Remembering Dr. Hans-Georg Braun: a Dedicated Lecturer and Scientific Community Member

Science in Dresden mourns the death of Dr. Hans-Georg Braun, who passed away on April 11, 2023, after a long and serious illness. With him, we lose a dedicated researcher and teacher who was always committed to the interests and well-being of the students.

Dr. Braun earned his doctorate in chemistry at the University of Freiburg. He then worked at BASF for almost 10 years before coming to Dresden. Here he became a group leader at the Leibniz Institute of Polymer Research (IPF), responsible for the field of microstructure, and at the same time was involved with the TU Dresden, working closely with TU researchers. In 2011, he was awarded his habilitation at TU Dresden for his work on the experimental investigation of the structure formation of ultrathin polymer layers on microheterogeneous surfaces. At the Max Bergmann Center for Biomaterials, a joint institution of IPF and TU Dresden, he took over tasks in research and teaching, even after his official retirement. His initiative and commitment improved the cooperation with research institutions and individual scientists from India. Even after retirement, he maintained his networks, for example also within a DAAD funded project between TU Dresden and the Centre for Nano Science and Engineering (CeNSE) of the Indian Institute for Science, and took care of international collaborations.

Dr. Braun was a dedicated lecturer. He was involved in teaching in the Molecular Bioengineering and Nanobiophysics Master’s program at the Center for Molecular and Cellular Bioengineering (CMCB) of TU Dresden since the inception of the programs nearly 20 years ago. He developed and taught several lecture series, including Microsystems Technology, Microsystems and Bioinspired Structures, and Diffraction Methods and recently started course on Microprocessors in the Lab. Dr. Braun also supervised numerous students during their lab rotations. His lectures were highly appreciated by the students. In addition, he was committed to supporting international students and helping them find their way through the demanding interdisciplinary curricula. He was always eager to share his knowledge and experience in all academic matters.

Apart from his teaching duties, Dr. Braun was an active member of the Study Committee and the Selection Committee for the Molecular Bioengineering program at the CMCB. He was always committed to ensure that the program provided the best possible education for the students.

His commitment, however, went beyond the compulsory courses. He supervised several teams in international student competitions in biotechnology and nanotechnology. The teams, who brought home great results, benefited from his experience, scientific and technical creativity, and his ability to manage multi-disciplinary projects. Dr. Braun was also a keen science communicator. Together with his students, he was regularly involved in scientific outreach during the annual Dresden Science Night at TU Dresden.

We will always keep Dr. Braun in honorable memory. Our sympathy goes to his wife and family.