Aug 27, 2026
For Research on Biomaterials: Dr. Igor Zlotnikov Receives Prestigious Heisenberg Position
Dr. Igor Zlotnikov
Dr. Igor Zlotnikov, research group leader at the B CUBE – Center for Molecular Bioengineering at TUD Dresden University of Technology, has been awarded a Heisenberg Position by the German Research Foundation (DFG). As one of Germany’s most competitive research awards, the Heisenberg funding recognizes Dr. Zlotnikov’s outstanding research in biomineralization and biomaterials, offering five years of support to further investigate the formation of complex structures in nature. The appointment strengthens the B CUBE and TUD’s position as a leading center for life sciences, bioengineering, and biophysics.
Exceptional mechanical, structural, or optical properties
From seashells and sponges to intricate bones and ultra-strong enamel, nature produces extraordinary materials. Their intricate patterns and unique structures give these biominerals exceptional mechanical, structural, or optical properties. What makes them even more remarkable is that living organisms synthesize them under mild environmental conditions. However, despite millions of years of natural evolution, the fundamental physical principles that control their formation are largely unknown.
Physics of Biological Materials
At the B CUBE, Dr. Igor Zlotnikov and his research group “Physics of Biological Materials” study biomineralization, i.e., the formation of minerals by living organisms. The group works at the interface of physics, materials science, and biology. By applying advanced modeling, testing, and imaging techniques, the team can dissect the principles of formation of biological structures. Their findings not only reveal fundamental evolutionary processes, but also provide the groundwork for materials of the future: bio-inspired, sustainable, and built to last.
“Receiving the Heisenberg funding from the DFG is a great honor and a wonderful recognition of our team’s interdisciplinary work,” says Dr. Zlotnikov. “The B CUBE and the broader CMCB environment in Dresden provide the perfect collaborative setting to push the boundaries of biophysics and biomaterials research. I am happy to commit my future to this fantastic place and focus further on uncovering the principles of biomineralization.”
“It is a well-deserved success,” says Prof. Nils Kröger, director of the B CUBE. “Igor’s research exemplifies the spirit of the B CUBE: unraveling the secrets behind the extraordinary properties of biological systems to inspire future technologies. The Heisenberg Position is a fantastic endorsement of his scientific vision and a foundation that will open the next chapter for his excellent research.”
About Igor Zlotnikov
Igor Zlotnikov holds a Bachelor’s degree in Physics as well as a Bachelor’s and Master’s in Materials Science and Engineering from Technion - Israel Institute of Technology in Haifa. For his Ph.D., he worked with Prof. Elazar Gutmanas on bioinspired nanolaminates. He then joined Max-Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces in Potsdam as a postdoctoral fellow, focusing on biomimetics with Prof. Peter Fratzl. In 2012, he established himself as an independent researcher there, specializing in structural and nanomechanical characterization of biomaterials. Dr. Zlotnikov moved to Dresden in 2016 to become a research group leader at the B CUBE – Center for Molecular Bioengineering of TU Dresden.
About the DFG Heisenberg Program
The Heisenberg Program of the German Research Foundation supports excellent early-career researchers on their way to a scientific leadership position with the aim of acquiring a lifetime professorship. The DFG Heisenberg position is designed for researchers who have already met all prerequisites for appointment to a permanent professorship and have demonstrated outstanding scientific research.
About the B CUBE – Center for Molecular Bioengineering
B CUBE – Center for Molecular Bioengineering was founded as a Center for Innovation Competence within the initiative “Unternehmen Region” of the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research. It is part of the Center for Molecular and Cellular Bioengineering (CMCB). B CUBE research focuses on the investigation of living structures on a molecular level, translating the ensuing knowledge into innovative methods, materials and technologies.
Scientific Contact Person
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