Master Sustainable Chemistry: Faculty

Your lecturers for the Master's programme in Sustainable Chemistry

All lecturers on the part-time Master's in Sustainable Chemistry have excellent scientific expertise and extensive experience in their teaching and working areas. The excellent scientific teaching is continuously supplemented by highly practical perspectives.

Head of degree programme

  • Prof. Dr. Dr. h.c. Klaus Kümmerer

Short CV:

  • Professor of Sustainable Chemistry and Material Resources 

  • Director of the Institute of Sustainable Chemistry (INSC) at Leuphana University 

  • Research and teachings are focused on Sustainable Chemistry, Sustainable Pharmacy, Material Resources, Aquatic Environmental Chemistry, and Time in Ecology and Sustainability 

  • Honoured by the German state with the Federal Cross of Merit for his contribution to the field of Sustainable Chemistry (2024) 

  • Honorary doctorates from the University in Ghent and the University of Helsinki (2025) 

Modules:

  • F1: Concepts of Sustainable Chemistry
  • F2: Environmental Chemistry
  • F4: Modelling of Chemical Properties and Fate
  • F7: Benign by Design

Lecturers at Leuphana

  • Dr. Ann-Kathrin Amsel, M.Sc.

Short CV:

  • Since 01/2019: Research assistant at the Institute of Sustainable Chemistry, Leuphana University Lüneburg, Germany 

  • 12/2024: Doctorate (Dr. rer. nat.), Leuphana University Lüneburg, Germany 

Modules:

  • F4: Modelling of Chemical Properties and Fate
  • F7: Benign by Design
  • Prof. Dr. Ralf Ebinghaus

Short CV:

  • Analytical and environmental chemist and Director (act.) of the Institute of Coastal Environmental Chemistry at Helmholtz-Zentrum Geesthacht 

  • Professor (h.c.) at the Faculty of Sustainability Sciences at Leuphana University of Lüneburg 

  • Visiting scientist at Laboratoire de Glaciology et Géophysique de l’Environnement (LGGE), Grenoble, France (2007) 

  • Visiting Professor for Senior International Scientists of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (2014-2015) 

  • Member of the Pool of Experts for the United Nations World Ocean Assessment for the 1st and 2nd round (2013 + 2014; 2017 – 2021) 

  • Editor of the EGU Open Access Journal "Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics" and associate editor of “Chemosphere” 

  • Published more than 220 articles in peer reviewed journals and several book chapters. 

Module:

  • F10: Law, International Regulations & Chemicals Management
  • Dr. Ing. Oliver Olsson

Short CV:

  • Lecturer and research scientist at the Institute of Sustainable Chemistry at Leuphana University 

  • Doctoral degree in civil engineering 

  • Training in international transdisciplinary project management 

Module:

  • F8: Resources, Recycling and Circular Economy

Dr. Wolf-Ulrich Palm (Leuphana University)

Short CV:

  • Lecturer and research scientist at the Institute of Sustainable Chemistry 

  • Fields of activity: development of analytical methods, photochemistry, and kinetics in general, and in particular abiotic degradation of organic compounds in the environment (in air, in water and on particles) 

Module:

  • F2: Environmental Chemistry
  • Prof. Dr. Markus Quante

Short CV:

  • Senior research scientist at the department of Chemistry Transport Modelling of the Helmholtz-Zentrum Geesthacht, Institute of Coastal Research 

  • Professor at the Leuphana University Lüneburg, teaching courses on climate physics and transport of matter in the environment 

Module:

  • F2: Environmental Chemistry
  • Dr. Marco Reich

Short CV:

  • Postdoctoral researcher and lecturer at the Institute of Sustainable Chemistry (INSC) at Leuphana University 

  • Degree in pharmaceutical chemistry 

  • Ph.D. at Leuphana University, working on lipids in oral biofilms and their role in preventive dentistry

Modules:

  • F4: Modelling of Chemical Properties & Fate
  • F7: Benign by Design
  • Dr. Svenja Schloß

Short CV:

  • Lecturer at the Institute of Sustainable Chemistry (INSC) at Leuphana University 

  • State examination in food chemistry 

  • PhD focussing on biosynthesis, isolation, and characterisation of bioactive secondary metabolites from fungal cultures 

Module:

  • F1: Concepts of Sustainable Chemistry 

External lecturers

Dr. Dorota Bartkowiak

Short CV:

  • Studies in chemistry at the Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań (Poland)  

  • PhD in inorganic and analytical at the Humboldt University, Berlin 

  • Research coordinator at the ISC3 Research and Education Hub hosted by Leuphana University of Lüneburg (2018 – 2024) 

  • Her reserach was focused on assessing the sustainability of key technologies for the defossilization of the chemical industry such as electrosynthesis of chemicals and renewable energy production, sound use of resources with focus on non-renewable resources 

  • Innovation Manager at the ISC3 Innovation Hub hostedby DECHEMA Gesellschaft für Chemische Technik und Biotechnologie e.V. 

  • Supports start-ups on their journey towards sustainability

Module:

  • F6: Sustainable Chemistry & Renewable Energy

Dr. Alexis Bazzanella

Short CV:

  • Head of Research and Project Coordination at DECHEMA Society for Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology in Frankfurt, Germany 

  • PhD in Chemistry

  • More than 15 years of experience in research and techno-economic assessment in the field of chemical CO2 utilisation and power-to-X technologies 

  • Managed several funding programmes in this area and is author of various studies describing the transformation of the chemical industry towards greenhouse gas neutrality 

Module:

  • F6: Sustainable Chemistry & Renewable Energy

Dr. Christopher Blum

Short CV:

  • Employed at the German Environment Agency (UBA) in the section “International Chemicals Management” 

  • He is a national focal point for chemical leasing and a member of the UNIDO chemical leasing award jury 

  • Member of the OECD sustainable chemistry issue team and co-author of the Guidance of Sustainable Chemicals 

Module:

  • F11: Business models & Strategies

Dr. Franziska Breuer

Short CV:

  • Chemist and accredited Specialist in Toxicology with wide experience in regulatory toxicology, experimental ecotoxicology and in human and environmental risk assessment including exposure assessment 

  • Scientist in the department “Regulatory Affairs” in the division “Chemical Safety and Toxicology” at the Fraunhofer Institute for Toxicology and Experimental Medicine ITEM since 2017 

  • Is also involved in scientific projects in the field of human and environmental toxicity for national and international authorities 

Module:

  • F10: Law, International Regulations & Chemicals Management

Antonieta Alcorta de Bronstein, M.Sc.

Short CV:

  • Researcher at the University of Vechta in the Chair of Economics and Sustainability with Prof. Dr. Jantje Halberstadt 

  • Works currently in the ENAQ Project (Smart City Living Lab and Energetic Neighbourhood in Oldenburg) with more than 20 partners from business, industry and science as well as in the “Wärmewende” Project on sustainable heating, together with more than 15 partners from science and practice 

  • Lecturer for more than 10 years and workshop moderator, especially in creative thinking process 

Module:

  • F11: Business Models and Strategies

Prof. Dr. James H. Clark

Short CV:

    • Director of the Circa Renewable Chemistry Institute

    • Founding Director of the Green Chemistry Centre of Excellence (GCCE) at the University of York (UK) 

    • Chair Professor at Fudan University in China

    • World leader on the application of green chemical technologies to waste valorisation and biorefineries.

    • Published over 600 articles and won numerous honours and distinctions worldwide including honorary doctorates from Leuphana, Coimbra, Gent and Umea Universities and the 2021 European Prize for Sustainable Chemistry. 

Module:

  • F5: Green Chemistry

Dr. Christian Hagelüken

Short CV:

  • Worked – until his retirement in 2023 – for over 30 years in the metals (recycling) industry 

  • Director EU government affairs at Umicore for the last 10 years 

  • Various management positions in research, technical sales, product management, and business development at Umicore and Degussa 

  • University degrees in mining engineering and industrial engineering 

Module:

  • F8: Resources, Recycling and Circular Economy

Prof. Dr. Jantje Halberstadt

Short CV:

  • Professor of Economics and Sustainability at the University of Vechta, Germany, where she is also Dean of Studies at the Faculty of Education and Social Sciences 

  • Board member of FGF e.V. (FörderkreisGründungs-Forschung), Germany`s leading scientific association for entrepreneurship, innovation and SMEs, as well as of the Yunus Centre for Social Business and Values and the Vechta Institute of Sustainability Transformation in Rural Areas (VISTRA) 

  • Leads several trans- and interdisciplinary research projects with national and international groups 

Module:

  • F11: Business models & Strategies

Dr. Glenn A. Hurst

Short CV:

  • Professor of Green Chemistry Education at the Green Chemistry Centre of Excellence in the Department of Chemistry at the University of York (UK) 

  • Shortlisted by Times Higher Education in the ‘Most Innovative Teacher of the Year’ category in 2018 

  • Highly commended for teaching excellence in the Educate North Awards 2019 

  • Several awards, e.g. 2019 American Chemical Society award for incorporating sustainability into higher education, 2020 Royal Society of Chemistry Higher Education Teaching Award for ‘impactful work in green chemistry teaching resulting in national and international renown’

  • Recognised by Jisc as one of the top ten social media superstars in higher education

Module:

  • F5: Green Chemistry
  • Prof. Dr. Claudia Kemfert

Short CV:

  • Head of the Department of Energy, Transport, Environment at the German Institute for Economic Research (DIW Berlin) since April 2004 

  • Professor of Energy Economics and Energy Policy at Leuphana University 

  • Until 2009, Professor of Energy Economics and Sustainability at the Hertie School of Governance (HSoG) 

  • From 2004 to 2009, professorship for Environmental Economics at Humboldt University 

  • Studies in economics at the Universities of Bielefeld and Oldenburg (doctorate 1998) and Stanford

Module:

  • F6: Sustainable Chemistry & Renewable Energy

Dr. Oliver Licht

Short CV:

  • Senior scientist at the division chemical safety and toxicology of the Fraunhofer Institute for Toxicology and Experimental medicine ITEM in Hannover.  

  • Biologist with a PhD in ecotoxicology and board-certified expert in toxicology (DGPT, ERT) with more than 15 years of experience in chemical risk assessment and toxicology.

Module:

  • F3: Toxicology and Ecotoxicology

Dr. Volker Matthias

Short CV:

  • Head of department Chemistry Transport Modelling at Helmholtz-Zentrum Geesthacht, Institute of Coastal Research 

  • Lecturer in Atmospheric Chemistry at University of Hamburg and Transport of Matter in the Environment at Leuphana University Lüneburg 

Module:

  • F2: Environmental Chemistry

Dr. Tomas Rydberg

Short CV:

  • Senior Researcher at IVL Swedish Environmental Research Institute 

  • Specific projects concern environmental life cycle or socio-economic assessments of current and future products and service systems 

Module:

  • F9: Sustainability Assessment

Dr. Stefanie Scheffler

Short CV:

  • Chemist with a strong background in tissue engineering, inhalation toxicology, proteomics and toxicological risk assessment 

  • Employed at the Fraunhofer Institute for Toxicology and Experimental Medicine ITEM as a scientist in the department “Regulatory Affairs” in the division “Chemical Safety and Toxicology” since 2017 

  • Project leader for several projects and the responsible person for the regulatory area cosmetic products

Module:

  • F10: Law, International Regulations & Chemicals Management

Prof. Dr. Ir. Christian Stevens

Short CV:

  • Senior Full Professor of Green Chemistry and Technology at Ghent University (Belgium) (SynBioC research group) and Director of the HighTru Lab  

  • Coordinator of an International Thematic Network on Green Chemistry  

  • Co-creator of the spin-off company Caloritum (chemical heat transformer to recuperate low temperature industrial waste heat) 

  • 2015 First Prize of the Emerging Technologies Competition, London, RSC, Britain  

  • Founder of Amalus Therapeutics (small molecules for fibrotic diseases) 

  • Author/co-author of over 360 international peer reviewed publications and inventor on 20 patent applications 

Module:

  • F5: Green Chemistry

Dr. Emma Strömberg

Short CV:

  • Senior researcher of polymeric materials at IVL Swedish Environmental Research Institute 

  • Project coordinator of IRISS (International ecosystem for accelerating the transition to Safe-and-Sustainable-by-Design materials, products and processes) 

Module:

  • F8: Resources, Recycling and Circular Economy

Dipl-Ing. Ariane Zwintscher

Short CV:

  • Head of the department “Regulatory Affairs” in the division “Chemical Safety and Toxicology” of the Fraunhofer Institute for Toxicology and Experimental Medicine (ITEM) 

  • Is also involved in scientific projects in the field of human and environmental toxicity for national and international authorities

  • Member of the German Society for Pharmacology and Toxicology (DGPT) since 2010 

Module:

  • F10: Law, International Regulations & Chemicals Management

Contact & Advising

Coordination

Anastasia Polyzou
Universitätsallee 1, C13.204
21335 Lüneburg
Fon +49.4131.677-4110
anastasia.polyzou@leuphana.de

Director

Prof. Dr. Dr. h.c. Klaus Kümmerer
Universitätsallee 1, C13.311b
21335 Lüneburg
Fon +49.4131.677-2893
klaus.kuemmerer@leuphana.de

E-mail contact

Please feel free to contact us via schem@leuphana.de.