Tips from a Nobel laureate

The Nobel laureate and Freiburg alumnus Prof. Dr. Joachim Frank from Columbia University in New York, USA will visit his alma mater and hold two lectures in which he will discuss his research and describe his path to the Noble Prize.

Pictures: pathdoc/fotolia, Uni Freiburg, MicroOne/fotolia, Kazyavka/fotolia, Baschi Bender. Collage: Jürgen Oschwald

Together with his colleagues Jacques Dubochet and Richard Henderson, Joachim Frank received the Nobel Prize for Chemistry in October 2017 for their contribution to the development of cryo-electron microscopy. Frank, who studied physics from 1960 to 1963 at the University of Freiburg, will visit his alma mater in June and July 2018 to report about his research and the long road to the world’s most prestigious award.

Cryo-electron microscopy is a high-resolution imaging and structure determination of biomolecules in solutions. The visualization of biomolecules has revolutionized biochemistry and has expanded the potential of electron technology into the study of living matter. The visualization of biomolecules has revolutionized biochemistry and has expanded the potential of electron technology into the study of living matter. Thus, for example, antibiotic resistance-developing proteins and individual virus strains, including Zika, can be illustrated and better understood.

On June 29 students and doctoral candidates have an opportunity at 5pm to meet the researcher in the Chemistry lecture hall during a workshop discussion entitled “How can I become a Nobel laureate?”. Refreshments will be served thereafter in the foyer.

During a Hermann Staudinger lecture at Freiburg Institute for Advanced Studies (FRIAS) on July 2, Frank will discuss the far-reaching significance of this new technology and, among other things, address future areas of application, such as molecular medicine. The general public is welcome to attend.