January 17, 2023

Team

Miriam M. Unterlass

Principal Investigator


Miriam studied chemistry, process engineering and materials science in Germany, the UK, France, and obtained a PhD at the Max Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces in 2011. She worked as postdoc at the École Supérieure de Physique et de Chimie Industrielles in Paris, France, before starting her own group at Technische Universität Wien (TUW)  in 2012. Miriam was tenured assistant and subsequently associate professor at TUW and obtained her habilitation in materials chemistry in 2018. In 2021, she became full professor of solid state chemistry at  Universität Konstanz.  With October 2024,  Miriam took over as director of Fraunhofer Institute for Silicate Research ISC in Würzburg.  She also joined Universität Würzburg, where she holds the Chair for Chemical Technology of Materials Synthesis. Since 2018, Miriam is Adjunct Principal Investigator at the Research Center for Molecular Medicine of the Austrian Academy of Sciences (CeMM) in Vienna, Austria.

The ambition of her group’s research is to find and develop sustainable advanced materials and molecules without compromising the compounds’ performance and diversity, especially through employing water as reaction and processing medium. Her team has pioneered the chemical synthesis of defined organic compounds in high-temperature water, and holds several patents on these innovations. In 2018, Miriam co-founded her first company UGP Materials GmbH, winner of several start-up awards (e.g. Sallinger Fonds S&B award 2018, RSC sustainable technologies competition finalist 2019) aiming at commercializing hydrothermal polymerization of high-performance polymers. She has received numerous accolades, including Staatspreis Patent 2020, FWF START prize 2017, Austrian founder’s award PHÖNIX 2016, Anton Paar Science award 2015, and has been elected as member of the Young Academy of the Austrian Academy of Sciences (ÖAW) in 2018. She is alumna of the Fast Track program of the Robert Bosch foundation (2016-2018) and of the International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP) of the U.S. Department of State (2018).

Services to the academic community include serving as associate editor of the Journal of Materials Chemistry A and Materials Advances, and as representative for materials and solid state chemistry of the Alexander von Humboldt foundation. Miriam is an expert in green and sustainable chemistry, teaches seminars on the topic, and advises as member of several advisory boards (scientific advisory board “Materials” of the German Federal Institute for Materials research and Testing (BAM), scientific advisory board of the European Forum Alpbach).


Fabián A. Amaya García

Postdoc

Fabián studied chemistry in Bogotá, Colombia, and Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. He joined our group in June, 2018 for his PhD thesis and continued his research as a Postdoc at the Chair of Chemical Technology of Materials Synthesis at the Julius Maximilian University of Würzburg in 2025. Fabián develops new dyes for biological applications, with a focus on sustainable synthesis of the dyes.

D. Alonso Cerrón Infantes

Scientific Advisor to Prof. Dr. Miriam Unterlass

Alonso studied natural sciences and chemistry in Lima, Peru, and Vienna, Austria. He joined our group in July 2014 and is currently working as Scientific Advisor to Prof. Dr. Unterlass at Fraunhofer Institute for Silicate Research ISC. He also works as a research assistant in the development of sustainable high-performance polymers and their water-based processing at the Julius Maximilian University of Würzburg. 

Tobias Klenk

PhD Student

Tobias studies chemistry at the University of Konstanz. He joined our group in July 2022 for his bachelor thesis and stayed for his PhD research project. He works on the hydrothermal synthesis of bulky aromatic compounds.

Florian Vollstädt

PhD Student

Florian studied chemistry at the University of Konstanz. In 2023 he joined the group for his master research. In February 2024 he started his PhD thesis. In this project he explores metal oxides@polyimides hybrid materials.

Frank Sailer

PhD Student

Frank studied nanoscience at the University of Konstanz. In 2022 he joined the group for his master research. In March 2023 he started his PhD thesis. In this project he explores the synthesis of hybrid materials based on silicates.

Martina Lexner

Administrative Assistant

Martina joined us in 2019. She supports the team in project management and administration of our third-party funding projects.

Lukas Leimhofer

Research Technician

Lukas studied technical chemistry in Vienna, Austria. He joined the group in 2015 to work on sustainable hybrid materials’ synthesis and processing. Lukas rejoined the group in 2021 and, currently,  focuses on the hydrothermal synthesis of small molecules for application in biology.

Celine Kuchler

PhD Student

Celine studies nanoscience at the University of Konstanz. She joined our group in September 2022 as research intern and stayed with us as research assistant from February 2023 onwards.  Since February 2025, she has been working on her PhD thesis titled “Analysis components of materials acceleration: Automation of Characterization techniques for chemical compounds.”

Frederic Hallmann

PhD Student

Frederic studied chemistry at the University of Konstanz. He first joined our group in August 2022 for an internship and returned in June 2023 for his master thesis. In August 2024, Frederic started his PhD thesis which focuses on developing sulfur-containing high performance materials.

Danica Drpic

Project Scientist

Danica studied molecular biology and physiology in Belgrade, Serbia. She obtained her PhD in cell biology in 2017 at the University of Porto, Portugal. Danica joined our group in October 2023 as a project scientist to characterize hydrothermally synthesized cell dyes in vitro.

Lena Schittenhelm

PhD Student

Lena studied chemistry at the University of Konstanz. She first joined our group in November 2022 for an internship and returned in October 2023 for her master thesis. In March 2025 she started her PhD thesis, which focus on the synthesis of small organic molecules featuring heterocyles.

Lukas Zeyffert

PhD Student

Lukas studied chemistry at the University of Konstanz and started his PhD in the research group of Prof. Helmut Cölfen before joining our group in January 2024. He focuses on the hydrothermal synthesis of MAX-phase-derived organic-inorganic hybrid materials.

Nick Sokov

PhD Student

Nick studied chemistry at the University of Konstanz. He started his PhD in the research group of Prof. Helmut Cölfen and joined us in January 2024 to continue his PhD thesis.  He develops polymers for the stabilization and assembly of metal nanoparticles.

Jessica Geppert

PhD Student

Jessica studied nanoscience at the University of Konstanz. She started her PhD in August 2022 in the group of Prof. Helmut Cölfen before joining us in January 2024. She develops new strategies for the synthesis of multi-elemental colloidal nanocrystals with a focus on metal chalcogenides and oxides, as well as their heterostructures with metals and their subsequent investigation of properties.

Hannah Mehringer

PhD Student

Hannah studies chemistry at the University of Konstanz. She joined our group in February 2024 as a research intern. Starting July 2025, she is doing her PhD thesis with focus on the automation of hydrothermal synthesis.

Bastian Jehle

MSc Student

Bastian studies chemistry at the University of Konstanz. He joined our research group in September 2023 for a research internship. In September 2024, Bastian started his MSs thesis dealing with the synthesis of bio-inspired inorganic-organic hybrid materials

Dr. Guntram Schwarz

Senior Councillor –  JMU Würzburg

Guntram studied chemistry at the University of Potsdam, did his diploma in 2004, which was followed by a doctorate at the Max Planck Institute (MPI) of Colloids and Interfaces in 2008. He worked as a postdoc until 2010, first at the MPI and then at the University of Würzburg. He is active in academic research, primarily in the field of supramolecular chemistry and the administration of the chair, as well as in teaching for the ‘Functional Materials’ degree programme.

Diana Stürmer

Administrative Assistant – JMU Würzburg

Diana Stürmer has been working at the Chair of Chemical Technology of Materials Synthesis in the secretariat since 2016. Her tasks include handling personnel matters, financial management, budget and project administration. She is the point of contact for all matters relating to the chair.

Sandra Stockmann

Lab Technician  –  JMU Würzburg

Sandra trained as a chemical laboratory technician and studied food chemistry and environmental analysis at the University of Applied Sciences in Isny ​​im Allgäu. She has been working at the JMU chair since 2001 and is responsible for safety, supply and disposal, purchasing, inventory accounting, laboratory support, and more.

Dr. habil. Torsten E.M. Staab

Senior Councillor – JMU Würzburg

Torsten coordinates, implements, and administrates bachelor and master degree programmes. He is a student advisor, works on examination regulations and manages all websites at the LCTM. He is a lecturer in the bachelor and master degree programmes. He is responsible for SAXS, XRD, PALS, DSC, LM and SEM-PMP equipment. His research topics include atomic defects in aluminium alloys, materials for solid-state batteries, ab-initio simulations, and Monte Carlo simulations.

Stephanie Maaß

Technical Secretary  –  JMU Würzburg

Stephanie completed her training as a chemical laboratory assistant in Frankfurt at AllessaChemie, where she worked in product and process development before moving to the University of Würzburg / Chair of Chemical Technology of Materials Synthesis in 2010. Stephanie provides administrative support for the work of the scientific staff. She is responsible for ordering, disposal and inventory of chemicals. Moreover, she takes care of servicing scientific equipment (obtaining quotes, coordinating implementation) and provides support where needed.

Tamara Piock

PhD Student

Tamara studied Chemistry at the Albert-Ludwigs University of Freibug and in 2023 moved to Würzburg for her PhD thesis at Fraunhofer Institute for Silicate Research ISC. Her research focuses on developing alternative materials to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) materials, with the main focus on water and oil repellency.

We are always interested in highly motivated and dedicated coworkers. Currently we have plenty of interesting opportunities for Master and Bachelor theses. Please contact us to learn more about the currently available topics.

Future position openings will be announced!


Alumni & Alumnae

Lea Marquardt (BSc Student)

Elana Harbalik (Research Technician)

Justin Pace (BSc Student)

Patricia Bächle (MSc Student)

Nicola Scherer (MSc Research Intern)

Musthafa Iqbal (PhD Student)

Robert Pazdzior (Postdoc)

Olivier Gazil (PhD Student)

Simon Meier (MSc Student)

Christine Esenwein (BSc Student)

Yurii Kolbediuk (BSc Student)

Margherita Balma (MSc Student)

Claudia Treinen (MSc Research Intern)

Maximilian Schürmann (MSc Student)

Bastian Jehle (MSc Research Intern)

Tejasvi Singh (MSc Research Intern)

Lisa Bernhardt (BSc Student)

Claire Selg (BSc Student)

Luca Schwenger (BSc Student)

Hipassia M. Moura (Postdoc)

Arthur Lassus (Guest PhD Student)

Brendan Walker (MSc Student)

Marianne Lahnsteiner (PhD student)

Bettina Baumgartner (MSc student & PhD student)

Matthias Bergthaler (BSc student)

Daniel B. Block (Postdoc)

Patricia Brandl (BSc student)

Elias Bumbaris (PhD student)

Tobia Cavalli (MSc student & PhD student) 

Suman Chandra (Postdoc)

Grzegorz Dębowski (PhD student) 

Idil Erdem (BSc student)

Sebastian España Orozco (MSc student)

Johannes Essmeister (external MSc student)

Patrick W. Fritz (MSc student)

Heribert Gerstner (BSc student)

Daniel V. Glöcklhofer (BSc student)

Katharina Gürich (BSc student)

Michael Hahn (BSc student)

Rosa M. Hassfurther (BSc student)

Jana Pauline Heinz (BSc student)

Eleonora Hochreiner (MSc student)

Johannes Höchtl (MSc student)

Konstantin Kriechbaum (BSc student)

Lukas P. Leutgeb (MSc student) 

Catarina I. O. Martins (PhD student)

Maximilian Raab (BSc student)

Thomas Roiss (BSc student)

Manuel Reiter (BSc student, & external MSc student)

Martina Schroffenegger (MSc student)

Marwan Simaan (Postdoc)

Sophia T. Steinbacher (BSc student)

Michael J. Taubländer (MSc student, PhD student & Postdoc)

Sophia Thiele (BSc student & external MSc student)

Josef Wendrinski (Postdoc)

Fabian Zechmeister (BSc student)

Miriam Zintl (external MSc student)