Researcher's Profile

Research interests: 

• Stereoselective synthesis of organic compounds
• Asymmetric catalysis
• Redox-Neutral transformations
• Atom-economy and bioinspired reactions

Career highlights:

• Since 2021: Full member of the Austrian Academy of Sciences
• Since 2020: Fellow of the European Academy of Sciences
• Since 2018: Adjunct PI at CeMM and Associate Editor Organic Letters; Board of Editors Organic Syntheses
• Since 2013: Full Professor of Organic Synthesis, University of Vienna
• Since 2013: ERC StG holder and since 2016 ERC CoG holder
• 2009 – 2013 Max-Planck Research Group Leader and Max-Planck-Society Fellow, Max-Planck-Institut für Kohlenforschung (Germany)
• 2007 – 2008 Post-Doctoral Research Fellow and FCT Scholar, Stanford University (USA). Advisor: Prof. Dr. Barry M. Trost
• 2007 PhD degree in Chemistry, Université catholique de Louvain. Advisor: Prof. Dr. István E. Markó

Selected Grants and Awards:

• Novartis Chemistry Lectureships 2020/21.
• Tetrahedron Young Investigator Award for Organic Chemistry (2020)
• Ignaz-R.-Lieben-Prize, Austrian Academy of Sciences (2019)
• Scientist of the year in Austria (2019)
• Springer Heterocyclic Chemistry Award (2018)
• Corresponding Member of the Austrian Academy of Sciences (2018)
• Marcial Moreno Lectureship, Spanish Royal Society of Chemistry (2017)
• Elisabeth Lutz Award, Austrian Academy of Sciences (12/2016)
• ERC Consolidator Grant (01/2016)
• ERC Starting Grant (2011)
• "Wiener Mut" Prize in the category "Science" (2014)
• Heinz Maier-Leibnitz Preis of the DFG (2013)
• Bayer Early Excellence in Science Award (2012)
• ADUC Jahrespreis für Habilitanden (2011) 

Ongoing MolTag research projects as supervisor:

• Yi XIAO: Development of novel fluorescent dyes and their application as probes to study biological processes

Completed projects as supervisor:

• Christian KNITTL-FRANK: I.  Synthesis of Polyhydroxylated Triterpenoid; II. Synthesis of α-Arylated Carbonyl Compounds; finished 01/2024
• Giovanni DI MAURO: Novel avenues in C-C bond-forming rearrangements, harnessing the power of cationic intermediates; finished 04/2022
• Yong CHEN: Total Synthesis of Cicutoxin and FR252921 via a Unified Pericyclic Approach, finished 01/2019
• Martin BERGER: Synthesis of Natural Products and Analogues by Directed C-H Activation and Unified Synthesis of Cicutoxin and Virol A via Electrocyclic Cyclobutene Ring Opening, finished 06/2019