Prof. Dr. rer. nat. Janina Kneipp
Her research interest lies in the utilization of sensitive spectroscopic methods for analytical chemistry
Janina Kneipp received her diploma and doctorate from the Free University Berlin. In her dissertation work she studied brain tissue by means of infrared-microspectroscopy and applied this method successfully to the identification and characterization of prion-diseased nervous tissue.
During her postdoctoral research in 2003 at Erasmus Universiteit Rotterdam and Princeton University’s Chemistry Department she conducted research in the areas of biomedical Raman spectroscopy as well as biophysical structure analysis by means of resonant Raman scattering. She has also been a visiting researcher at Harvard University Medical School, where she began to apply Raman spectroscopy for studies of individual cells.
In 2008 she became a Junior Professor at the Chemistry Department of the Humboldt University Berlin in co-appointment with the Federal Institute for Materials Research and Testing (BAM).
Her research focus
Janina Kneipp’s research interest lies in the utilization of sensitive spectroscopic methods for analytical chemistry. Vibrational spectroscopies, in particular Raman scattering, play a special role, since they provide fingerprint-like structural information, also from complex samples, such as biological microstructures. Her group studies, e. g., how Raman spectra of pollen, constituents of bioaerosols can be used for development of faster and more reliable allergy warning systems.
Employing favorable physical properties of nanostructures, resonant Raman scattering, multiphoton excitation, as well as time resolution makes Raman scattering an extremely sensitive and specific approach of great interest to analytical chemistry and biochemical structure analysis. An example is the development of new markers and sensors that are based on surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS).
Contact: Prof. Dr. Janina Kneipp, e-mail, tel. : +49-(0)30-8104-5738, www2.hu-berlin.de/chemie/agkneipp/