Cologne

Welcome to Cologne, one of the oldest and most diverse cities of Germany, located in the heart of North Rhine-Westphalia. Situated at the Rhine, this metropole with over 1 million inhabitants is renowned for its stunning architecture, rich cultural heritage, and lively arts scene. The city’s iconic cathedral, the “Kölner Dom”, is a breathtaking example of Gothic architecture and with 157 meters in height the third tallest church in the world. Cologne’s cultural life is vibrant and diverse, featuring numerous museums, theaters, and galleries that cater to a wide range of interests. The most well known cultural event is perhaps the carnival celebrations, also known as the 5th season. Starting from the 11th of November at 11:11 o’clock festivities slowly build up reaching their climax on the monday preceding Ash Wednesday, where the city is a riot of colour and music with elaborate parades, street parties and masked balls. 

The University of Cologne, which was founded in 1388, is one of the oldest and largest universities in Europe. Due to its outstanding academic achievements and the high quality and diversity of its academic programs, it enjoys an excellent international reputation.

The mission of the University of Cologne is to create, preserve and impart knowledge, to offer its students and young academics a high-level academic education that qualifies them for both the academic world and the job market, to promote cutting-edge research and to drive innovation, while taking into account the ever-changing needs and challenges of today's society.

The Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry at the University of Cologne builds on a scientific tradition dating back over a century. From its early foundations in classical chemistry, most notably by the work of Nobel laureate Kurt Alder, the department has evolved into a modern research and teaching hub that combines excellence in fundamental science with interdisciplinary innovation. It continues this legacy with internationally renowned scientists, including Benjamin List, Nobel Laureate in Chemistry and honorary professor at the University of Cologne.

Today, the department includes 17 professorships across inorganic, organic, physical, theoretical, and biological chemistry. Students can pursue Bachelor's and Master's degrees in Chemistry and Biochemistry, with strong integration of research into teaching and opportunities to specialize in areas such as materials chemistry, synthetic methods, and molecular biology.

Research is centered around three core fields. “Materials Chemistry” is focused around functional materials for energy research and organic electronics, as well as advanced nanomaterials in medicine. In “Biological Chemistry” protein processing, localization and regulation especially using small molecules. In Synthetic Chemistry the department is researching transition metal catalysis, organocatalysis, photocatalysis as well as reaction mechanisms.

The Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry also offers two unique research training groups (RTG) focused around materials chemistry and biological chemistry: TIDE which revolves around organic electronics and RELOC which is focused on biological chemistry on protein localization, both financed by the DFG.

As part of the CECAD Cluster of Excellence, the department also contributes to cutting-edge research on aging and disease, fostering collaboration between chemistry, biology, and medicine. With top-tier infrastructure, international links, and a forward-looking curriculum, Cologne offers a vibrant environment for both scientific discovery and academic growth.