Prof. Dr. Ute A. Hellmich

Friedrich Schiller University Jena
Institute of Organic Chemistry & Macromolecular Chemistry (IOMC)
Humboldtstraße 10, 07743 Jena

ute.hellmich[at]uni-jena.de

+49-(0)3641-9-48761

ORCID PubMED
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Team assistant: Katja Konscholky
katja.konscholky[at]uni-jena.de
Tel.:  +49-(0)3641-9-48760

Short CV

Since 2021   Professor (W3) for Biostructural Interactions, Faculty of Chemistry and Earth Sciences, Institute of Organic Cemistry and Macromolecular Chemistry (IOMC) and Cluster of Excellence Balance of the Microverse, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Germany


2020   Successful tenure evaluation, (W1 -> W2), Dept. Chemistry, Johannes Gutenberg-University Mainz, Germany

Since 2015   Adjunct member and guest scientist at the Centre for Biomolecular Magnetic Resonance (BMRZ), Goethe-University Frankfurt, Germany


2015 - 2020   Assistant professor (W1 tt W2) for Membrane Biochemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, Pharmacy, Geography and Geosciences, Department of Chemistry, Johannes Gutenberg-University Mainz, Germany

2012 - 2014   Postdoctoral fellow, Dept. Molecular and Cellular Biology (MCB), Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA (EMBO LTF)

2011   Postdoctoral fellow, Centre for Biomolecular Magnetic Resonance (BMRZ), Goethe University Frankfurt, Germany

2006 - 2010   PhD in Biochemistry/Biophysical Chemistry, Goethe-University Frankfurt, Germany

2000 - 2005   Undergraduate studies in Biochemistry (Diploma), Goethe-University Frankfurt, Germany 


Collaborative Research Centers and Scientific Consortia

Faculty, Max Planck Graduate Center (MPGC) of JGU Mainz, MPI Polymer Research & MPI Chemistry, Mainz
Faculty, TransMED - Mainz Research School of Translational Biomedicine 
Faculty, Jena School of Microbial Communication (JSMC)

Faculty, Jena Center for Soft Matter (JCSM)

Faculty, International Max Planck Research School "Chemical Communication in Ecological Systems", MPI Chemical Ecology, Jena 
Faculty, Joint Lab for Polymers, University of Jena and University of Bayreuth  
Project Leader, DynaMEM, LOEWE project (State of Hesse) (2018-2021, steering board member 2018-2021)

Project Leader, BMBF project iMIP (in the framework of BMBF call "Wirkstoffentwicklung auf Basis von Naturstoffen zur Bekämpfung von Infektionskrankheiten"/Nationale Wirkstoffinitiative) (2019-2023)

Project Leader, DGF CRC 1507 'Membrane-associated Protein Assemblies, Maschineries and Supercomplexes' (since 2022)

Project Leader, DGF CRC 1278 'PolyTarget -  Polymer-based nanoparticle libraries for targeted anti-inflammatory strategies' (since 2022) 

Project Leader, DGF CRC 1127 'ChemBioSys - Chemical Mediators in Complex Biosystems' (since 2022) 

Awards, Honors and Recognitions (Selection)

2024   Elected Chair, Gordon Research Conference 'Ligand Recognition and Molecular Gating' (Ventura, CA, USA, 2028)
2020   Boehringer Ingelheim Stiftung Exploration Grant for outstanding junior researchers in chemistry, biology or medicine
2019   Hoechst Dozentenpreis der Aventis Foundation und des Fonds der Chemischen Industrie 

2018 - 2020   Chair of the German Chemical Society (GDCh) Chapter Mainz-Wiesbaden (with Prof. Eva Rentschler)

2018   Nomination for the Alexander M. Cruickshank Award, Gordon Research Conference "Drug Metabolism"

since 2018   Member of the FEBS ABC Conference Scientific Advisory Board

2017   Fulbright-Cottrell Award for Excellence in Research and Teaching 

2017   Chair, Gordon Research Seminar "Mechanisms of Membrane Transport" 

2016   25th Junior Researcher Symposium for Bioorganic Chemistry, Best Speaker Award

2012 - 2014   EMBO Long Term Award, Harvard University, USA

2006   EMBO Short-term Fellowship for Cambridge University, UK


Scientific Community Support (Selection)

  • Speaker, GBM Section Chemical Biology (since 2024)
  • Co-organizer, 16th German Peptide Symposium, Jena, Germany (2023)
  • Chair, ABC2023, 9th FEBS Special Meeting: ABC Proteins – from Genetic Disease to Multidrug Resistance, Feb 28-Mar 03, Innsbruck, Austria (2023)
  • Selection committee, Carl-Duisberg-Gedächtnispreis, GDCh (since 2022)
  • International Transmembrane Transporter Society (ITTS) Meeting "Catching Transport in Motion", Copenhagen, invited chair and session organizer (2022) 
  • Liaison professor, Studienstiftung des deutschen Volkes (since 2021) 
  • Elected member of the advisory board of the Joint Group Chemical Biology (since 2021)(Gemeinsame Fachgruppe Chemische Biologie der DECHEMA, GDCh, DPhG, GBM)
  • Mentor, mentoring program of the Leibniz Society (for female postdocs) (since 2021)
  • Mentor, Viadrina mentoring programme for female postdocs (2020-2021)
  • Member of the Covid19-NMR Initiative (since 2020)  
  • Guest Editor, FEBS Letters Special Issue "Diversity of Structure and Function of ABC Transporters" (2020/2021)
  • Co-Chair of the GDCh Ortsverband Mainz-Wiesbaden (2018-2020)
  • Scientific jury member, STEP Award for innovative biotech companies in Germany, Austria, Switzerland (2019)
  •  Facilitator, “Bridges to Germany” Fulbright-Workshop for young research leaders and junior faculty, June 2-5, Göttingen, Germany (2019) 
  • Scientific Advisory Board Member, FEBS ABC Conference (since 2018)
  • Ada Lovelace Project for female researchers, JGU Mainz (2018-2020) 
  • Co-Organizer, “Bridges to Germany” Fulbright-Workshop for young researchers and junior faculty from Germany and the US for a better between international, interdisciplinary research, science and teaching, Berlin, June 18 - 20, 2018, https://www.fulbright.de/fulbright-cottrell-workshop)
  • Chair, Gordon Research Seminar “Mechanisms of Membrane Transport”, June 24 - 25, 2017, Colby-Sawyer College, New London, NH, USA, https://www.grc.org/programs.aspx?id=17049
  • Guest Editor, BBA Biomembranes, Special Edition “Beyond the Structure-Function Horizon of Membrane Proteins” (BBA Biomembranes Special Issue) (2017)
  • Co-organizer CECAM Meeting “Ion Transport from Physics to Physiology: the Missing Rungs in the Ladder”, April 3 - 6, 2017, Lausanne, Switzerland, https://www.cecam.org/workshop-0-1481.html
  • Member of the Gesellschaft Deutscher Chemiker (GDCh)
  • Member of the Gesellschaft für Biochemie und Molekularbiologie (GBM)

Service and University Committee Work (Selection)

  • Vice chair, Coordination Team Profile Area "LIFE", Uni Jena (since 2022)  
  • Prüfungsausschuss Master Chemische Biologie, Uni Jena (since 2021)
  • Senat, FSU Jena, Deputy member (representing profile line LIFE, since 2022)
  • Hochschulrektorenkonferenz Fachtagung “HRK ADVANCE – Governance und Prozesse der Internationalisierung optimieren“, Berlin, panelist (2021)
  • Elected member of the Leitungsgremium Department Chemie, FB09, JGU Mainz (2020)
  • Steering board member, Max Planck Graduate Centre (MPGC) Junior Faculty representative (2019 - 2020)
  • Prüfungsausschuss Master Chemie und Biomedizinische Chemie, FB09, Uni Mainz (2019 - 2020)
  • Prüfungsausschuss Bachelor Chemie und Biomedizinische Chemie, FB09, Uni Mainz (2019 - 2020)
  • Prüfungsausschuss Diplomvorprüfung und Diplomprüfung in Chemie und Biomedizinische Chemie, JGU Mainz (2017 - 2020)
  • Member of the Gutenberg Nachwuchskolleg (GNK), JGU Mainz (2017 - 2020)
  • Invited panelist at Hochschulrektorenkonferenz Fachtagung „HRK-Expertise: Who owns internationalization? Internationalisierung qualitätsgeleitet in die Breite tragen“, Berlin (2017)
  • Initiator and Organizer, Annual Interdisciplinary Symposium for PhD students and Postocs (participants from Faculties 02, 05, 08, 09, 10, JGU Mainz) (2016 - 2020)
  • Gender equality representative of the Institute of Pharmacy and Biochemistry, JGU Mainz (2015 - 2019)

Teaching Contributions

MSc Microbiology, Jena (since 2022) 
MSc Chemische Biologie, Jena (since 2021)

MSc Biochemistry, Jena (since 2021)
LA Chemie, Jena (since 2021) 

BSc/MSc Chemie, Jena (since 2021)
BSc Molekulare Biologie, Mainz (2020) 

BSc/MSc Biologie, Mainz (2017-2020)
MSc Molekulare Biotechnologie, Frankfurt (2016) 

BSc/MSc Biomedizinische Chemie, Mainz (2015-2020) 

BSc/MSc Chemie, Mainz (2015-2020) 

Pharmazie, Mainz (2015-2017) 

Diplom Biochemie, Frankfurt (2005-2010)