Division I - Biology, Chemistry, and Process Engineering

Division I combines research, teaching and innovation in the scientific disciplines of biology, chemistry and process engineering. Twenty KIT research institutes, the Natural, Artificial and Cognitive Information Processing (NACIP) and Materials Systems Engineering (MSE) programmes in Helmholtz Information and the two KIT Departments of Chemistry and Biosciences and Chemical and Process Engineering form the core of the division.

We focus on our research motif  "Material and energy cycles in the circular economy, life science engineering, process technology and digitalisation". In this way, we research and teach the latest processes and methods of material and energy conversion for the circular economy and build a synergistic bridge to the life sciences. In terms of content, the size scales are addressed both theoretically and experimentally from nanogram synthesis to the near-industrial ton scale. All research in Division I is geared to the requirements of a resource-efficient data-based society.

Professor Dr. Andrea Robitzki has been Head of Division I since February 17th, 2020.

Head of Division Prof. Andrea Robitzki
Head of Division I

Prof. Dr. Andrea Robitzki

 

 

 

 

 

 

Contact Team Division I

 

 

 

Material and Energy Circuits in Circular Economy, Life Science Engineering, Process Technology and Digitization

Chemie und Chemieingenieurwesen im nationalen Fächerranking auf Platz 1

Im aktuell erschienen Shanghai Global Ranking of Academic Subjects (GRAS) 2025 belegen die Kernfächer des Bereich I wieder Spitzenpositionen.

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New RNA Class Discovered that Helps Keep Cells OrganizedArtur – stock.adobe.com
New RNA Class Discovered that Helps Keep Cells Organized

Discovery of smOOPs sheds light on why certain RNAs cluster into condensates – a breakthrough that opens new avenues for disease research

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Research into Optical Communication and Cryptocurrencyprivat
Research into Optical Communication and Cryptocurrency

Boris Karanov and Frank Rhein receive funding from the Carl Zeiss Foundation – the “CZS Nexus” program promotes interdisciplinary research ideas in STEM disciplines

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Molecular Biomimetics: The Cell Nucleus as a Model for DNA-based Computer ChipsLennart Hilbert, KIT
The Cell Nucleus as a Model for DNA-based Computer Chips

Stem cells process genetic information as quickly as computers – Cellular Information processing as inspiration for biotechnology

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Genetic Damage: Blind Cave Fish Helps to Understand Repair ProcessesCristiano Bertolucci/Universität Ferrara
Genetic Damage: Blind Cave Fish Helps to Understand Repair Processes

KIT researchers investigate the function of CPD photolyase in blind cave fish

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Turning Disease On and OffAndreas Diepold, KIT
Turning Disease On and Off

KIT researchers have uncovered how a bacterium actively switches off its disease-causing mechanisms at high cell density and evades the immune system — a possible key to better fighting infections

  

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Catalyst for Low-emission UseITCP, KIT
Catalyst for Low-emission Use

KIT researchers are improving catalysts to reduce the formation of toxic by-products when using synthetic fuels

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Press Release: Efficient Drug Discovery with NanodropletsLiana Bauer, KIT
Efficient Drug Discovery with Nanodroplets

A new nanodroplet-based platform streamlines the synthesis, characterization, and testing of therapeutic drug candidates – delivering faster, more cost-effective results in a single miniaturized workflow

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Teaching awards 2025

CIW Ingenierinnen Netzwerk KIT
CIW Women Engineers Network

The CIW Women Engineers Network (CIW IN) was founded in 2021 by the KIT Department of Chemical and Process Engineering (CIW) as part of the ExU Gender Equity 1 project. The aim is to enable both professional and social exchange for women within the department, regardless of where they are in their scientific careers.

 

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