Prof. Dr. Michael GIERSIGH-Index: 90
Freie Universität Berlin, Germany, EU
Position: Professor and Head of the Nanoparticle Technology Group, Institute of Experimental Physics, Freie Universität Berlin, Germany
Specialization: Organic and Inorganic Nanosized Materials and Their Applications in Electronics and Life Sciences
Education and Career Accomplishments:
Michael Giersig (*1954) studied at the A. Mickiewicz University of Poland. He carried out his diploma research work at the Fritz-Haber-Institute of the Max-Planck-Gesellschaft in Berlin and received his diploma in physics at the Freie Universität Berlin in 1984. He continued to work at the Fritz-Haber-Institute. He received his Ph.D. in chemistry at the Freie University of Berlin in 1988. Subsequently he continued with his postdoctoral work at the Institute for Molecular Genetics of the Max-Planck–Institute in Berlin. At the end of 1989 he took up a post at the Hahn-Meitner-Institute in Berlin, Dept. of Physical Chemistry. In 1995 he received an international accolade in the form of a 2-year stay at the University of Melbourne, Dept. of Physical Chemistry. After his return he habilitated at the University of Potsdam, Faculty of Physical Chemistry in 1999. In 2000 he was appointed professor at the Technological University, department of physics in Poznan, Poland.
In the period April 2003 - March 2008 he worked at the Center of Advanced European Studies and Research (CAESAR) in Bonn. His Nanoparticle Technology Group focused on the creation of 2D and 3D nanostructures, based on single nanoparticles as well as the fabrication of nanostructured surfaces with a size of a number of square centimeters. A further focal point was the optical, structural as well as magnetic characterization of nanostructures. Since 2005 he acted also as a Professor at the Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelms-University in Bonn, Dept. of Physics. In May 2009 he came back to Freie University Berlin as a full professor and head of the Nanoparticle Technology Group. He has established a first-class research program in nanomaterials science and their applications in electronics and biomedicine.
Research activity:
Giersig has made significant contributions to the rational synthesis and fundamental investigation of low-dimensional semiconductor nanostructures and functional metallic nanostructures with tuneable electronic structures/interfaces and unique physical properties for advanced energy and biomedical technologies. The Giersig Group is focused on the development of innovative organic and inorganic nanosized materials and their application in electronics and life sciences. The R&D concept consists of the preparation of nanometer-sized semiconductor, metallic, and magnetic particles, followed by the creation of periodically ordered nanostructures (1-D, 3-D) based on single nanoparticles. A small particle size implies high sensitivity and selectivity.
Publication activity:
M. Giersig is the author/co-author of 350 scientific journal articles and book chapters covering physics, chemistry, materials science, biochemistry, medicine, nanotechnology and engineering, with citations over 28,600. His H-index is currently 85. In the World Ranking of the 100 Top Chemists and Material scientists of the past decade 2000-2010, M. Giersig is listed in position 74 in chemistry and 83 in material science (released in 2/2011 by Thomson-Reuters).
He owns 8 patents, incl. a patent Diagnostic-NanoSensor and its use in Medicine (since 2008).