Dr Heiko Lange
Heiko Lange, born 1978 in Germany, is Researcher for General Chemistry at the Department of Chemical Sciences and Technologies at the University of Rome 'Tor Vergata', Italy.
Dr Heiko Lange started working together with Prof. C. Crestini at the University of Rome ‘Tor Vergata’ as senior research associate in September 2012.
Until his move to Italy, he worked as a postdoctoral researcher in Prof. G. M. Whitesides’ group at Harvard University in Cambridge, MA, USA. Holding a fellowship from the German Research Foundation (Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG)), he worked on the development of novel microfluidic platforms and novel read-out systems for diagnostics applications, as well as detailed physico-chemical analyses of biomolecular recognition phenomena in protein-ligand model systems.
Prior to this, he stayed from June 2008 till August 2010 as a postdoctoral researcher sponsored by the Alexander von Humboldt-foundation (AvH-foundation) with Prof. S. V. Ley at the University of Cambridge, UK, where he developed new polymer-supported reagents, flow-chemistry transformations, and process-automation possibilities at lab-scale with the aim of accomplishing total synthesis in (segmented) flow processes.
His academic career started with a Diploma in Chemistry and his Doctoral Degree in Synthetic Organic Chemistry within the International NRW Graduate School of Chemistry from the University of Münster, Germany, with Prof. D. Hoppe, for the asymmetric functionalisation of achiral benzyl carbamates.
He holds the Italian National Scientific Habilitation as Associate Professor in all areas related to his current research activities:
- Principles of Chemistry and Inorganic Systems (04/2017)
- Chemical Basis of Technology Applications (03/2017)
- Organic Chemistry (04/2017)
- Industrial and Applied Chemistry (03/2017).
His current research interests comprise:
- the structural characterization of lignins by combinations of advanced NMR spectroscopy, chromatography, mass spectrometry and
thermal analyses;
- tailored chemical/biochemical/biotechnology-based modifications of lignin oligomers and tannins for specific applications;
- the application of flow chemistry principles to the scalable valorisation of polyphenolic biomass;
- basic research on the chemistry of natural lignin oligomers and double-bond enriched lignin-derivatives;
- lignin and tannin valorisation using continuous chemical processing;
- natural polyphenol-based vehicles for targeted drug delivery;
- production of nanomaterials (particles, capsules, fibres) based on lignins and tannins.
Heiko Lange is currently looking for postdoctoral co-workers that are eligible candidates for Feodor Lynen Research Fellowships issued by the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation to join him in his research efforts. He is also available as official host for Feodor Lynen Research Fellows that are interested in working for other groups of the Department of Chemical Sciences and Technologies at the University of Rome 'Tor Vergata'.