The chemical biologist and founder speaks about her journey between science, industry and entrepreneurship and why building a deep-tech startup requires more than just strong technology.
Beyond Academia
Building Trust in Science Communication
For Shahin Ghaziani, moving from Iran to Germany at 24 was a profound, life-changing decision. It meant leaving behind his home, his family, and much of what was familiar in order to pursue education, opportunity, and a different future.
From Lab to Learning Systems
Artificial intelligence is often presented as either a promise of limitless efficiency or a looming existential risk. Somewhere between hype and fear, many people struggle to understand what today’s AI systems can do, where their limits lie, and how much trust they deserve. For Ladyna Wittscher, this gap between perception and reality is at the heart of her work.
Reimagining Science Education
Imagine a world where every student, regardless of their school or city, could step into a fully equipped science lab without ever leaving the classroom. For many students in India and other countries, this is far from reality. Schools often lack the resources to provide proper laboratory facilities, leaving bright young minds curious but constrained.
Healthy Minds, Healthier Research
What does it take to make academia a healthier place? For many researchers, the PhD journey is as much a personal transformation as it is an academic one. For Hanna Sänger and Dr. Kristin Vielberg, it became the starting point of a mission: to make this journey a healthier, more mindful one.
Science with Purpose
Maya Viswanathan’s journey from chemistry labs in Kerala, India, to co-founding Module Innovations is driven by passion, purpose, and personal experience.
Curiosity, Courage, and Clinical Impact
From a 14-year-old student competing in science contests to leading EMUNO Therapeutics, Dr. Emilia Neuwirt has turned curiosity into therapies that could transform patient care.
From Forest Floor to Future Innovation
Wolfgang Hinterdobler, CEO and Co-Founder of MyPilz, has spent his career uncovering the hidden powers of fungi — from their microscopic chemical exchanges to their potential as sustainable allies in agriculture, industry, and environmental restoration.
Turning an Idea into a Business
From the world of nanophotonics and quantum optics to the fast-paced environment of a high-tech startup—Jonathan Noé has taken an unusual path. Trained as a physicist in Munich, he co-founded Qlibri, a company that builds cutting-edge optical tools for research labs.
From Academia to Intrapreneurship
What happens when a scientist brings innovation out of academia and into the corporate world? Jonas Austerjost, a trained biotechnologist with a passion for IT and automation, shows how scientific curiosity and entrepreneurial thinking can thrive inside a company.
Rooted in Innovation
When Anne-Christin Bansleben began studying rhubarb as part of her academic research in nutritional science, she didn’t expect it to lead to a material innovation that would challenge the leather industry. Today, she’s the founder and managing director of deepmello – rhubarb technology GmbH, the company behind a plant-based tanning process using rhubarb roots.
Empathy in Science
Dr. Simone Lackner is an emerging cultural professional and artist with a rich multidisciplinary background in science. She holds a degree in Molecular Biology, a Ph.D. in Neuroscience, and postdoctoral training in Complexity and Computational Social Science.
Following the Science of Light
While you are back from summer vacations, we want to welcome you back with Sciencepreneur Talks´September issue with a flamboyant guest. Leonardo’s journey from quantum simulators in Florence to co-founding Akhetonics is a story of unexpected turns, groundbreaking discoveries, and a passion for pushing the boundaries of technology. Starting as a researcher, he found himself frustrated with the traditional academic path, ultimately leading him to a pivotal breakthrough in optical computing. This set the stage for his entrepreneurial leap, we hope you enjoy the reading.
Democratising the Technology Education
In this interview, we meet Anna Hülemeier, a PhD student in cognitive neuroscience at the University of Münster who’s motivated by free education ideal. Inspired by her research and a desire to empower others, Anna co-founded TechLabs, a non-profit dedicated to democratising digital skills education.
