The German Bunsen Society for Physical Chemistry (German abbreviation: DBG) honored Dr. Jacek Kozuch and his group “Advanced Vibrational Bio-Nanospectroscopy” with the Nernst Haber Bodenstein Award for their outstanding scientific achievements. Each year, the DBG gives this award to young scientists under the age of 40 for their exceptional scientific work.

Dr. Jacek Kozuch has been establishing his research group at Freie Universität Berlin since 2021 as part of Collaborative Research Center (CRC) 1078 “Protonation Dynamics in Protein Function.” Previously, he conducted postdoctoral research at Stanford University in the USA.

Dr. Kozuch and his team employ a range of vibrational spectroscopic techniques, including combinations of infrared spectroscopy and nanospectroscopy, to investigate electrostatic effects in antimicrobial resistance, at biological interfaces, and in catalysis. A central aim of his research is to understand the physical mechanisms that influence molecular processes relevant to biomedicine, such as viral infections or the development of antibiotic resistance.

To achieve this, Dr. Kozuch develops and applies methods such as surface-enhanced infrared absorption spectroscopy (SEIRAS). This technique allows for the investigation of biomolecules at interfaces with increased sensitivity and has been used by him in various studies to analyze structural changes in viral membrane proteins. In addition, Dr. Kozuch uses infrared spectroscopy to measure electric fields in proteins via the effect of electrochromism, thereby gaining insights into their activity.

The award-winning scientist is well connected both nationally and internationally and regularly publishes in leading journals of his field, including prestigious publications from the Nature group.

We congratulate Dr. Jacek Kozuch on receiving this award!