Prof. Dr. Nina Hartrampf, Assistant Professor at the Department of Chemistry at the University of Zurich, receives the DECHEMA Prize 2025. The award, endowed with 20,000 euros, will be presented on November 7, 2025 at a symposium at the Irchel Campus in Zurich.
Advances in flow chemistry
Hartramf's research focuses on organic chemistry, automated flow synthesis and chemical biology. Her team developed methods to produce peptides and proteins with more than 100 amino acids within a few hours and with high purity. This work is considered a significant step in the further development of flow chemistry and opens up new possibilities for the application of biopolymers. The results are not only relevant for biomedical research: Peptides can also be used as functional coatings, for example to provide surfaces with antimicrobial properties or to improve the biocompatibility of materials. This opens up new approaches for applications in medical technology and in the field of innovative surface solutions.
Scientific career
Hartrampf studied chemistry and biochemistry at Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München and completed her doctorate in the field of natural product synthesis and chemical biology. In 2018, she moved to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) as a postdoctoral fellow, where she researched flow-based peptide and protein synthesis. Since 2020, she has been setting up her independent research group in Zurich.
Awards and commitment
Hartrampf has already received several awards for her work, including prizes from the American Peptide Society, the Gesellschaft Deutscher Chemiker and the Austrian Peptide Society. In addition to her research, she is also involved in professional societies, including as a board member of the Swiss Chemical Society and the International Flow Chemistry Society.