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Since April, Franziska Lederer has been a professor at the Brandenburg University of Technology Cottbus-Senftenberg (BTU), where she is strengthening a forward-looking field of research with her newly established professorship in “Biomolecular Resource Security.” The biologist, who holds a Ph.D., has been conducting research for more than 15 years at the Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR) on innovative processes for the circular economy aimed at recovering critical raw materials with the help of biomolecules. She now not only passes on her knowledge to students but also aims to expand it together with them.
Effective April 1, BTU and HZDR have jointly appointed Dr. Franziska Lederer as a professor, thereby establishing a significant focus on the sustainable use of resources. The professorship combines research and teaching in the field of circular economy and addresses key challenges in securing raw materials. This is also the central focus of the Helmholtz Institute Freiberg for Resource Technology (HIF), where Lederer conducts research on the use of biomolecules for the recovery of valuable raw materials. “The goal of my research and teaching is to highlight the added value and potential of biomolecules in the circular economy,” explains Lederer. “A particular focus is on the development of new recycling and recovery processes for metallic raw materials—especially from electronic waste. Here, I rely on a combination of biotechnological and classical physicochemical processes to enable the sustainable and comprehensive recovery of critical raw materials from waste.”
In addition to her research, Lederer will also be actively involved in teaching. She will begin teaching courses as early as the summer semester of 2026 and plans to develop her own module titled “Biomolecular Resource Security” in the future. “I want to incorporate the knowledge developed over the past ten years into my teaching and inspire young scientists to engage with interdisciplinary questions,” says the newly appointed professor. The professorship also strengthens collaboration between the BTU and the HZDR/HIF: “Through my teaching, I want to inspire the next generation to apply their talents to interdisciplinary research at the HZDR and the HIF as well. I have a wonderful team here of enthusiastic colleagues who think and conduct research in an interdisciplinary manner. In addition, the combination of work and career on the one hand and family on the other is strongly encouraged here, allowing me to balance my family life with my three children,” says Lederer, highlighting the positive environment at the HZDR and HIF. “I am also grateful for the support from my mentor and supervisor, Dr. Katrin Pollmann, who encouraged me to apply for the Marie Curie Fellowship, which has had a lasting impact on my career.”
In the long term, Lederer plans to expand the field of biological circular economy as a specialized area at the BTU together with her colleague Prof. Christian Abendroth. “We want to create a unique selling point here and visibly position the BTU ahead of other universities in this future-oriented field,” says Lederer.
About Franziska Lederer:
Franziska Lederer studied and earned her Ph.D. in biology at the University of Rostock. Since 2007, she has also been conducting research at the HZDR, initially at the Institute of Radiochemistry and, since 2012, at the HIF. Starting in 2015, she completed a one-year research fellowship at the University of British Columbia in Canada as part of a Marie Curie Fellowship. There, she conducted research on the identification of highly specific peptides for individual components in the lamp powder of energy-saving light bulbs. From October 2018 to May 2024, Lederer led the HZDR junior research group BioKollekt, which investigated the development of peptide-based biocollectors and laid the foundation for the newly established professorship in Biomolecular Resource Security.
Prof. Dr. Franziska Lederer | Department Biotechnology
Helmholtz Institute Freiberg for Resource Technology at HZDR
Phone: +49 351 260 2427 | Email: f.lederer@hzdr.de
Prof. Dr. Franziska Lederer is strengthening a forward-looking field of research with her newly esta ...
Quelle: Detlev Müller
Copyright: HZDR/Detlev Müller
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