To officially open the new AFM/SEM laboratory at the faculty, we will have a program of presentations followed by an open discussion and a tour of the new facility.

Solid-state NMR spectroscopy is one of the most powerful techniques and a thriving field of methodological advances for atomic level characterization of materials, small molecules and biologic matter. In the Wisser solid-state NMR group at FAU Erlangen-Nürnberg, we take a close look at the surfaces and interfaces in modern, functional materials and catalysts.

Chemistry happens at these interfaces, therefore we want to obtain a molecular understanding of structures and active centers and their impact on function and reactivity. We further develop methods for real time observation, under in situ and operando conditions of chemical reactions and catalysis.

Examples of our current research on Supported Ionic Liquid Phase catalysts, carbon-based materials and metal-organic frameworks will be presented.

You are warmly invited to attend the departmental seminar next week (CH3, wednesday at 14:00), which will involve a presentation and discussion with Prof. Jiří Čejka.

It will cover topics of science, career, grants, choosing a group and a field, and other interesting subjects related to the academic life. There will be a question and answer session afterwards, to which you are encouraged to bring your questions, whether about industry or academia.

Short presentations from five Masters' students about their scientific work

1. Adéla Olšovská
2. Peter Illes
3. Marek Živný
4. Frantisek Krakl
5. Kristyna Pokorna

Challenges of Energy Industry

Mankind has always needed energy, and we consume more energy than any of the past generations. Do we have any particular requirements on the energy supply? And how shall we eventually reach those requirements? Is Europe, and the Czech Republic, keeping pace with the rest of the world? Is Europe the only continent to spend money on renewables?

You are invited to attend next week's seminar on Wednesday 06.11, at 14:00 in CH3, which will include short presentations from five Masters' students on their ongoing research projects.
There may even be more halloween candy..

Advancing Solid-State NMR by Optimal Control

In the past decade, we have witnessed significant advancements in NMR hardware, including the availability of ultra-high magnetic fields (>28 Tesla) and specialized magic angle spinning (MAS) probes capable of rotating solid samples at ultra-high frequencies (up to 150 kHz). These developments open up new opportunities for obtaining highly resolved proton NMR spectra of solids, but they also present new challenges for existing experimental techniques and the design of new pulse sequences.

In this habilitation lecture, I will focus on the design of new and improved experiments in solid-state NMR using optimal control methods. Unlike the traditional approach, which relies on analytical theories and manual development of quantum mechanics for each case, numerical optimizations allow for automated design and simple testing of new ideas. Our work has focused on multidimensional spectroscopy of solid protein samples, where we have developed, for the first time, transverse mixing recoupling elements (TROP). These pulse sequence blocks systematically enhance sensitivity by a factor of for each indirectly sampled spectral dimension, accelerating the acquisition of emerging 5D spectra by an order of magnitude.

Almost everything you wanted to know about biomolecular NMR

The application of modern biomolecular NMR spectroscopy methods on proteins, nucleic acids and their complexes can reveal important molecular properties which are often inaccessible to other biophysical methods. Specifically, the inherent atomic resolution of NMR allows us to localize precisely interaction interfaces or changes in dynamics and molecular conformation. I will briefly explain how structural and dynamical features of molecules can be quickly qualitatively discussed using simple 1D 1 H and 2D N-H correlation spectra. Techniques for studies of interaction of proteins, nucleic acids and their complexes will be demonstrated along with use of spin labels using our recent work on protein-protein and protein-protein-DNA complexes.

Novel approaches in poly(2-oxazoline) synthesis for drug delivery and biocompatible coatings

The habilitation lecture focuses on the synthesis and development of novel poly(2-oxazoline)s (PAOx) with potential biomedical applications, particularly in drug delivery systems, surface biocompatibility, and responsive nanomaterials. The lecture will begin with a discussion on the development of an acylation protocol for polyethylene imine (PEI), enabling the synthesis of highly defined poly(2-oxazoline)s, which overcome the limitations of traditional cationic ring-opening polymerization (CROP). The research further explores the conjugation of PAOx with therapeutic agents, demonstrating their efficacy in drug delivery applications. The introduction of novel amphiphilic gradient copolymers based on PAOx also offers new opportunities for encapsulating hydrophobic drugs and self-assembling into nanoparticles. Finally, the lecture will highlight the superior antifouling properties of poly(2-oxazine)s, presenting these polymers as highly efficient coatings for biomedical devices, surpassing traditional materials like polyethylene oxide.