Miriam Unterlass

The research interests of Miriam Unterlass focus on functional materials rich in aromatic and heterocyclic compounds. These structural features impart outstanding material properties such as high thermal stability, chemical resistance, and fluorescence. These materials show interesting optoelectronic properties and can be used as dyes, for example. Recent studies investigate their potential application in cell staining.

Moreover, the Unterlass Lab develops a range of sustainable advanced materials, including low-molecular-weight organic compounds, high-performance linear and branched polymers, covalent organic frameworks (COFs), and inorganic-organic hybrid materials.

A major emphasis is placed on designing novel, environmentally friendly, non-toxic, and efficient synthetic methods - particularly through hydrothermal and solvothermal synthesis as well as solid-state reactions. The Unterlass lab's research spans both fundamental research and applied materials science. By combining computational tools with automation, the lab accelerates its research. Using automated flow reactors, the team explores uncharted areas of the chemical space to discover materials.

Miriam M. Unterlass studied chemistry, materials science, and chemical engineering in Würzburg, Southampton, and Lyon. Between 2009 and 2011, she worked on her PhD thesis at the Max Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces in Postdam, followed by a postdoc at ESPCI in Paris. In December 2012, she established her research group “Advanced Organic Materials” at the Institute of Materials Chemistry at Technische Universität Wien (TU Wien). In September 2018, Miriam obtained her habilitation venia docendi in materials chemistry and in June 2019, she became assistant professor at TU Wien. She joined CeMM as an adjunct principal investigator in 2018 and in June 2021, she became full professor of solid-state chemistry at Universität Konstanz (Germany). In October 2024 Miriam was appointed Director of Fraunhofer Institute for Silicate Research ISC in Würzburg. She also joined Julius Maximilian University of Würzburg, where she holds the Chair for Chemical Technology of Materials Synthesis.