Kathrin Aziz-Lange is a professor at the University of Bielefeld

As of 1 November 2016, Kathrin Aziz-Lange is a junior professor at the Faculty of Chemistry of the University of Bielefeld. The physicist has been head of a Helmholtz Young Investigator Group at Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin since January 2016. She and her team are investigating defects in material systems for generating solar fuels, using the diverse in-operando characterisation methods offered by the synchrotron source BESSY II.

“I am happy to be part of the education of students at the University of Bielefeld and am looking forward to the exciting academic environment that already inspires me in my work,” Kathrin Aziz-Lange says. At the same time, she will be continuing her research as head of her Young Investigator Group at HZB.

At HZB, the physicist is investigating the role of defects in the structure of novel material systems. These can lead not only to undesirable properties, but also to desirable ones. Accordingly, she will be observing the creation of defects in catalysts and light-absorbing materials and studying “in operando” how defects behave in contact with liquid electrolytes under electric voltages and irradiation with light. Kathrin Aziz-Lange is using and developing various spectroscopic methods at the synchrotron source BESSY II to learn more about the functional relationships involved in charge transport within these materials. This is a prerequisite for targetedly exploiting the defects in these materials to increase the efficiency of systems used for solar water electrolysis.

Funding instrument: Helmholtz Young Investigator Groups

The research programme of Helmholtz Young Investigator Groups fosters highly qualified young researchers who completed their doctorate three to six years ago. The programme aims to promote networking between Helmholtz centres and universities, and to create attractive prospects for young researchers. The costs are covered half by the Initiative and Networking Fund of the President of the Helmholtz Association and half by the Helmholtz centres. You can find more information here.