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Christina Birkel joined the faculty of the School of Molecular Sciences in 2019. Prior to her appointment as an assistant professor at ASU, she held an Athene Young Investigator (junior research group leader) position at the Technische Universität (TU) Darmstadt, Germany (2013-2018). During that time, she also completed her Habilitation in the Department of Chemistry at TU Darmstadt. Before her independent career, she was a postdoctoral researcher in the groups of Prof. Galen Stucky and Prof. Ram Seshadri at the University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB, 2011-2013). At UCSB, she focused on the development of non-conventional solid-state synthesis methods to prepare (mostly intermetallic and oxide) energy (e.g. thermoelectric and phosphor) materials. She received her doctorate (Dr. rer. nat., summa cum laude) in late 2010 with a double-degree from the University of Mainz, Germany and Seoul National University, South Korea working with Prof. Wolfgang Tremel and Prof. Kookheon Char. Her graduate work involved the wet-chemical synthesis of chalcogenide nanoparticles for thermoelectric applications.
Our research vision is the development of new functional materials (2D and 3D) for energy-relevant applications based on rational syntheses and (micro)structure – properties considerations.
Stop by and meet us! We are looking for motivated students that are interested in inorganic and materials chemistry and would like to join our team.
Some selected articles include:
MAX/MXene:
Half-Heusler thermoelectrics:
Inorganic nanoparticles:
Our group focuses on a broad range of synthesis methods that we use to prepare functional inorganic materials. Our main expertise lies in wet chemical as well as classical and non-conventional (e.g. microwave heating) solid-state techniques. By means of structural (X-ray diffraction) and microstructural (e.g. electron microscopy) analyses, we investigate formation mechanisms and the influence of the synthesis conditions on the final product. We are particularly interested in the magnetic, electronic and catalytic properties of the inorganic solids.
| Fall 2020 | |
|---|---|
| Course Number | Course Title |
| CHM 494 | Special Topics |
| CHM 501 | Current Topics in Chemistry |
| CHM 598 | Special Topics |
| Spring 2020 | |
|---|---|
| Course Number | Course Title |
| CHM 453 | Inorganic Chemistry |
Higher Education Teaching Certificate, Technische Universität Darmstadt, 2017
Mentoring program "ProProfessur", Mentoring Hessen, 2016-2017
Feodor Lynen Research Fellowship, Alexander von Humboldt-Foundation, 2011-2013
Best Poster Award, Materials Research Outreach Program, Santa Barbara, 2012
MAINZ Award, MAterials Science IN MainZ, Granted for an outstanding Ph.D. thesis, 2011
Best Poster Award, 451. Wilhelm-Else-Heraeus-Seminar, Bad Honnef, Germany, 2010
PhD Fellowship, Graduate School of Excellence - MAterials Science IN MainZ, 2008-2010
Gesellschaft Deutscher Chemiker
International Advisory Board of Symposium CE "Progress in Nano-laminated Ternary Carbides, Nitrides and Borides (MAX/MAB) Phases and Derivatives Thereof (MXenes)" of the International Ceramics Congress (CIMTEC 2020), Italy
Organization of the 680th Wilhelm Else Heraeus Seminar "Materials Development for Automotive Propulsion", Bad Honnef, Germany, 2018
Faculty Search committee, W2 Theoretical Chemistry (tenure-track), Technische Universität Darmstadt, 2017/2018
Steering committee, LOEWE-Research cluster "RESsourcenschonende Permanentmagnete durch Optimierte Nutzung
Seltener Erden (RESPONSE)", Technische Universität Darmstadt, 2014-2018
Active member of interdisciplinary research groups and research profiles, for example "From Material to Product Innovation", Technische Universität Darmstadt, 2014-2018
Mentoring, CyberMentor: Online mentoring program for girls interested in STEM fields