Increasing the efficiency of photochemical elementary steps

FB 09: Department of Chemistry, Jun.-Prof. Dr. Christoph Kerzig

Poster dissertation project

Scientific career
Since 10/2024PhD in Chemistry, focus: Photochemistry and mechanistically oriented spectroscopy, Department of Chemistry, Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, working group of Jun.-Prof. Dr. Christoph Kerzig
10/2020 – 09/2022Master’s degree in Chemistry, Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz. Master thesis in the working group of Jun.-Prof. Dr. Christoph Kerzig with the title: “Quantum yield increases by Coulomb-matched energy transfer cascades”
10/2017 – 09/2020Bachelor’s degree in Chemistry, Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz. Bachelor thesis in the working groups of Prof. Dr. Jürgen Gauß and Prof. Dr. Gregor Diezemann with the title: “QM/MM calculations on matrix effects in IR spectra”.
Publications
S. Chandra Sau, M. Schmitz, C. Burdenski, M. Baumert, P. W. Antoni, C. Kerzig, M. M. Hansmann, “Dicationic Acridinium/Carbene Hybrids as Strongly Oxidizing Photocatalysts”, J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2024, 146, 3416-3426.
F. Glaser, M. Schmitz, C. Kerzig, “Coulomb interactions for mediator-enhanced sensitized triplet-triplet annihilation upconversion in solution”, Nanoscale 2024, 16, 123-137.
M. Wienhold, B. Kweon, C. McLaughlin, M. Schmitz, T. J. B. Zähringer, C. G. Daniliuc, C. Kerzig, R. Gilmour, “Geometric Isomerization of Bifunctional Vinyl Fluoride Linchpins: Stereodivergence in Amide and Polyene Bioisostere Synthesis”, Angew. Chem. Int. ed. 2023, e202304150.
C. Grundke, J. Groß, N. Vierengel, J. Sirleaf, M. Schmitz, L. Krieger, T. Opatz, “Complementary Mechanochemical and Biphasic Approaches for the Synthesis of Organic Thiocyanates using Hexacyanoferrates as Non-Toxic Cyanide Sources”, Org. Biomol. Chem. 2023, 21, 644-650.
A. C. Sell, J. C. Wetzel, M. Schmitz, A. W. Maijenburg, G. Woltersdorf, R. Naumann, C. Kerzig, “Water-soluble ruthenium complex-pyrene dyads with extended triplet lifetimes for efficient energy transfer applications”, Dalton Trans. 2022, 51, 10799-10808.
Scholarships and awards
Since 04/2024Junior member of the Gutenberg Academy Fellows Program
Since 09/2023Kekulé scholarship, doctoral scholarship from the Chemical Industry Fund
03/2020 – 09/2023Scholarship holder of the German National Academic Foundation
09/2019 – 02/2020Germany Scholarship in cooperation with ALTANA AG
09/2018 – 08/2019Germany Scholarship in cooperation with BASF
03/2017GDCh prize for the best Abitur in chemistry
11/2016Dr. Hans Riegel Prize in Chemistry for the thesis entitled: “Polyphenols in tea – the healthy aftertaste”
Courses and work experience
06/2020 – 09/2022Research assistant in Theoretical Chemistry, working groups of Prof. Dr. Gregor Diezemann and Prof. Dr. Jürgen Gauß, Department of Chemistry, Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, focus on: QM/MM, protein folding and evaluation of force fields
04/2020 – 09/2022Tutor in Physical Chemistry 2 (Quantum Chemistry), Department of Chemistry, Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz
01/2020 – 02/2020Research assistant in organic chemistry, working group of Prof. Dr. Heiner Detert, Department of Chemistry, Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, focus: organic synthesis
04/2019 – 02/2020Tutor in General and Inorganic Chemistry, Department of Chemistry, Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz
Conference participation
M. Schmitz, “Coulombic dyads for highly efficient energy and electron transfer photocatalysis”, poster presentation during the KCT 2024, Innsbruck (27.02.2024).
M. Schmitz, “Coulombic dyads – Combining the best of organic and inorganic photochemistry”, poster presentation during CECP 2024, Bad Hofgastein (19.02.2024).
M. Schmitz, “Water-soluble ruthenium complex-pyrene dyads for efficient energy transfer photocatalysis”, poster presentation at Lorentz Center@Oort, Leiden (27.03.2023).
M. Schmitz, “Molecular dyads without a covalent bond?”, Seminar lecture for the Institute of Inorganic Chemistry, JGU Mainz (14.07.2022).
Voluntary commitment
Since 12/2023Regional group leader for the Mainz area of the Dr. Hans Riegel Foundation
Since 09/2023Board member, secretary and team player at TTV Nierstein e.V.
Since 09/2023Reviewer for theses in chemistry for the Dr. Hans Riegel Prize at JGU Mainz
09/2017 – 12/2021Local group leader for the Mainz area in the German Young Researchers Network – juFORUM e.V.
12/2014 – 12/2021Assessor on the parish council of the parish of St. Laurentius Bremm