C – Control and functionality in complex heterogeneous systems

In Research Area C, we will study the emergence of biological function in macromolecular assemblies, combining measurement and design principles to optimize these responses. Novel combinations of nanostructures and macromolecular systems will allow us to observe and understand the functionalities they produce, and to create systems with new functionalities.

We will learn how functionality is achieved in natural or synthetic complex systems and then how to achieve functionality by design. The connections to area B are the most obvious. For example, phenomena like photosynthesis must be understood dynamically in terms of the interplay of the multidimensional configurational and energy landscapes that are progressively modified in response to the responding environment.

In Area C we will gain insights into this complex interplay starting with investigations of structures of light-activated sensing proteins that can be precisely captured in time, through fine sampling the thermally-driven conformational dynamics of receptor proteins during signalling, to the transduction of signals through nanoparticle networks and the environment.

Scientists in Research Area C

• Dr. Kartik Ayyer
• Dr. Saša Bajt
• Prof. Tobias Beck
• Prof. Gabriel Bester
• Prof. Nadja Bigall
• Prof. Francesca Calegari
• Prof. Henry Chapman
• Dr. Irene Fernandez-Cuesta
• Prof. Helen Ginn
• Prof. Tais Gorkhover
• Prof. Carmen Herrmann
• Prof. Nils Huse
• Prof. Franz Kärtner
• Prof. Dorota Koziej
• Prof. Jochen Küpper
• Prof. Alf Mews
• Prof. Christopher Milne
• Prof. Mehtap Özaslan
• Prof. Wolfgang Parak
• Prof. Arwen Pearson
• Prof. Nonne Prisle
• Prof. Nina Rohringer
• Prof. Robin Santra
• Dr. Eike Schulz
• Dr. Cecilia Zito

International Partners

• Prof. David Baker
• Prof. Moungi Bawendi

For more information, please view "Who we are".