The new speaker team of UniSysCat, elected on the 12th of January during the general assembly, comprises Juri Rappsilber as the spokesperson, and Maria Andrea Mroginski and Arne Thomas as co-speakers. Holger Dobbek and Matthias Drieß, former co-speakers, will continue as additional members of the executive board, resulting in a two-person expansion of the board while maintaining the otherwise unchanged personnel composition.
This decision reflects the culmination of a strategic development and realignment of UniSysCat's research focus in preparation for the upcoming renewal process. The shift involves a trajectory towards more intricate cellular and chemical systems, where advanced instrumental techniques will be synergized with AI/deep learning and theoretical modeling. The vision is to drive innovation in catalysis research at the intersection of chemistry, biology, and cutting-edge technologies.
Juri Rappsilber, an organic chemist by training, pioneers chemical methods in conjunction with computer sciences to elucidate the coupling of cellular constituents and understand complex biocatalytic systems. In doing so, he intertwines various research lines within UniSysCat, exemplifying the essence of UniSysCat on a more intimate scale. Notably, he recently secured an ERC Synergy Grant, and together with his team, he garnered recognition for their exceptional contributions to teaching.
Maria Andrea Mroginski excels in the domains of computational chemistry and molecular modeling, providing an excellent complement to Juri Rappsilber‘s research to strengthen theoretical approaches for understanding catalysis as UniSysCat steps forward. Having gained extensive experience through participation in UniSysCat and its predecessor UniCat and as the head of the EC2/BIG NSE graduate school, she will also lead an ambitious program to further strengthen UniSysCat’s efforts in teaching the next generation of catalysis scientists.
The team is completed by Arne Thomas, the former spokesperson who adeptly steered UniSysCat through its inaugural funding period, positioning it as the optimal launchpad for the upcoming phase. In his capacity as an innovative inorganic and materials chemist, Arne Thomas will ensure the seamless integration of synthetic chemistry with biology as UniSysCat progresses, contributing to a holistic and interdisciplinary approach in catalysis research.
Together with all the other UniSysCat scientists, they will keep working on understanding, and subsequently controlling (bio)catalysis in complex systems. Drawing upon the knowledge and experience garnered in UniCat and UniSysCat, the opportune moment has arrived to usher in a new era for UniSysCat!