Team
Alexander JC Kuehne
Prof. Dr. - Institute Director
I studied Chemistry at the University of Cologne and University of Strathclyde in Glasgow, UK, before conducting an International PhD (Strathclyde/Cologne) under the supervision of Richard Pethrick and Bernd Tieke. After postdocs in the groups of Klaus Meerholz (Cologne) and Dave Weitz (Harvard, USA) I became a junior research group leader at DWI - Leibniz Institute for Interactive Materials in Aachen. After my habilitation at RWTH Aachen with Martin Möller as a mentor, I was appointed full professor at Ulm University, where I teach and conduct research in the fields of organic and macromolecular chemistry.
Ulrich Ziener
Prof. Dr. - Vice Director
After studying and doing a doctorate in chemistry in Tübingen, I decided to do a postdoc at the MPI for Polymer Research in Mainz, followed by a postdoc with Jean-Marie Lehn in Strasbourg, France. The decision to pursue a scientific career was made after a two-year stay at the Institute for New Materials in Saarbrücken, after which I moved to Ulm University as a group leader. In 2008 I completed my habilitation and became a professor (apl) in 2012. I teach macromolecular chemistry and do research in the fields of supramolecular chemistry and self-organization.
Christine Munz
Secretary
I have been a public official at Ulm University since 1992, initially working in various departments
at the university hospital. In 2004, I switched to the Institute of Organic Chemistry III. In my
position as secretary, I am responsible for all administrative and organisational tasks that arise.
Magdalene Zimmermann
Technician
I am a chemistry technician and enjoy chemical synthesis.
I am an expert in size exclusion chromatography (GPC).
Markus Lamla
Dr. rer. nat. - Technician
After finishing my PhD thesis, in which I investigated the inhibition of the replication of mutated mtDNA under the supervision of Hartmut Seliger, I started working in the Institute of Organic Chemistry III in 2012.
I am an expert in mass spectrometry and cell culture experiments.
Günther Weber
Technician
I am a technician trained in high frequency technology as well as is chemistry.
I am an expert in vacuum and intergas technology and thermal analysis of polymeric materials (TGA, DSC).
Dr. Chinmaya Mirle
PostDoc
I worked on organic molecules for rechargeable battery application for my PhD in IIT Madras, India. Then moved to Kühne lab in 2022 for my postdoc to work on organic polymers for sodium battery application. Currently I’m exploring redox active polymers with quinone, sulfonamide functionality as an electrode material. I wish contribute to the group by bringing in my expertise on material design, cell fabrication and electrochemical characterization of the polymers.
Dr. Litwin Jacob
PostDoc
After receiving my master's degree in organic chemistry from Bangalore University, I worked as a research assistant in the Soft Condensed Matter Group at Raman Research Institute (Bangalore, India). Later, I joined Prof. Piotr Kaszyński's research group at the Centre of Molecular and Macromolecular Studies of the Polish Academy of Sciences (Łódź, Poland) to pursue my PhD. In 2023, I moved to Ulm University to do postdoctoral studies. In 2024, I was awarded the prestigious Humboldt postdoctoral fellowship. My scientific interests include electrolytes and cathode materials for batteries, liquid crystals, and boron clusters.
Mona Arnold
Postdoc
Designing stable trityl radicals for highly efficient doublet emission was the subject of my master thesis. While the focus is on experimental work in the organic laboratory, I like to complement my studies with theoretical DFT calculations. In my PhD work, I continue to investigate new materials with fascinating properties. Tuning the fluorescence of doublet emitters is again a combined experimental and theoretical study.
Lena Dackow
MSc. - Doctoral student
I completed my bachelor's and master's degree at the University of Bremen before joining the Kuehne Lab in 2023 for my PhD thesis. During my bachelor's thesis I worked on syntheses of photoswitches, whereas my master’s thesis focused on syntheses of complex natural products. The focus of my PhD thesis now lies on the stereolithographic 3D printing of mesoscopic microgels that are functionalized with switchable supramolecular motifs and furthermore the development of programmable supramolecular assemblies triggered by external stimuli.
Andreas Schelhorn
MSc. - Doctoral student
During my master's degree at the University of Ulm, I worked on the synthesis and characterization of blue light emitting materials for efficient organic light emitting diodes (OLED's). This theoretical and practical background inspired me and my passion towards science to do a PhD. My project builds on the synthesis of tailored azaadamantane-containing polymers as nucleation templates in diamond anvil cells to produce fluorescent nanodiamonds.
Daniel Straub
MSc. - Doctoral student
I am a PhD candidate specializing in multiradical synthesis, a field focused on developing novel methods for creating and studying complex radical species. Since 2022, I have been conducting research aimed at advancing this area of chemistry. Prior to joining the PhD program, I completed both my bachelor's and master's degrees at the University of Ulm.
Philipp Schuster
MSc. - Doctoral student
I received my bachelor's and master's degrees in Ulm and since the end of 2019, I am working on my PhD thesis on polymer batteries. The goal is to develop a fully biodegradable polymer battery based on imidazoles.
Felix Majer
Msc. - Doctoral student
During my master's studies in Ulm, I developed a keen interest in organic
electronics and had the opportunity to write my thesis on anthracene-based
organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs) in the KuehneLab. Following that, I pursued
a PhD focusing on anthracene emitters, which are highly versatile. These emitters
are not only used in OLEDs but also in mechanophoric systems and can also be
combined with organic radicals.
Philipp Welscher
MSc. - Doctoral student
I joined the KuehneLab in 2020 during my masters's studies at Ulm University. During my PhD studies nowadays, I work on the design, synthesis and characterization of highly emissive TADF materials and their implementation into organic light emitting diodes (OLEDs).
Larissa Schöneburg
MSc. - Doctoral student
The interaction between circularly polarized light and stable (di)radicals is a fascinating new area that opens up future applications in quantum communication and sensing. I intend to pursue this area further after completing my master's thesis at the Kuehne Lab.
Markus Gross
MSc. - Doctoral student
I received both my bachelor’s and master’s degree at the University of Ulm. Since the start of my PhD in the Kuehne Lab, I am working on the synthesis and characterization of new chiral trityl radicals, as well as high-spin ground state diradicals.
Sarah Spiewok
MSc. - Doctoral student
After I completed my bachelor´s degree in biochemistry, I continued my master in chemistry at Ulm University. I joined the KuehneLab for my master thesis where I´m currently working on the synthesis of prodrugs and polymer nanoparticles for biomedical applications.
Michael Baumann
MSc. - Doctoral Student
I joined the KuehneLab for my Bachelor's thesis, where I focused on synthesizing stable radicals for the incorporation into perovskites. During my Master's, I returned to the KuehneLab for a HiWi position, project works, and my Master's thesis, with emphasis on the development of quasi-two-dimensional perovskite thin films and the enhancement of phase purity. During my PhD, I design novel organic materials for the fabrication of perovskites with unprecedented properties.
Bernhard Putz
MSc.- Doctoral Student
After my master thesis at Henkel in Düsseldorf, I rejoined the group for my PhD, which I remembered well from my bachelor thesis. Now I am working on the design, synthesis and characterization of oligopyridine and oligothiophene-based materials for optical (TADF for OLEDs) and quantum applications (quantum sensing and computing). A particular focus is set on the modularity of the synthesis building blocks and the possibility of self-assembly.
Julia Zolg
MSc.- Doctoral Student
During my master's thesis at the Kuehne Lab in 2023, I worked on the synthesis of trityl-based diradicals and their theoretical analysis using DFT calculations. After completing an internship at Merck in Darmstadt, I returned to the Kuehne Lab in 2024 to pursue my PhD. My doctoral research, in collaboration with NVision Imaging Technologies, focuses on synthesizing diradicals and enhancing their properties for potential applications in quantum computing.
Andreas Bock
BSc. - Master Student
After I started studying chemistry at Ulm University in 2018, I wrote my bachelor thesis about the electroreductive synthesis of cycloparaphenylenes. Continuing with my Master in 2021, I joined the KuehneLab for my Master thesis focusing on anthracene emitter-based mechanophores.
Anika Lebzelter
BSc. - Master Student
Inspired by my chemistry teacher, I was encouraged enough to follow my enthusiasm for chemistry and began studying at Ulm University in 2020. After completing my bachelor's degree, where I focused on synthesizing a nanohoop as a chiral catalyst, I joined the Kühne group. Since 2024, my research has centered on developing stable and emissive di- and triradicals based on TTM.
This could be you!
BSc. - MSc. - PhD - Postdoc
Let us know if you are looking for a lab to do your BSc, research internhip, MSc, PhD, or postdoc in organic synthesis, polymer research, organic and polymeric materials... in Ulm in a lively and active research group!
team &
players
Alumni
Dr. Naveed Anwar (went to postdoc at Uni Kiel)
Dr. Dennis Go (went to Boss)
Dr. Sibel Ciftci (went to Beiersdorf)
Dr. Tatjana Repenko (became patent attorney at f&e patent)
Dr. Annabel Mikosch (went to OxfordPV)
Ann-Kathrin Steppert (went to Labor LS)
Dr. Alexander Jans (went to postdoc at Uniklinik RWTH Aachen)
Dr. Felicitas Jansen (postdoc at Bayer)
Sven Hartmann (went to PwC)
Dr. Jiaying Han (postdoc in China)
Dr. Bastian Hähnle (went to Beiersdorf)
Dr. Lennart Schleper (went to Altana)
Dr. Andreas Hoffmann (went to Kuraray Europe)
Dr. Lisa Chen (went to Evonik)
Michael Usselmann (went to Zeiss)
Dr. Felix Goll (went to Schlötter)