The Center for Advancing Electronics Dresden (cfaed), the Cluster of Excellence of Technische Universität Dresden (TUD) for Electronics, strengthens its research program with two international top scientists in the area of organic electronics: Prof. Dr. Stefan Mannsfeld joined the Cluster from Stanford University/US. He was born in Dresden and returned to the university where he started his research career. Prof. Xinliang Feng worked at the Max Planck Institute for Polymer Research, Mainz and Shanghai Jiao Tong University, China, before he followed the call to Dresden as Professor for ”Molecular Functional Materials.” Interdisciplinary research on a high level on the one side, a family-friendly environment with affordable child care on the other side were amongst the reasons for choosing TU Dresden.

Stefan Mannsfeld: Dresden-Stanford – return trip

Stefan Mannsfeld had all a researcher can wish for: a permanent position at the Californian Stanford University and a beautiful house in Silicon Valley for his big family. But for the professorship at cfaed, the 40-year-old moved halfway around the globe. Why? For one, it was a chance for him to return to his hometown. In the 1990s, the physicist first obtained his diploma and then his PhD under the supervision of Prof. Karl Leo at the Institute for Applied Photophysics of TUD. “Secondly, in the Cluster of Excellence I have the unique chance to engage in interdisciplinary collaborations at the highest level – something that is rarely found worldwide.“  Now, he wants to use his research experience in the area of ‘Chemical Engineering’ from Stanford to develop his Chair for Organic Electronics at TUD. “For example, we want to develop organic sensors for the medial diagnosis. A thin transparent, organic plaster could be measuring all of the relevant blood tests“. In addition, Stefan Mannsfeld’s research focus is also of interest from an ecological point of view: “With carbon-based plastic materials, we can produce disposable, bio-degradable electronic circuits at very low costs.” Moreover, he wants to optimize new printing methods using organic ink. 

Stefan Mannsfeld pitched his German hometown to his wife in several ways. “She had already liked the Dresden ‘Christstollen‘ which she knew from the Christmas parcels from my parents. I had also taken her out to the Semperoper several times“. The quality of the child care in Saxony and also child care fees were also good arguments considering the four children of the family. “In California, a kindergarten place costs more than ten times of what we pay here in Dresden“. The scientist fondly remembers the time when he sung in the youth choir of the Dresden Philharmonic Orchestra. “This city lives and breathes a culture that most American cities cannot compete with.”

Chinese Professor appreciates German team spirit

“The German soccer team also won the world cup as a team. There was no superstar such as the Argentinian Messi - I like that.“ The Chinese Xinliang Feng has become quite ‘German’ in his way of thinking and living as he has lived and researched in Germany for about ten years. In August, the chemist joined cfaed from the Max Planck Institute for Polymer Research in Mainz. The 34-year-old is – together with Stefan Mannsfeld and Jeronimo Castrillon (Chair for Compiler Construction, since July 2014) - one of the first three newly appointed professors, who will help to develop and shape the research profile of the Cluster of Excellence for Electronic of the TUD. “It was just a perfect fit: my research focus in the area of organic electronics and the outstanding interdisciplinary environment here in the Cluster attracted me to Dresden“, the new cfaed professor for ‘Molecular Functional Materials’ says. Xinliang Feng holds a Distinguished Professorship at Shanghai Jiao Tong University/China since 2010. “Germany is very strong in chemistry research“, the scientist who had been awarded several times, says about his decision. But also private reasons played a crucial role. “My wife was associate professor for territorial planning in Darmstadt”, Xinliang Feng says. “Now, she has a research position at the Leibniz Institute for Ecological Territorial Development in Dresden.“ The child care facilities in Dresden also suit the couple very well – Xinliang Feng just dropped his three-year-old son off at the University’s kindergarten.

The chemist, who has his office in the Faculty of Chemistry at the ‘Hempel’ Building of Technische Universität, will build up his Chair’s staff to a dozen scientists. “I want to collaborate with the cfaed research paths ‘Organic/Polymer‘, ‘Carbon’, and ‘Silicon Nanowire’“, Xinliang Feng says. „Also, I would like to focus on graphene research. There is potential that a new research path might be installed at inside cfaed for this fascinating topic.” To reach his goals, he will rely heavily on the work of his team. „In China, we appreciate teamwork very much – not only at soccer“.

The Center for Advancing Electronics Dresden (cfaed) is the Cluster of Excellence for Electronics of TU Dresden. It unites eleven partner institutes with about 300 scientists from more than 20 countries who are working in the fields of electrical engineering, computer science, material science, physics, chemistry, biology, and mathematics.

Download photo Prof. Mannsfeld (Photo: Jürgen Lösel)
Download photo Prof. Feng (Photo: Jürgen Lösel)

Information for journalists:
Birgit Holthaus
cfaed press-officer
phone: +49(0)351 463-42848