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Team

Who we are: Personal development and scientific discovery rely on curiosity, creativity, and multiple perspectives. As a team we are committed to fostering an inclusive environment where people from all backgrounds thrive, no matter their race, ethnicity, gender, age, religion, language, abilities/disabilities, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status, or country of origin. We value and foster collaboration within and outside our group, and we welcome multiple approaches and points of view.

If you are interested in bachelor theses or internships in our group, please visit our open positions page.

Head of Group

Lehrstuhlinhaberin
Prof. Dr. Lena Daumann
Gebäude: 26.33
Etage/Raum: 00.42
0211 81 13135
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Secretary

Sekretariat
Tessa Michel
Gebäude: 26.42
Etage/Raum: 01.37
0211 81 13136
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Staff

Wissenschaftlicher Angestellter
Dr. Guido Johannes Reiß
Gebäude: 26.42
Etage/Raum: 01.25
Wissenschaftlicher Angestellter
Dr. Carl-Eric Wegner
Gebäude: 26.32
Etage/Raum: 00.74.
0211 81 12824
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Personal Homepage

I'm a trained microbiologist with a background in applied biology, molecular/environmental microbiology, and bioinformatics. I'm driven by my interest in microbial physiology - how do microbes contribute to planetary health and how can we use them to make our life more sustainable? My group's work is centered around lanthanide-dependent microbial metabolism. My broader research interests include top-down / bottom-up microbial carbon cycling, subsurface microbiology, and metal cycling. For our work we follow an embedded omics approach, combining DNA sequencing-based methods with complementary methods, e.g. analytics and advanced electron microscopy, to tackle research objectives from different angles.

Technicians

Chemielaborantin
Nevena Nikolić
Gebäude: 26.42
Etage/Raum: 01.27
CTA
Annette Ricken
Gebäude: 26.32
Etage/Raum: 01.66
Chemietechniker
Nick Sistig
Gebäude: 26.32
Etage/Raum: 00.66
+49 211 81 10334
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Chemielaborantin
Katarzyna Skierkowska
Gebäude: 26.32
Etage/Raum: 01.23
0211 81 14143
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Lab 26.32.01.68 Labphone 13674

Chemielaborantin
Burcu Yücel
Gebäude: 26.32
Etage/Raum: 00.76
+49 211 81-14334
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Lab 26.32.00.72 Labphone 13348

Postdocs and Visiting Scientists

Postdoc
Dr. Alexandra Bork
Gebäude: 26.43
Etage/Raum: U1.21
+49 211 81-14109
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Alexandra studied for a Bachelor (B.Sc.) and Masters Degree in Biochemistry (M.Sc.) at Goethe University in Frankfurt with emphasis on membrane proteins and protein biochemistry and continued her PhD at HHU Düsseldorf on structural and functional studies on the Ca2+ dependent K+ channel AKT1 from A. thaliana and its interacting proteins in the lab of Prof. Dr. Lutz Schmitt.

Lab 26.43.U1.26 Labphone 14133

Postdoc
Sophie Gutenthaler-Tietze M.Sc.
Gebäude: 26.43
Etage/Raum: U1.21
+49 211 81-14109
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Sophie joined the group for her M.Sc. thesis in 2019 after working with Prof. Klüfers, Prof. Trapp, PD Dr. Schredelseker (Walther-Straub-Institute) and Prof. Duhme-Klair (University of York) during her Chemistry studies at LMU Munich. In 2020, she re-joined the group for a PhD on bio-inspired Ln-binding peptides and isolating metallophores from methylotrophic bacteria. After completing her PhD (LMU, 01/2025), she continues as postdoctoral researcher in our group focusing on Ln-uptake in methylotrophic bacteria. Her work combines bacterial cultivation with multiple analytical methods. She is also one of the faces behind our Lab’s Instagram and a science communication enthusiast.

Lab 26.43.U1.26 Labphone 14133

Postdoc
M.Sc. Jonathan Gutenthaler-Tietze
Gebäude: 26.32.
Etage/Raum: 00.68
+49 211 81-13630
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After completing his Bachelor (2017) and Master (2020) at LMU Munich Jonathan joined the Karaghiosoff group for his PhD where he was working on the investigation of structure-luminescence relations of phosphine oxide based luminophores. He joined our group in 2024 to investigate the impact of rare-earth metals on prebiotic reaction networks.

Lab 26.32.00.62 Labphone 14868

Visiting Scientist
Dr. Iryna Konovalova
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Dr. Irina Konovalova works at the Institute for Single Crystals National Academy of Science of Ukraine in Kharkiv as Senior Researcher in the Department of X-ray Diffraction and Quantum Chemistry (research group Prof. Dr. Oleg Shishkin), and joined HHU in August 2022 as a participant of the ERASMUS+ exchange program for postdocs. She investigates aromatic compounds which are key structural blocks of bioactive products, medically important compounds and organic functional materials. The method of crystal structure analysis using quantum-chemical calculations makes it possible to study the energy structure of a crystal, evaluate the role of various types of intermolecular interactions, and predict the supramolecular architecture of a crystal. The combination of experimental X-ray diffraction data and theoretical studies on energy and bonding allows us to obtain a systematic fundamental knowledge about features that influence various types of intermolecular interactions, and thus contribute to the growing area of modern crystal engineering i.e. in pharmaceutical research.

Postdoc
Dr. Wouter Versantvoort
Gebäude: 26.43
Etage/Raum: U1.23
+49 211 81-14111
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I’m fascinated by the role enzymes play in cellular metabolism. In my research I focus on unravelling the functional mechanisms of novel enzymes isolated from non-model microorganisms. To this end I employ a wide array of complementary biochemical and biophysical techniques. After completing my PhD on proteins and protein complexes in oxygen-dependent methane oxidizers in the group of Prof. Jetten at the Radboud University Nijmegen, I studied the unique hydrazine synthase enzyme through UV-Vis, EPR and FTIR spectroscopy in the group of Prof. van Niftrik (Radboud University, Nijmegen) in close collaboration with Dr. Baymann (CNRS, Marseille). In Prof. Daumann’s group, I will work on isolating and characterizing different enzymes from the thermoacidophilic methanotroph M. fumariolicum SolV.

Lab 26.43.U1.26 Labphone 14133

PhD-Students

PhD student
Ioana Ciubotaru M.Sc.
Gebäude: LMU, Haus D3
Etage/Raum: 61
089 2180 77475

Ioana completed her bachelor’s (B.Sc.) and master’s (M.Sc.) studies in chemistry at the University of Heidelberg with the support of the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD). She completed her bachelor thesis in inorganic chemistry with the group of PD Dr. Ballmann and internships in the groups of Prof. Gade, Prof. Mastalerz, Prof. Dreuw and PD Dr. Behrens (Karlsruhe Institute of Technology). After joining our group for her master’s thesis exploring new ligand platforms for PQQ-based MDH biomimetics, she started her PhD with us and continues to work on lanthanide-MDH biomimetics.

PhD student
M.Sc. Philippe de Bary M.Sc.
Gebäude: 26.43
Etage/Raum: U1.21
+49 211 81-14109
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Philippe completed his bachelor´s (B.Sc.) and master´s (M.Sc.) studies in chemistry at the university of Heidelberg. Philippe performed internships in the groups of Prof. Krämer, Prof. Hashmi, Prof. Dahint and in a cooperation of Prof. Comba and Jun.-Prof. Thomas. His master thesis, in the group of Prof. Comba, was focused on synthesis of Patellamid-derivates and the influence of different stereoisomerism on their resulting copper(II)-complexes. The focus of his PhD in our group will be on development of bio-inspired recycling of f-elements.

Lab 26.43.U1.26 Labphone 14133

PhD student
Pia Heinrichs M.Sc.
Gebäude: 26.43
Etage/Raum: U1.21
+49 211 81-14109
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Pia completed her B.Sc. in Chemistry/Biochemistry at LMU Munich. She did her bachelor's thesis  in the group of Dr. Petra Rovó on NMR studies of prebiotic dsRNA . During her M.Sc. in Chemistry, she interned with Prof. Oliver Trapp (photocatalytic alpha alkylation) and our group (bacterial metabolites of M. extorquens AM1). For her master’s thesis, she joined Prof. Yasuhiro Funahashi at Osaka University, studying artificial siderophore complexation. Currently, she works on nanoparticles to investigate Ln-uptake mechanisms in methylotrophic bacteria. Since her M.Sc. studies, she has been volunteering in the Young Chemists’ Network (JCF) of the GDCh), organizing scientific events and the Spring Symposium.

Lab 26.43.U1.26 Labphone 14133

PhD student
Kora Holschbach M.Sc.
Gebäude: 26.43.
Etage/Raum: U1.23
+49 211 81-14111
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Kora received her integrated master’s degree from the University of Edinburgh in Biological and Medicinal Chemistry (M.Sc.). During her studies, she interned in the group of Prof. Hulme (UoE) on an RSC stipend, and gained industrial experience by working for the In Silico Research Department (Merck) in Darmstadt. Prior to her PhD, she completed her master thesis in the group of Prof. Sieber (TUM) which focussed on azaphilones and their covalent reactivity with lysine residues in bacterial proteome. In our group, she will study the biochemistry of Fe-αKG-dependent enzymes and do behind-the-scenes work for the Citizen Science Project.

Lab 26.43.U1.26 Labphone 14133

PhD student
Rachel Janßen M.Sc.
Gebäude: 26.32.
Etage/Raum: 00.78
+49 211 81-14233
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Rachel completed her Bachelor's and Master's degree in Chemistry at LMU Munich. During her M.Sc. she focussed on organic synthesis in her internship with Prof. Paul Knochel (chiral organozinc compounds) and her internship and Master thesis in our group (novel PQQ derivatives), before she joined the group for her PhD in 2020. In her PhD she has been working on biomimetic iron(IV)-oxo complexes and their use in synthetic epigenetics and now focusses on their immobilisation on a solid support medium. She is also involved in the groups research data management and the organisation of the internships in the early studies of Bachelor students at HHU.

Lab 26.32.00.70 Labphone 13302

PhD student
M.Sc. Rishir Kalepu
Gebäude: 26.43.
Etage/Raum: U1.23
+49 211 81-14111
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Rishir earned a Bachelor’s degree in Chemistry from the Institute of Advanced Research (India), graduating with a gold medal. His dissertation on Diels-Alder Reactions with Dr. Satyendra Mishra was followed by an internship at JNCASR (India). His Master’s in Chemical Sciences was at the Weizmann Institute of Science (Israel) jointly with Prof. Deborah Fass and Dr. Sergey Semenov. After his MSc, he volunteered as a Conservation Research Assistant with SORCE (Indonesia). Rishir’s PhD research focuses on directed evolution to engineer and investigate the workings of lanthanide-dependent methanol dehydrogenases, employing molecular biology and enzyme biochemistry techniques with E. coli cell cultivation.

Lab 26.43.U1.26 Labphone 14133

PhD student
Michael Mertens M.Sc.
Gebäude: 26.32.
Etage/Raum: 00.78
+49 211 81-14233
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Michael received his bachelor´s degree in Chemistry and Biochemistry (B.Sc.) from the LMU, where he subsequently earned his master´s degree (M.Sc.), majoring in organic and inorganic chemistry. He prepared his Bachelor thesis in the group of Prof. Karaghiosoff and was a research intern in the group of Dr. Thorn-Seshold and at the Wacker Consortium in Munich. Prior to his PhD, he completed his master´s thesis in our group, which focused on the synthesis of biomimetic copper complexes. His PhD focuses on the synthesis and analysis of bioinspired lanthanide chelators.

Lab 26.32.00.70 Labphone 13302

PhD student
Doreen Reuter M.Sc.
Gebäude: 26.32.
Etage/Raum: 00.76
81-14334
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Doreen studied for a Master’s degree in Chemistry (M.Sc.) at Harvard University, Boston in collaboration with LMU Munich, where she worked on antitumor agents. She majored in organic and inorganic chemistry after having received her Bachelor’s degree (B.Sc.) in Chemistry and Biochemistry at LMU Munich. She did her Bachelor’s thesis in the research group of Prof. Dr. Franz Bracher at the Department of Pharmacy at LMU Munich. Doreen has performed internships in the research group of Prof. Dr. Oliver Trapp and in our group and was an intern in the working group of Dr. Simone Rothmiller at the Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology of the German Armed Forces. Doreen takes up on her internship in our group by further exploring biomimetic and fully synthetic iron(IV)-oxo complexes in her PhD thesis.

Lab 26.32.00.72 Labphone 13348

Master-Students

Master Student
Timm Baranski
Gebäude: 26.42
Etage/Raum: 01.41
81-14334
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Timm started his studies for his Bachelor's degree (B.Sc.) at the HHU in Düsseldorf. There he received his Bachelor's degree with focus on inorganic chemistry in the group of Prof. Frank and investigated new synthesis routes for tin(II)trifluorinacetate. Subsequently joining our group for his Master thesis exploring photocatalytic reoxidation of biomimetic iron(IV)-oxo complexes.

Lab 26.32.00.72 Labphone 13348

Master Student
Johanna Großmann
Gebäude: 26.42
Etage/Raum: 00.76

Johanna was awarded her Bachelor's degree in Economics & Chemistry at the HHU in Düsseldorf. In her Bachelor thesis in the group of Prof. Czekelius, she investigated the synthesis of derivatives of glycol-bridged epigallocatechingallat. For her Master thesis, she will work on the immobilisation of biomimetic iron(IV)-oxo complexes using click-chemistry.

Lab 26.32.00.72

Master Student
Sarah Hügel
Gebäude: 26.32
Etage/Raum: 00.76

Sarah was awarded her Bachelor’s degree in Chemistry and Biochemistry (B.Sc.) at LMU Munich. As part of her Bachelor thesis she investigated the effects of iron–porphyrin complexes on oxidative stress in tumor cells (with Prof. Dr. Ivanovic-Burmazovic). During her Master studies at LMU Munich, Sarah has performed internships with Prof. Dr. Harald John at the Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology of the German Armed Forces and in our group. For her Master thesis, she will explore synthetic pathways towards bioinspired lanthanide chelators.

Lab 26.32.00.70

Master Student
Florian Siegfeld
Gebäude: 26.42
Etage/Raum: 01.41
Master Student
Sandro Sperzel
Gebäude: 26.43
Etage/Raum: U1.23
81-14133
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Sandro started his Bachelor's studies at Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf (HHU) and for his Bachelor thesis, he worked on the synthesis of protein-polymer conjugates in Prof. Hartmann's research group. For his Master thesis, he is exploring bioinspired lanthanoid chelators.

Lab 26.32.U1.26 Labphone 14133

Bachelor-Students and teaching/lab assistants

Student Assistent for Biochemistry Labs
Oliver Hagen

with Sophie Gutenthaler-Tietze.

Bachelor Student
Leon Kupzov

with Jonathan Gutenthaler-Tietze.

Student Assistent for Chemistry Labs
Leonie Schulze

with Doreen Reuter.

Student Assistant for Lecture Experiments
Jan-Joel v.d. Wyenbergh
Gebäude: 26.32
Etage/Raum: O1.64

YouTube @JJChemistry

Student Interns

Alumni

Dr. Berenice Jahn

PhD Student (until August 2020).

Dr. Niko Lindlar born Jonasson

PhD Student (until November 2021), Postdoc (until August 2022).

Annika Menke M.Sc.

PhD Student (until Juni 2024).

Dr. Tri Phi

PhD Student (until May 2024).

Dr. Helena Singer

PhD Student (until February 2024).

Dr. Violeta Vetsova

PhD Student (until December 2023).

Dr. Henning Widmann born Lumpe

PhD Student (until December 2019), Postdoc (until September 2020).