BASF SE is the largest operating company of the BASF Group, the world’s leading chemical conglomerate:  Its portfolio ranges from chemicals, materials, performance products, agricultural products, and fine chemicals to crude oil and natural gas. BASF engages in research at 33 sites in Europe alone. In addition, BASF scientists are involved in numerous alliances with leading universities, research institutes, start-ups, partners from industry, and customers, more than 1300 of which are based in Europe.

BASF spent €1.7 billion on research and development in 2012 of which about 80 percent were invested in Europe. On a global scale, more than 10500 BASF employees are engaged in research and development, approximately 5300 of whom at BASF SE alone. Our research projects respond both to market requirements (market pull) and to current technological developments (technology push). BASF has substantial experience in EC-funded research and currently participates in more than 25 projects.

Dr. Sandra König obtained her PhD in 2016 from Heidelberg University, Germany, where she developed, synthesized, and tested several organic near-infrared fluorescent probes for cancer cell detection. She then joined the EMBL Heidelberg to work in the field of drug synthesis as Medicinal Chemist. In 2018, she moved to Pasadena, California, to work as postdoctoral researcher at Caltech on DNA-mediated charge transport in DNA Polymerase δ with Professor J. K. Barton. In 2019, she joined BASF in Ludwigshafen, changing her field to polymer research. Her main task is the development of new polymer systems and applications, often with a focus on sustainability.

Dr. Günter Scherr studied chemistry at the University of Heidelberg and obtained his PhD from Max-Planck Institute Heidelberg for charge transfer cyclophanes. He joined BASF SE 1989 in the dye laboratory, responsible for oligomers and polymers in the rubber and paper industry. After a few years in a production plant he moved back to central research heading a group for leather chemicals, glues, and resins for particle and fiber boards, crosslinkers for coatings, hyperbranched polymers for different applications, expert for addition and condensation chemistry.

BASF Rheinuferstraße 69, 67061 Ludwigshafen am Rhein, Allemagne