Fraunhofer ISC is one of the leading European centers for material-based research and development in the fields of energy, the environment and health. Prof. Unterlass is taking on the management of the institute at a time when the importance of sustainable materials is constantly growing for a wide range of applications — from energy efficiency to biomedical technologies. “With her comprehensive expertise in the field of materials science and materials chemistry, Prof. Unterlass will be instrumental in shaping future research and development at Fraunhofer ISC and will be providing innovative momentum,” says Prof. Holger Hanselka, President of the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft, in regard to the appointment of the new institute director. “Her focus on environmentally friendly processes that conserve resources is in keeping with the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft and Fraunhofer ISC’s strategy of developing groundbreaking solutions for industry.”
Following various study and research placements plus teaching positions in the USA, France, the United Kingdom and Austria, the multi-award-winning materials scientist is looking forward to getting started in her new role: “I’m honored to have been offered this important and exciting position and am seizing this opportunity with great enthusiasm.” Prof. Unterlass regards the dual role of director of a Fraunhofer institute with around 380 employees and holder of a university chair as both a challenge and motivation. Her research work to date covers the fields of solid and soft materials, particularly the synthesis of new functional materials involving sustainable chemical processes. Internationally, Prof. Unterlass has made a particular name for herself through her interdisciplinary approaches, bringing together chemistry, physics and materials sciences in unique ways.
She is succeeding long-standing Institute Director Prof. Gerhard Sextl, who retired on March 31, 2024, and successfully led the institute through a phase of important technological innovations. “I’m really looking forward to my new role and to working alongside the highly qualified teams at Fraunhofer ISC,” says Prof. Miriam Unterlass. “Together, we will be exploring new avenues of research to meet the challenges of the future and develop sustainable solutions for industry.”
Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft