Seiffert and his team conduct research on switchable microgel particles that are finding increasing application in a variety of fields, such as in artificial environments for living cells, pharmacological transport mechanisms in medicine, self-healing materials in materials engineering, and in sensors. He is especially interested in how the behavior of these compounds depends upon their nano-structure. He investigates this interdependency using neutron and photon instrumentation at BER II and BESSY II, the two major facilities operated by HZB in Berlin. His research work was also supported during the last two years by the NanoScale Functional Materials Focus Area of Freie Universität Berlin.

Seiffert completed his professorial credential at Freie Universität Berlin in October 2013. The ADUC Prize is the second major award for his work after receipt of the Reimund Stadler Prize. “Our success would not have been possible without the productive synergy between Freie Universität Berlin and HZB, and especially without the first-class working environment at our Institute for Soft Matter and Functional Materials,” Seiffert emphasizes.

The ADUC recognizes up to three individuals working toward their professorial credentials or junior professors annually whose publications demonstrate originality and are scientifically important. The prize will be awarded March 10, 2014, at the Chemistry Professors’ Conference taking place this year at the Technical University of Paderborn.