We are interested in the physics of soft condensed matter, in particular in the non-equilibrium behaviour of these systems.
We are studying the uptake of iron into the root, as well as the storage and distribution of this micronutrient in the plant. Our goal is to understand the regulation of iron uptake and homeostasis, iron signaling, the interaction of protein and gene networks to coordinate the processes also to adapt to environmental aspects.
Our main scientific interests are endosymbiosis, early evolution, the origin of life, cell evolution, genome evolution and compartmentalized energy metabolism with emphasis on chloroplasts, mitochondria, and hydrogenosomes.
We are mainly concerned with structures of molecules in their electronically excited states. These are determined experimentally from rotationally resolved electronic spectra and/or Franck-Condon fits of fluorescence emission spectra.
Our research focusses on understanding, predicting, and modulating biomolecular interactions from an atomistic perspective.