Short Interview with Independent Group Leader Charlotta Lorenz

Dr. Charlotta (“Lotta”) Lorenz is a biophysicist who studies the self-assembly processes of soft materials, as well as their structures and properties. She has been working at the DWI as an independent research group leader since the beginning of the year and is currently in the process of building her team. Let us introduce her briefly:

What is your research group working on?
With my group, I want to understand the physics that determine the properties of biological and soft materials, as well as how we can use them for biomedical and sustainable applications.

What is the main goal of your research over the next few years?
I think it would be really cool to eventually have a massive database filled with the properties and structures of soft materials, so that we can use AI to quickly design new, sustainable materials. We especially need a wide variety of materials to preserve resources. A tool for generating material ideas like that would be brilliant.

What challenge in your field of research interests you the most?
Although various soft materials are highly present in our everyday lives, we (still) have a relatively limited understanding of more complex relationships between structure and physical properties. I think it's incredibly exciting to add more pieces to this puzzle.

Was motiviert dich im Alltag deiner Arbeit am meisten?
When I conduct experiments or analyze data, that’s the moment when science unfolds. I feel that the very first moment, when new knowledge enters the world and you make an observation of something previously unknown for the very first time, is absolutely magical and highly motivating. For me, sharing knowledge and education are also extremely important and a driving force; this canbe in form of publications or “traditional” teaching.

What do you particularly like about the DWI?
What I really like about the DWI is the interdisciplinary and collaborative work of top researchers. We also have top-notch equipment that enables scientific progress quickly. Overall, I think the “vibe” at the institute is really great.

How do you spend your time outside the lab?
In my free time, I like to stay active—preferably outdoors. I climb, hike, run, and bike a lot. I also enjoy creative activities like playing the piano and doing crafts.

Coffee or tea?
I drink tea too, but if I were stranded on a desert island, I’d probably take coffee with me.