of Innsbruck (AT) in 2004. After postdoctoral positions at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (US) and in Innsbruck, she became a research group leader at the Max Planck Institute for Biophysical Chemistry in Göttingen in 2008. In 2014, she was appointed Professor at the Institute of Organic and Biomolecular Chemistry at the University of Göttingen. Since 2017, she has been Professor of Organic Chemistry (W3) at the University of Würzburg. In 2022, she was elected to the German National Academy of Sciences Leopoldina, and in 2023 she received the Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz Prize and the Bavarian Order of Merit. Höbartner is a long-standing member of the German Chemical Society (GDCh) and has served on the Board of the GDCh Division of Biochemistry since 2023.
Regarding the price:
The Albrecht-Kossel Award, endowed with 7,500 euros, was established in 2012 and first awarded in 2014. The prize is named after Ludwig Karl Martin Leonhard Albrecht Kossel (1853–1927), a German biochemist, physician, and physiologist. He was awarded the 1910 Nobel Prize in Physiology or medicine for his research on the cell nucleus, the isolation of nucleic acids, and the determination of their constitutions.
Further information about the Conference can be found at www.gdch.de/biochemistry2026
The German Chemical Society (GDCh), with approximately 28,000 members, is one of the largest chemical societies worldwide. It has 33 GDCh structures and awards numerous prizes for outstanding achievements in various sub-disciplines of chemistry.
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The annual conference of the Division of History of Chemistry of the German Chemical Society (GDCh) will take place at the University of Lübeck from March 19 to 20, 2026. During the Conference , on March 20, the Gmelin-Beilstein commemorative coin, the Paul Bunge Prize of the Hans R. Jenemann Foundation, and the Bettina-Haupt-Förderpreis of the Bettina Haupt Foundation will be presented. All three awards recognize achievements in the history of chemistry.
Professor Dr. Helmut Maier of the University of Wuppertal has been awarded the Gmelin-Beilstein commemorative coin of the German Chemical Society (GDCh) for his impressive lifetime achievement in the history of chemistry. The selection committee was particularly impressed by his 2015 publication, "Chemists in the 'Third Reich'." In it, the Wuppertal-based historian of science documents the entanglement of the two predecessor organizations of the GDCh—the German Chemical Society and the Association of German Chemists—with the Nazi regime. The study is distinguished by its wealth of facts and meticulous source material. Maier analyzes the scope of action available to individuals and institutions—without resorting to moralizing.
Helmut Maier studied electrical engineering (diploma 1985) as well as modern history and the history of science at the Technical University of Braunschweig, where he received his doctorate in 1990. He completed his habilitation at the Brandenburg University of Technology Cottbus in 2005. He was a research associate at the Technical University of Braunschweig (1990–1992) and the Ruhr University Bochum (1992–1998), a research fellow at Iowa State University, Ames, USA (1993–1994), and coordinator of the Max Planck Society's research program in Berlin (1999–2004). From 2007 to 2020, he was a full professor at the Ruhr University Bochum. Since 2020, he has been an adjunct professor at the Interdisciplinary Center for Science and Technology Studies at the University of Wuppertal. He received the Rudolf Kellermann Prize of the Association of German Engineers (VDI) in 1991 and the Special Prize of the German Chemical Industry Association (VCI) Fund in 2016.
Dr. David Singerman of the University of Virginia, Charlottesville, USA, has been awarded the Paul Bunge Prize for his book "Unrefined: How Capitalism Reinvented Sugar." In it, he retells the story of sugar in the 19th century, examining it through the lens of a measuring instrument: the polariscope (sometimes called a polarimeter). This instrument was used to determine sugar content and was therefore crucial for trade and taxation. He shows how experts from chemistry and industry struggled to standardize sugar—a laborious undertaking, as Singerman demonstrates. In doing so, he connects a classic theme of economic and colonial history with metrology (the science of measurement), a central concern of 19th-century science. Singerman thus opens up new perspectives on capitalism and globalization. The selection committee was particularly impressed by how Singerman uses the history of a single instrument to illuminate broader historical contexts.
David Singerman studied history at Columbia University, New York, USA (BA 2006) and history and philosophy of science at the University of Cambridge, UK (MPhil 2007). He received his PhD from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, USA, in 2014. After postdoctoral positions at Rutgers University, New Brunswick, USA, and as a research associate at Harvard Business School, Boston, USA, he has been an Assistant Professor of History and American Studies at the University of Virginia, Charlottesville, USA, since 2017. In 2015, he was awarded the Krooss Prize and the Coleman Prize for the best dissertation in economic history. In 2024, he was a visiting professor at the EHESS, Paris, France.
The Bettina-Haupt-Förderpreis is awarded to Dr. Simon Große-Wilde of the Technical University of Berlin for his publication "Military Technology Research and Testing for the 'Third Reich' – The Chemical-Technical Reich Institute from 1900 to 1945." The study meticulously traces the history of the Chemical-Technical Reich Institute and its predecessor, the Military Testing Office (MVA), and thoroughly analyzes its military technology research as well as its state entanglements from the German Empire to National Socialism. It thus makes an important contribution to modern departmental research.
Further information about the Conference can be found at www.gdch.de/geschichte
About the Gmelin-Beilstein commemorative coin:
The Gmelin-Beilstein commemorative coin is awarded by the German Chemical Society (GDCh) to individuals from Germany and abroad who have made outstanding contributions to the history of chemistry, chemical literature, or chemical information. The prize is endowed with €7,500 and includes a silver medal. It was originally established in 1954 by Hoechst AG and has been funded by the GDCh since 1996. The prize commemorates Leopold Gmelin and Friedrich Beilstein, who published the first handbooks on inorganic and organic chemistry in the 19th century.
About the Paul Bunge Prize:
The Paul Bunge Prize is considered the world's most important honor in the field of the history of scientific instruments and is open to public and international submissions. The Hans R. Jenemann Foundation Prize, endowed with 7,500 euros, is awarded jointly by the German Chemical Society (GDCh) and the German Bunsen Society for Physical Chemistry (DBG). It recognizes outstanding work on the history of scientific instruments. Hans R. Jenemann (1920–1996), a chemist at the Schott Glassworks in Mainz, became known for his contributions to the history of scientific instruments, especially historical balances. He himself established the foundation in 1992. The prize is named after the Hamburg precision mechanic Paul Bunge (1839–1888), one of the leading designers of laboratory balances for chemical analysis.
About the Bettina-Haupt-Förderpreis:
The Bettina Haupt Foundation awards the Bettina-Haupt-Förderpreis for the history of chemistry. The prize promotes research in the history of chemistry by recognizing outstanding work by early-career researchers from German-speaking countries. It is endowed with 1500 euros.
The German Chemical Society (GDCh), with approximately 28,000 members, is one of the largest chemical societies worldwide. It maintains numerous foundations, including the Hans R. Jenemann Foundation. The Paul Bunge Prize of the Hans R. Jenemann Foundation is awarded annually, usually alternating between the Bunsen Conference and the lecture conferences of the GDCh Division of History of Chemistry.
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Under the motto "Colourful Chemistry," the JCF (Young Chemistry Forum) of the German Chemical Society (GDCh) will hold its spring symposium in Cologne from March 10 to 13. The Conference is aimed at the young chemistry community from Germany and abroad. Around 400 scientists are expected to attend. The program includes lectures, workshops, an industry exhibition, and a poster session. A special highlight this year is the inaugural presentation of the JCF Best Supervisor Award.
For 28 years, the JCF Spring Symposium has been one of the largest conferences in Europe by and for young researchers. The event is hosted annually by different regional forums of the JCF, the junior research organization of the German Chemical Society (GDCh). In 2026, the regional forums of Cologne, Düsseldorf, Aachen, and Bonn took over the organization and jointly developed a diverse program. In addition to internationally renowned scientists, the event features presentations by junior research group leaders and young researchers.
The motto "Colourful Chemistry" alludes to the breadth of chemistry, the diversity of topics covered, and the variety of people and perspectives within the community. This is also reflected in the high-caliber scientific program. Among the plenary speakers are Professor Dr. Klaus Müllen, Max Planck Institute for Polymer Research; Professor Luisa De Cola, University of Milan, Italy; and Associate Professor Joleen Masschelein, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Belgium. Professor André K. Isaacs, a chemist well-known from social media, from the College of the Holy Cross, USA, will also give a plenary lecture on science communication. Conference attendees can participate in various workshops, and the diverse social program offers opportunities for informal networking. This year, the national Three Minute Thesis (3MT) final will also take place during the Conference . In the 3MT, doctoral candidates present their research in just three minutes using a single static slide. From March 10th to 12th, the GDCh career service will also be present with a stand and will answer questions about Career and starting a career.
As a special highlight, the new JCF Best Supervisor Award will be presented for the first time. Good supervision is crucial for the success, motivation, and well-being of doctoral candidates. This new JCF award recognizes supervisors with exceptional dedication and a modern leadership culture. The first JCF Supervisor Award goes to Prof. Dr. Lena Daumann of Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf for her holistic approach to supervision in chemistry. In supporting her staff, she also considers aspects beyond the purely academic realm, for example, when she found individual solutions for all doctoral candidates during her research group's relocation. As a certified mental health trainer, she actively promotes the well-being of her team. Regular development discussions and soft skills training complement her approach. Daumann also champions diversity, inclusion, and the FAIR principles (open handling of research data).
Lena Daumann, born in 1983, received her doctorate in chemistry from Heidelberg University in 2013. She then pursued further research at the University of Queensland, Australia. A Feodor Lynen Research Fellowship took her to the University of California, Berkeley, USA, and back to Heidelberg University. From 2016, Daumann was Professor of Bioinorganic Chemistry at Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich, before assuming the Chair of Bioinorganic Chemistry at Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf in 2023. In 2019, she received the Ars legendi Faculty Prize for Excellence in Chemistry university teaching , and in 2020, an ERC Starting Grant. She has been an elected member of the German Research Foundation (DFG) Review Board since 2024.
Further information can be found at https://symposium.jcf.io
The German Chemical Society) , with approximately 28,000 members, is one of the largest chemical societies worldwide. It promotes scientific work, research, and teaching, as well as the exchange and dissemination of new scientific findings. The GDCh supports the creation of networks, transdisciplinary and international collaboration, and continuous education and professional development in schools, universities, and the workplace. The GDCh has 33 GDCh structures and 60 local sections and regional forums of the JCF (Young Chemistry Forum) at almost all university locations. Nationwide, the JCF provides a platform for around 10,000 young members of the GDCh.
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Around 350 chemists will gather at the University of Duisburg-Essen from March 2nd to 4th for the 2026 Chemiedozententagung (CDT). At the event, the German Chemical Society (GDCh) will award the prestigious Carl-Duisberg Memorial Award to Junior Professor Dr. Markus Suta of Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf. The GDCh's Association of German University Professors of Chemistry (ADUC) will each present an ADUC Prize to Junior Professor Dr. Schirin Hanf of the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Dr. Charalampos (Babis) Pappas of the University of Freiburg, and Junior Professor Dr. Alex J. Plajer of the University of Bayreuth.
The Carl-Duisberg Memorial Award, endowed with 7,500 euros, was established in 1936 to support young university lecturers. Markus Suta receives the award for his research on luminescent materials. The junior professor from Düsseldorf is considered one of the world's leading experts in luminescence thermometry – a method in which luminescent substances are used to measure temperature. He combines experimental chemistry with physical models at the highest level. His design principles for luminescent thermometers are considered groundbreaking. He impressed the selection committee with his distinctive scientific profile, numerous publications, successful acquisition of external funding, and his remarkable commitment to teaching.
Markus Suta, born in Siegen in 1990, studied chemistry at the University of Siegen, graduating with a Master of Science degree in 2012. He then completed a second degree in physics at the same university, graduating in 2019. He received his doctorate in chemistry from the University of Siegen in 2017. Following his doctorate, he worked as a research assistant at the University of Siegen and subsequently as a postdoctoral researcher at Utrecht University in the Netherlands. Since May 2021, he has been a junior professor of inorganic photoactive materials at Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf. In 2023, he was elected to the Young Academy of the North Rhine-Westphalian Academy of Sciences and Arts and has received numerous awards. He has published 83 peer-reviewed scientific papers and has secured approximately €1.43 million in external funding.
During the Conference , the ADUC will award ADUC prizes to one young female scientist and two young male scientists. The prizes, each worth 4000 euros, are awarded for establishing an independent field of research in chemistry.
Junior Professor Dr. Schirin Hanf, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), has been awarded an ADUC prize for the development of catalysts that combine the advantages of homogeneous and heterogeneous catalysts and their application in industrially relevant reactions. After completing her studies in Leipzig, Dr. Hanf earned her doctorate in 2019 from the University of Cambridge, UK, with funding from the German Chemical Industry Fund and the German National Academic Foundation. Her doctoral research focused on developing a phosphine ligand library, investigating coordination compounds, and employing these complexes in homogeneous catalysis. She then worked as a postdoctoral researcher at hte (a subsidiary of BASF SE) in Heidelberg, further developing her expertise in heterogeneous catalysis and reaction engineering. At the end of 2020, she joined KIT, where, since 2021, she has been building an independent working group at the interface of molecular and solid-state catalyst systems as a tenure-track professor.
Dr. Charalampos (Babis) Pappas, University of Freiburg, is also being honored in recognition of his work in organic systems chemistry, which explores the role of phosphates beyond their traditional biological functions and integrates them into dynamic chemical reaction networks. Charalampos (Babis) Pappas studied chemistry and biochemistry at the University of Ioannina, Greece, until 2012 and received his PhD in 2016 from the University of Strathclyde, UK, for research on peptide nanomaterials, which he also conducted at the City University of New York, USA. He then undertook a research stay at the University of Groningen, Netherlands, where he investigated self-replicating molecules and emergence. Since 2020, he has led a junior research group at the University of Freiburg, associated with the Cluster of Excellence livMatS. His work has already been recognized with awards including the Bachem AtPS Award and an ERC Starting Grant.
Junior Professor Dr. Alex J. Plajer, University of Bayreuth, has been awarded an ADUC Prize for establishing inorganically inspired polymer chemistry, which integrates sulfur chemistry, catalysis, and supramolecular self-assembly into a single research concept. Alex J. Plajer is a Junior Professor of macromolecular chemistry at the University of Bayreuth. He studied chemistry in Heidelberg and received his PhD from the University of Cambridge, UK. He was subsequently a Fellow at the University of Oxford, UK, and a Liebig Fellow at the Free University of Berlin before moving to Bayreuth. His research focuses on polymerization catalysis and the synthesis of sustainable polymer structures that integrate main group elements and metal centers, and is supported, among other things, by an ERC Starting Grant.
The Chemiedozententagung) is organized by the Association of German University Professors of Chemistry (ADUC) of the German Chemical Society (GDCh) and brings together early-career academics from all areas of chemistry. Postdoctoral researchers, junior professors, and scholarship holders use the Conference to present their research and exchange ideas. Since 2025, the CDT has also featured short presentations of results from postdoctoral research or planned independent research projects.
Further information about the Conference can be found at www.gdch.de/cdt2026
The German Chemical Society (GDCh), with approximately 28,000 members, is one of the largest chemical societies worldwide. It has 33 GDCh structures and awards numerous prizes for outstanding achievements in chemical research. The GDCh's long-established Association of German University Professors of Chemistry (ADUC) annually recognizes up to three early-career researchers (during their habilitation, fellowship, or junior professorship) for establishing an independent field of research.
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