
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

Florian Vollstädt

Frank Sailer

Martina Lexner

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

Danica Drpic

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

Nick Sokov

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

Bastian Jehle

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!