Abel Group and Labs

The Abel group and labs/offices at the University of Leipzig are distributed over several spots in Leipzig but centered around the Institute of Chemical Technology (Technicum Analyticum, Ostwald-Institute). The research focus lies in the area "Department of Physical Chemistry of Complex Systems and Technology". The group is known for strong R&D and applications, as well as transfers of innovations into business and spin-off companies. 

The strength of the groups's approach emerges from a long-standing experience in molecular physical chemistry, spectroscopy, methods development, and materials science, as well as an integrated approach combining theory/modelling and experiments/materials science. 

In the quest for innovative methods and materials our state-of-the-art infrastructure, and our strong national and international collaboration network is central. With this approach, we have been able to transfer several technologies with our national and international cooperation partners into real innovations and ultimately into business over the past decade.

Bernd Abel (Short CV)

Prof. Dr. Bernd Abel

Current Position:

Full Professor of Chemical Engineering (W3)
Institute of Chemical Technology (ICT), Linne-Strasse 3, University Leipzig, 04103 Leipzig,
Tel. +49 (0) 341 97 36389, Email: bernd.abel@uni-leipzig.de

External affiliations:

Leibniz-Institute of Surface Engineering (IOM), Permoserstraße 15, 04318 Leipzig, Germany
Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics (LASP), University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder/CO, USA
ORCID number: 0000-0001-6032-1680

Academic Education 

1982 – 1990 Study of Chemistry in Göttingen, Diploma (1986) 

Academic Qualification 

1999 Habilitation in Physical Chemistry, University of Göttingen 

1990 Doctorate in Physical Chemistry, University of Göttingen, with Prof. Dr. J. Troe 

Employment Record

2022-today Full Professor (Chemical Technology), Department “Department of Physical Chemistry of Complex Systems and Technology”, Faculty of Chemistry and Mineralogy, University Leipzig 

2012 – 2022 Deputy Director of the Institute and Head of the Department “Sensoric Surfaces & Functional Interfaces” (Chemical Department) of the Leibniz Institute of Surface Modification (IOM) and Chair of „Chemical Engineering of Polymers“ (W3), Faculty of Chemistry and Mineralogy, Leipzig University 

2018 Somorjai Visiting Miller Professor at the UC Berkeley, USA 

2008 – 2012 Full Professor (Chair for Physical Chemistry and Reaction Dynamics, W3), Ostwald-Institute for Physical and Theoretical Chemistry, Leipzig University 

2007 – 2023 Visiting/Guest Professor

- Chemistry Department of the University of California at Irvine (2007),
- Chemistry Department of the Monash University (2009),
- Department of Chemistry of the University of California at Berkeley (2017/2018),
- Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), Pasadena, USA (2019),
- LASP @ University of Boulder, Colorado, USA (2022),
- J. Heyrovský Institute of Physical Chemistry of the Czech Academy of Sciences (CAS), Prague (2023)

2002 – 2008 Associate Professor (apl), Georg-August University Göttingen 

1990 – 1993 Associated research fellow in the George-Harrison Spectroscopy Laboratory at MIT, Fellow of the German Science Foundation (DFG) 

Miscellaneous 

2022 Chairperson of the board of the Wilhelm-Ostwald- Gesellschaft e.V. 

2020 Co-founder of Advanced Quantum Technologies UG (GmbH) 

2019 Visiting Professor at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL/NASA), Pasadena, USA 

2018 Founder and co-owner of Advanced Microfluidic Systems GmbH 

2018 Somorjai Visiting Miller Professorship Award of the UC Berkeley, USA 

2010 – 2015 Director of the Ostwald Institute for Physical and Theoretical Chemistry at the Leipzig University 

2014 European Aluminium Award for outstanding technical innovations (Special Prize, Novelis-IOM) 

2012 – 2020 Elected member of the DFG review panel "Physikalische und Theoretische Chemie"

2007 Göttingen Innovation Award 

2001 Nernst-Haber-Bodenstein-Prize (German Bunsen Society for Physical Chemistry) 

1999 Sir Harold Thompson Memorial Award (Elsevier Science)  

Spin-Off companies with B. Abel as a founder and owner or in the founders team: 

Microliquids GmbH, Göttingen 

Advanced Microfluidic Systems GmbH, Göttingen 

Quantum Technologies UG (GmbH), Leipzig 

Dyemond GmbH & Co KG, Isselburg