World's Best Scientists 2026 revealed!
Award Badge
Chemistry
Germany
2026

D-Index & Metrics

Chemistry

D-Index
100
Citations
31471
World Ranking
1294
National Ranking
100

Research.com Recognitions

  • 2026 - Research.com Chemistry in Germany Leader Award
  • 2025 - Research.com Chemistry in Germany Leader Award
  • 2022 - Research.com Chemistry in Germany Leader Award
  • 2003 - Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)
  • 1998 - Fellow of American Physical Society (APS) Citation For significant contributions to the field of protein dynamics with a broad spectrum of experimental techniques, particularly xray diffraction, gamma ray scattering, and timeresolved optical spectroscopies

Overview

G. Ulrich Nienhaus is affiliated with the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology in Germany and has contributed extensively to the fields of biochemistry, genetics, and molecular biology. Their work spans multiple subfields, including molecular biology, biophysics, biomedical engineering, materials chemistry, and atomic and molecular physics, with a primary focus on the molecular mechanisms underlying biological functions.

The scientist's research topics prominently feature advanced fluorescence microscopy techniques, advanced biosensing and bioanalysis techniques, RNA and protein synthesis mechanisms, RNA interference and gene delivery, cell image analysis techniques, and applications of advanced electron microscopy techniques and biosensing technologies.

Recent publications by G. Ulrich Nienhaus highlight contributions to super-resolution RNA imaging and nanoparticle interactions in biomedical contexts. These include:

  • Super-resolution RNA imaging using a rhodamine-binding aptamer with fast exchange kinetics, 2021, Nature Biotechnology
  • Nanoparticles for biomedical applications: exploring and exploiting molecular interactions at the nano-bio interface, 2020, Materials Today Advances
  • RNA polymerase II clusters form in line with surface condensation on regulatory chromatin, 2021, Molecular Systems Biology
  • Mechanistic Understanding of Protein Corona Formation around Nanoparticles: Old Puzzles and New Insights, 2023, Small
  • Fast-exchanging spirocyclic rhodamine probes for aptamer-based super-resolution RNA imaging, 2023, Nature Communications

Frequent co-authors in their publications include Karin Nienhaus, Andrei Yu Kobitski, Masanari Takamiya, Johannes Stegmaier, and Sepand Rastegar.

G. Ulrich Nienhaus's work has been published in a range of venues, with notable contributions in OPAL (Open@LaTrobe) (La Trobe University), bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory), Biophysical Journal, eLife, and iScience. Their publication record demonstrates a consistent engagement with interdisciplinary platforms that bridge biology, chemistry, and physics.

Recognition of G. Ulrich Nienhaus's scientific contributions includes fellowships from major associations. They were named a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) in 2003 and a Fellow of the American Physical Society (APS) in 1998. The APS fellowship citation references significant contributions to the understanding of protein dynamics through diverse experimental techniques such as x-ray diffraction, gamma ray scattering, and time-resolved optical spectroscopies.

Best Publications

  • Ultra-small fluorescent metal nanoclusters: Synthesis and biological applications

    Li Shang;Shaojun Dong;G. Ulrich Nienhaus;G. Ulrich Nienhaus

  • Engineered nanoparticles interacting with cells: size matters

    Li Shang;Karin Nienhaus;Gerd Ulrich Nienhaus;Gerd Ulrich Nienhaus

  • Surface Functionalization of Nanoparticles with Polyethylene Glycol: Effects on Protein Adsorption and Cellular Uptake

    Beatriz Pelaz;Pablo del Pino;Pauline Maffre;Raimo Hartmann

  • A quantitative fluorescence study of protein monolayer formation on colloidal nanoparticles.

    Carlheinz Röcker;Matthias Pötzl;Feng Zhang;Wolfgang J. Parak

  • EosFP, a fluorescent marker protein with UV-inducible green-to-red fluorescence conversion

    Jörg Wiedenmann;Sergey Ivanchenko;Franz Oswald;Florian Schmitt

  • Differential Uptake of Functionalized Polystyrene Nanoparticles by Human Macrophages and a Monocytic Cell Line

    Oleg Lunov;Tatiana Syrovets;Cornelia Loos;Johanna Beil

  • Polymer-Coated Nanoparticles Interacting with Proteins and Cells: Focusing on the Sign of the Net Charge

    Dominik Hühn;Karsten Kantner;Christian Geidel;Stefan Brandholt

  • Protein corona formation around nanoparticles – from the past to the future

    Pablo del Pino;Beatriz Pelaz;Qian Zhang;Pauline Maffre

  • Impact of protein modification on the protein corona on nanoparticles and nanoparticle-cell interactions.

    Lennart Treuel;Lennart Treuel;Stefan Brandholt;Pauline Maffre;Sarah Wiegele

  • New views on cellular uptake and trafficking of manufactured nanoparticles

    Lennart Treuel;Xiue Jiang;Gerd Ulrich Nienhaus;Gerd Ulrich Nienhaus

  • Cellular Uptake of Nanoparticles by Membrane Penetration: A Study Combining Confocal Microscopy with FTIR Spectroelectrochemistry

    Tiantian Wang;Jing Bai;Xiue Jiang;G. Ulrich Nienhaus;G. Ulrich Nienhaus

  • Intracellular Thermometry by Using Fluorescent Gold Nanoclusters

    Li Shang;Florian Stockmar;Naghmeh Azadfar;G. Ulrich Nienhaus;G. Ulrich Nienhaus

  • Interleukin 21–Induced Granzyme B–Expressing B Cells Infiltrate Tumors and Regulate T Cells

    S. Lindner;K. Dahlke;K. Sontheimer;M. Hagn

  • One-pot synthesis of near-infrared fluorescent gold clusters for cellular fluorescence lifetime imaging.

    Li Shang;Naghmeh Azadfar;Florian Stockmar;Winfried Send

  • Fluorescent proteins for live-cell imaging with super-resolution

    Karin Nienhaus;G. Ulrich Nienhaus;G. Ulrich Nienhaus

  • Temperature: The “Ignored” Factor at the NanoBio Interface

    Morteza Mahmoudi;Abuelmagd M. Abdelmonem;Shahed Behzadi;Joachim H. Clement

  • A far-red fluorescent protein with fast maturation and reduced oligomerization tendency from Entacmaea quadricolor (Anthozoa, Actinaria)

    Jörg Wiedenmann;Andreas Schenk;Carlheinz Röcker;Andreas Girod

  • Endo- and exocytosis of zwitterionic quantum dot nanoparticles by live HeLa cells.

    Xiue Jiang;Carlheinz Röcker;Margit Hafner;Stefan Brandholt

  • Facile preparation of water-soluble fluorescent gold nanoclusters for cellular imaging applications

    Li Shang;René M. Dörlich;Stefan Brandholt;Reinhard Schneider

  • Mg2+-dependent conformational change of RNA studied by fluorescence correlation and FRET on immobilized single molecules

    Harold D. Kim;G. Ulrich Nienhaus;Taekjip Ha;Jeffrey W. Orr

Frequent Co-Authors

Jörg Wiedenmann
Jörg Wiedenmann University of Southampton
Li Shang
Li Shang Northwestern Polytechnical University
Andres Jäschke
Andres Jäschke Heidelberg University
Don C. Lamb
Don C. Lamb Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München
Wolfgang J. Parak
Wolfgang J. Parak Universität Hamburg
Thomas Simmet
Thomas Simmet University of Ulm
Mark Helm
Mark Helm Johannes Gutenberg University of Mainz
Uwe Strähle
Uwe Strähle Karlsruhe Institute of Technology
Xiue Jiang
Xiue Jiang Chinese Academy of Sciences
John S. Olson
John S. Olson Rice University

If you think any of the details on this page are incorrect, let us know.

Report an issue

We appreciate your kind effort to assist us to improve this page, it would be helpful providing us with as much detail as possible in the text box below:

Related Online Degrees & Career Pathways

Studying Chemistry in the USA opens up diverse career pathways, especially when combined with forensic science disciplines. For individuals interested in applying chemical knowledge to crime investigations, becoming an autopsy technician is a practical option. To learn more about the required steps and qualifications, explore how to become an autopsy technician.

For those seeking academic advancement, there are many affordable and reputable programs available. Students can pursue degrees geared specifically toward forensic applications, such as the best online colleges for forensic science, which offer flexible study options and industry-relevant curricula.

Expanding your expertise further, especially in behavioral aspects, is possible through specialized programs like forensic psychology master's programs online. These allow graduates to integrate chemistry with psychological insights, deepening their impact on forensic cases.

Ultimately, careers in forensic science continue to show promising growth and variety. Whether in crime labs, law enforcement agencies, or research institutions, exploring forensic science careers can help chemistry graduates find rewarding and dynamic professional opportunities.

Best Scientists Citing G. Ulrich Nienhaus

Trending Scientists