# Sebastian Schlücker

Sebastian Schlücker (born 1973 in Essen) is a German physical chemist. He has been Professor of Physical Chemistry at the University of Duisburg-Essen since 2012. His research focuses on vibrational spectroscopy, the application of nanoparticles in spectroscopy, and tumor diagnostics. Schlücker is also active in science communication and runs the YouTube channel "Mein Prof" to bring scientific topics closer to a broad audience.

## Life

Sebastian Schlücker was born in Essen in 1973. He comes from a family of teachers. He studied chemistry at the Julius Maximilians University of Würzburg and graduated in 1998. In 2001, he completed his doctorate under Prof. Dr. Dr. h.c. Wolfgang Kiefer at the Institute of Physical Chemistry at the University of Würzburg. He then carried out postdoctoral research at the Laboratory of Chemical Physics at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in Bethesda, Maryland, USA, from 2002 to 2004. In 2006, he habilitated in physical chemistry at the University of Würzburg.

### Professional career

After his habilitation, Schlücker received a Heisenberg Fellowship from the German Research Foundation (DFG) in 2007. From 2008 to 2012, he was Professor of Experimental Physics at Osnabrück University. Since 2012, he has been Professor of Physical Chemistry at the University of Duisburg-Essen.

### Research focus

Schlücker's research focuses on the development and application of vibrational spectroscopy techniques to solve bioanalytical, biomedical, and biophysical problems. A particular focus is on quantitative multiplex SERS imaging for tissue-based tumor diagnostics.
In addition, he investigates the interactions of molecules with metallic nanoparticles and their role in surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS). His work enables the use of nanoparticles in medical diagnostics and environmental analysis.
Another research area is nonlinear Raman spectroscopy, particularly coherent anti-Stokes Raman spectroscopy (CARS) combined with Raman optical activity (ROA). These method enable low and fast detection of chiral molecules.

### Research group and teaching

Sebastian Schlücker leads a research group at the University of Duisburg-Essen, consisting of postdoctoral researchers, PhD students, and technical staff. He also teaches physical chemistry courses, including lectures, seminars, and laboratory courses.

## Awards and honors

Schlücker has received multiple awards throughout his career, including:
* 2023: SAS Fellow Award of the Society of Applied Spectroscopy (FSAS)
* 2022: Raman Award for the Most Innovative Technological Advance, ICORS-2022 Long Beach/California
* 2018: Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry (FRSC)
* 2018: Dayawati Rastogi Lecture Award, ICOPVS-2018 Mumbai/India
* 2010: Carl Duisberg Memorial Prize of the German Chemical Society (GDCh)
* 2008: Bunsen-Kirchhoff Prize of the GDCh
* 2008: Röntgen Prize of the University of Würzburg
* 2007: ADUC annual prize of the GDCh
* 2006: Award at the Businessplanwettbewerb Nordbayern (Phase 1, together with P. Ströbel)
* 1999: Matthias Manger Prize for outstanding achievements in the chemistry degree program
* 1999: Faculty Prize (Diploma) of the Faculty of Chemistry and Pharmacy at the University of Würzburg

### Scholarships

* 2007-2008: Heisenberg Fellowship from the German Research Foundation (DFG)

## Public engagement

Besides his research, Schlücker is actively involved in science communication. Through the "Experimentamus!" project, he introduces primary school children to scientific phenomena using experimental kits and workshops. He also promotes diversity in science, supporting equal opportunities and mentoring young scientists, particularly women and international researchers.

## YouTube channel: Mein Prof

Schlücker runs the YouTube channel "Mein Prof", where he explains scientific topics in an engaging and accessible way. The channel is aimed at students, researchers, and science enthusiasts. The content includes explanations of fundamental scientific concepts, discussions on modern research topics, and practical demonstrations. Schlücker uses graphics, animations, and experiments to illustrate complex subjects, such as Raman spectroscopy and nanoparticle applications. His videos are designed for viewers with no prior knowledge, making science more accessible to the general public.