Research

The Department of Chemistry at Universität Hamburg divides its research activities into 2 areas of concentration:

• biological chemistry and molecular biology and
• material chemistry and nanochemistry.

Research topics in biological chemistry and molecular biology include structural systems biology and infection research, food chemistry, organic synthesis chemistry, and medical chemistry as well as theoretical and computer-assisted (bio)chemistry. The researchers in these groups work, among other things, on approaches for new AIDS and hepatitis therapies, on the identification of new antibiotics, on research on antibiotic resistances, and the identification of tumor markers.

In the area of concentration material chemistry and nanochemistry, our researchers focus on functional materials, molecules, nanostructure research, nanophotonics, nanoelectronics, and theoretical chemistry. Working groups within these research areas search for nanomaterials for biomedical applications, research metal catalysts, develop computer models for prediction or interpretation of experimental results, etc.

Department researchers cooperate closely with international industry partners as well as with other higher education institutions, non-university research institutions, and other institutions in Hamburg. Many research approaches are suitable for technology transfer and a series of initiatives has been established to help make the Department’s developments economically exploitable.