29.04.2026 Adrian Bunzel is a new research group leader in M4C

The biochemist is using computational protein design to create and improve enzymes involved in carbon capture

The M4C Cluster of Excellence is pleased to announce that Adrian Bunzel is joining the research consortium to develop photoenzymes that allow solar-driven carbon capture.

Adrian Bunzel studied Chemistry at the University of Cologne, followed by a PhD in Organic Chemistry at ETH Zurich, which he finished in 2018. From 2018 to 2022 he was a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Bristol, before returning to Zürich as a group leader and in 2025 starting as the Head of the Max Plack Research Group 'Enyzme Design and Evolution' in Marburg.

Enzymes are nature’s catalysts, capable of accelerating chemical reactions with exquisite selectivity. Fueled by recent advances in artificial intelligence, the ability to design novel enzymes is rapidly improving. In his group, Adrian and his team use computational protein design to create enzymes with new and improved activities. Inspired by natural photosynthesis, they design enzymes that harvest sunlight for solar energy conversion, for example, in biohybrid solar cells. In the M4C initiative, Adrian will develop photoenzymes that enable solar-driven carbon capture beyond nature’s capabilities.

Watch the interview here:

Website: https://www.mpi-marburg.mpg.de/bunzel