# Prof. Dr. Cordt Zollfrank

**Source**: https://bgp.cs.tum.de/en/team/cordt-zollfrank
**Parent**: https://bgp.cs.tum.de/en/

The research work of Professor Zollfrank is focused on applying bioinspired synthetic methods to the development of innovative structural and functional materials. A key area of his work is the formation of biogenic (polymeric) structures and their conversion to composite materials for engineering and biomedical applications. The fundamental chemical and physical transformation processes involved in these conversions are investigated at each level of the structural hierarchy.

Cordt Zollfrank studied chemistry at TUM. He then changed to the Institute for Wood Research at LMU, which later became part of TUM, where he gained a PhD in forest science with a special emphasis on the chemical aspects. Between 2000 and 2002 he worked as a postdoctoral research fellow at the University of Erlangen-Nuremberg (Department of Materials Science and Engineering - Glass and Ceramics) conducting research focused on biomimetic material synthesis. As of 2002 he became a group leader (senior researcher) and set up a bioengineered ceramics and biomaterials research group. In 2009 he acquired his postdoctoral teaching qualification (habilitation) in material sciences. On October 1, 2011 he accepted the position as professor for biogenic polymers at TUM Campus Straubing.

## Education

2009
:   Habilitation – Materials Science – Bioinspired Materials \
    University of Erlangen-Nuremberg \
    Department of Materials Science and Engineering Glass and Ceramics

2000
:   Dr. rer. silv. – Forest and Wood Sciences \
    Technische Universität München \
    Faculty of Forestry, Institute for Wood Research

1996
:   Diploma – Chemistry \
    Technische Universität München \
    Faculty of Chemistry, Biology and Geosciences, Institute of Organic Chemistry

## Current and Previous Positions

Since 2021
:   Full Professor, Chair for Biogenic Polymers, Technische Universität München – Campus Straubing für Biotechnologie und Nachhaltigkeit

10/2011–09/2021
:   Associate Professor, Biogenic Polymers, Technische Universität München (TUM) and Straubing Science Centre for Renewable Resources

2015
:   Visiting Professor at the University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences (BOKU), Vienna, Austria

2010
:   Visiting Professor at the University of Rennes, France

08/2002–09/2011
:   Senior Researcher: Department of Materials Science and Engineering -III- Glass and Ceramics, University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, Head of “Bioengineered Ceramics” Group

08/2000–07/2002
:   Post-Doc Position: Department of Materials Science and Engineering -III- Glass and Ceramics, University of Erlangen-Nuremberg

08/1996–07/2000
:   Scientific Co-Worker, Institute for Wood Research Technische Universität München (TUM)

## Recent Professional Activities

- Fellow of the International Academy of Wood Sciences (IAWS) since 2016
- Deputy Director (Academic and Student affairs) of the Straubing Science Centre for Renewable Resources
- Deputy Director of  the Carl-von-Carlowitz-Centre for Sustainable Chemistry, Regensburg
- Editor-in-Chief: Bioinspired, Biomimetic and Nanobiomaterials, ICE Publishing
- Member of the Editorial Board: Materials Letters, Elsevier
- Member of the Advisory Board: Cellulose Chemistry and Technology, Edit. Acad. Roman
- Member of the Editorial Board: Results in Physics, Elsevier
- Member of the Scientific Advisory Board of the “Projekthaus – NanoBioMater”, University of Stuttgart, Germany
- Member of the Board “Wood K-Plus”, Linz, Austria
- Plenary Lecture “Phosphor Safari 2016 Hong Kong” Hong Kong International Symposium on Luminescence, Spectroscopy and Applications 29 Nov – 2 Dec 2016
- Plenary Lecture at the Humboldt Kolleg “Science and Society – the Use of Light” at the 3rd International Conference on Nanotechnologies and Biomedical Engineering will be held on September 23-26, 2015 in Chisinau, Republic of Moldova.

## Research Interests

- Biomacromolecules, Biogenic Polymers and Bioplastics
- Bioinspired Materials Engineering
- Bioinspired Functional Materials
- Biotemplating
- Ultrastructure Analysis of Biological and Hybrid Material Composites
- Materials Processing involving Pyrolysis and High-Temperature Reactions

## Memberships

- Society of German Chemists (GDCh) Technical Branch Solid State Chemistry and Materials Science of the GDC
- Munich Society for Forest Sciences (MFG)
- Gesellschaft der Freunde und Förderer der Holzforschung München (GFF)
- Expert in Normative Committee ISOBIONIK of the DIN