Max Planck Institute for Polymer Research

Flabby and flexible

Flabby, flexible, and full of potential: Researchers at @hitsters.bsky.social and the @mpip-mainz.mpg.de
have developed a #machinelearning model that designs flexible proteins. A leap toward next-gen enzymes, therapeutics & sustainable biotech! 🌱💊🔬
Read more here: www.mpip-mainz.mpg.de/pm2025-21

🎯🔬One protein, three functions: New dual-labeling method from weilgroup.bsky.social‬ at the @mpip-mainz.mpg.de enables simultaneous functionalization of bioactive proteins for targeted delivery and imaging. Read more here: https://www.mpip-mainz.mpg.de/1033647/PM2025-20. #chemical #biother-apeutics

Scientists at the MPI-P and global partners have developed a new type of air filter using a liquid coating to trap even nanoscale particles – just like mucus in the nose. 🌬️
The result: better air quality, less energy use, and a big step toward smarter filtration. 🌍 www.mpip-mainz.mpg.de/en/pm2025-19

Am 8. Juli wurde der Max-Planck-Campus Mainz feierlich eröffnet. Im Fokus: die neu gegründete Liquids-Initiative. Beteiligt sind das MPI für Polymerforschung, @mpic.de und das Max Planck Graduate Center mit der @unimainz.bsky.social 🧪🌍
#MaxPlanckCampus #LiquidsInitiative #Forschung #Mainz

Dreh bei LigniLabs! 🎥 Ein Team des SWR aktuell war am MPI-P, um die Arbeit von @LigniLabs an mikrotechnologischen Lignin-Partikeln zur Bekämpfung der Esca-Krankheit zu begleiten. Zu sehen am 08. Juli ab 19.30 Uhr bei SWR aktuell. 📺🌿

Stretchable Electronics

🧪 Researchers At the MPI-P use a transfer-printing process to transfer conductive PEDOT:PSS films onto stretchable substrates.
Plasticizers diffuse from the substrate into the polymer, improving electrical conductivity and mechanical stretchability. Read more here: www.mpip-mainz.mpg.de/en/pm2025-17

MPI-P employees joined City-Cycling Mainz for the 4th year 🚴‍♀️ With 3,850 tons of CO₂ saved since 2022 and a best-ever 16th place. The team showed great commitment. 🥇 For the first time, the top 3 cyclists received sustainable Max Planck bottles.

Startschuss für den Max-Planck-Campus Mainz! Mit der neuen Liquids-Initiative, dem @mpic.de, dem Max-Planck Graduate Center und der engen Zusammenarbeit mit der @unimainz.bsky.social entsteht ein Forschungsstandort für interdisziplinäre Grundlagenforschung zu Flüssigkeiten & Erdsystemprozessen.

Congratulations to Dr. Kübra Kaygisiz @kubrakaygisiz.bsky.social on being awarded the Otto Hahn Medal by the Max Planck Society 🎉 Her outstanding PhD work on self-assembling peptide nanostructures for controlled cell-material interactions was truly groundbreaking. #MPG #OttoHahnMedal #WomenInSTEM

Curious about doing research at MPIP? 🔍 Join the Student Open House on June 25 from 3 to 6.30 p.m. at the @mpip-mainz.mpg.de. Explore our labs, talk to PhD students and group leaders, and learn more about research opportunities at the MPI-P. Find out more here: www.mpip-mainz.mpg.de/events/41934...

Jahrestagung des Nachhaltigkeitsnetzwerks 2025

Am 2.–3. Juni kamen in Mainz Teilnehmende aus der gesamten @maxplanck.de zusammen.🌱
Im Fokus: Austausch zu Energie, Mobilität, Kommunikation und weiteren Nachhaltigkeitsthemen.💬

Mehr dazu hier: www.mpip-mainz.mpg.de/pm2025-15
#Nachhaltigkeit #MPG #Forschung

Researchers at the @mpip-mainz.mpg.de report super diffusive energy transport in organic semiconductor films.
Excitons were observed to travel rapidly and over long distances with minimal loss.
Read more here:
🔗https://www.mpip-mainz.mpg.de/1020217/PM2025-10

🧬⚡️ Faster cancer immunotherapy: researchers at the MPI-P developed nanocarriers tagged with nanobodies instead of antibodies—cutting synthesis time from days to hours. A cheaper, faster way to train immune cells to fight tumors. Read more:
www.mpip-mainz.mpg.de/pm2025-09

#nanomedicine

👩‍🔬 Am 18. Mai von 10–13 Uhr lädt das Max-Planck-Institut für Polymerforschung in Mainz zum Science Day ein. Entdeckt Kunststoffe neu, besucht die Kinderuni zur Schwarzwälder Kirschtorte und kommt mit Forscher*innen ins Gespräch. 🐝 🍰 Infos: www.mpip-mainz.mpg.de/events/41661...

Observing the ultrafast electrical charging of liquids

🔋🔬Scientists of our Molecular Spectroscopy Department have developed an optical method to study electric double layers, crucial for energy storage, e.g., in batteries. They found that ion conduction drives double-layer formation at high ion concentrations. Read more: www.mpip-mainz.mpg.de/pm2025-08

Mit Licht gesteuerte Netzwerke in Zellen: Wie Forschende künstliche Fasern in lebenden Zellen aufbauen

Imagine being able to program living cells with light — that’s exactly what researchers have just achieved! Using green LED light, they create artificial networks inside cells. A breakthrough for the medicine of tomorrow! 💡🧫
Read more here:
www.mpip-mainz.mpg.de/1011354/PM20...

Max Planck Research Group Leader (W2) in Molecular Design We are looking for exceptional early-career scientists conducting computational research with a proven record of accomplishment. The primary focus of this call is on candidates proposing research on b...

Job alert: Join us in Mainz as

Max Planck Research Group Leader (W2) in Molecular Design

...and make your own research dreams happen on de novo design, generative models, proteins, materials ...
tinyurl.com/r2xjxnuk

@mpip-mainz.mpg.de

At a second glance: In the latest issue of the research magazine of the MPG, the research of Rüdiger Berger and his team is presented with an image taken with an atomic force microscope – it shows how electrical charges are generated by a drop rolling down:
www.mpg.de/24341373/S00... 🔬📖

Using science for more animal welfare Researchers led by Thomas Vilgis of the Max Planck Institute for Polymer Research have examined real foie gras and developed an alternative that is very similar in taste and texture, but also takes an...

🚨 Researchers at the MPI-P and the University of Southern Denmark have developed a foie gras alternative that mimics the taste and texture of the real thing without compromising animal welfare. Read more in our press release: www.mpip-mainz.mpg.de/1009959/PM20... . 🌱✨

📢 New "Advanced Soft Matter Science" lecture series at MPIP! 🎉
The first talk by Dr. Rüdiger Berger on Scanning Force Microscopy was a great success.
🔬 Next: Dr. Ingo Lieberwirth on Electron Microscopy, March 26, 10 AM
Open to everyone interested!
📅 Upcoming lectures: mpip-mainz.mpg.de/en/events

Korallen als Müllkippe: WAs sagt die Forschung über die Bedrohung durch Mikroplastik

🌊🧪 Panel Talk: Corals as a Dumping Ground? Join @landfesterdept.bsky.social (@mpip-mainz.mpg.de) & Jonathan Jung (MPI for Chemistry) as they discuss the impact of microplastics on coral reefs.
📅 Apr 10, 2025 | 5–7 PM
📍 MPI for Polymer Research
📌Free entry: tinyurl.com/dr797ctk
🗣️ Event in German

Bändermodell der Struktur des Eiskristll-bildenden Proteins von Pseudomonas syringae. Rechts daneben Überschrift "Die Eismacher" des im Post verlinkten Artikels, gefolgt von dessen Vorspann.

Die meisten #Organismen versuchen, die Bildung von Eiskristallen zu verhindern. Das #Bakterium Pseudomonas syringae löst sie indes gezielt mit eisbildenden Proteinen aus, wie Konrad Meister vom @mpip-mainz.mpg.de et al. berichten … Larissa Tetsch hat nachgefragt: www.laborjournal.de/editorials/3...

HELAU 🎉

Yesterday, we participated in the #Mainz Carnival alongside the @sfb1551.bsky.social! This was an amazing experience, and with over 600,000 people watching, it was a fantastic way to show how fun science can be!

You can find the recording here, starting at 45:50 👉 shorturl.at/41alV

Welcome here - enjoy your time at the Institute and also enjoy the "Mainzer Fastnacht" with a "Dreifach donnernde Helau" the coming days 🎆

🎉 So happy to share that on February 1st I started a new chapter as a Group Leader at the Max Planck Institute for Polymer Research in Mainz!

Grateful for all the support from my mentors, colleagues, and friends from my time at UAM and TUe, and for this amazing opportunity at @mpip-mainz.mpg.de.

Prolonged super-microscopy

🚀 Researchers at our institute have enhanced STED microscopy using nanographenes, allowing for longer observation times. This innovation overcomes previous limitations, paving the way for new discoveries in cellular processes. Read more: www.mpip-mainz.mpg.de/1002858/PM20... #Microscopy #ScienceNews

A new PhD position in computational materials science is available in the group of Denis Andrienko. Read more: andrienko.pages.mpip-mainz.mpg.de/pages/jobs/phd_2025

Zwölf neu berufene Direktorinnen der Max-Planck-Gesellschaft (von links oben nach rechts unten): Anne Röthel, Susanne Mertens, Yafang Cheng, Amélie Saintonge, Jie Shan, Frauke Gräter, Maude W. Baldwin, Carmela Troncoso, Simone Kühn, Yen-Ping Hsueh, Myriam Benisty und Meeyoung Cha.

Eines haben sie alle gemeinsam: die Leidenschaft für ihre Forschung ✨🧪🌎 Ein herzliches Willkommen an alle zwölf neu berufenen Max-Planck-Direktorinnen! Damit steigt der Anteil von Wissenschaftlerinnen in Führungspositionen erneut 🤩 www.mpg.de/24147695/meh... #IDWGS2025 #WomenInScience

Today, the Global Women's Breakfast 2025 united women in science worldwide to network and promote gender equality - also in our institute. Thanks to all who joined and contributed! 🌍👩‍🔬 @iupacpolymer.bsky.social @gdch.bsky.social @landfesterdept.bsky.social #GWB2025 #AcceleratingEquityInScience

Looking forward and keeping fingers crossed for the decision end of May!