The Gutenberg Research College (GRC), established in 2007, serves as a central strategic instrument to promote cutting-edge research at JGU. It runs an annual budget of EUR 2 million, provided in equal parts by the state of Rhineland-Palatinate and by Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz (JGU). Its executive committee is made up of outstanding researchers from JGU and its partner research institutions. Committee members are appointed by the University President with the agreement of the University Senate based on their research achievements.

The GRC has two functions: It advises the President and the Senate in strategic matters concerning research and furthers individual excellence by awarding fellowships to excellent researchers and artists.

The following list provides an overview of all current GRC fellows:

The GRC annually awards the Gutenberg Research Award to outstanding international researchers. It is continuing the tradition of the Graduate School of Excellence “Materials Science in Mainz” who initiated the Gutenberg Research Award in 2006 and granted it to outstanding researchers in the field of materials science. In 2012, the responsibility for the Gutenberg Research Award has been transferred to the GRC, who will be eliciting proposals from all faculties of JGU.

On May 18, 2026, the GRC will celebrate the winner of the Gutenberg Research Award 2026.

The GRC is organized as a college of outstanding academic fellows. The Executive Committee consists of members of the university and of external research institutes that closely cooperate with JGU. The Executive Committee takes all decisions concerning the GRC. It recommends potential fellows to the President and decides upon the amount of their financial support.

The members of the Executive Committee are appointed by the President in consultation with the Senate. Membership in the Executive Committee is temporary as is the GRC fellowship itself.

Director: Prof. Mita Banerjee

Deputy Director: Prof. Tobias Bopp

Members

  • Prof. Claus Arnold; Faculty 01
  • Prof. Mita Banerjee; Faculty 05
  • Prof. Petra Beli; Faculty 10, IMB
  • Prof. Tobias Bopp; Faculty 04
  • Prof. Marcus Maurer, Faculty 02
  • María de Lourdes Ortega Méndez; Faculty 08, student
  • Prof. Birger Petersen; HfM
  • Prof. Friederike Schmid; Faculty 08
  • Prof. Dirk Schneider; Faculty 09
  • Dr. Christiane Schürkmann; Faculty 02

Deputy members (substituting for …)

  • Prof. Yafang Cheng; MPI-C (Schneider)
  • Prof. Edward Lemke; Faculty 10 (Beli)
  • Prof. Klaus Lieb; Faculty 04, LIR (Bopp)
  • Prof. Johannes Lipps; 07 (Arnold)
  • Prof. Nico Nassenstein; Faculty 07 (Maurer)
  • Prof. Gabriele Schabacher; Faculty 05 (Petersen)
  • Prof. Katharina Spieß; Faculty 03, BiB (Banerjee)
  • Markus Vieth; Faculty 08, student (Ortega Méndez)
  • Dr. Lars von der Wense; Faculty 08 (Schürkmann)
  • N.N. (Schmid)

None of the members can be on the Executive Committee and a GRC fellow at the same time.

Consultant

  • Vice President for Research and Academic Careers, Prof. Stefan Müller-Stach
  • Gender Equality Representative of the Senate, Prof. Sylvia Thiele

Deadline for proposals for new GRC fellows

  • June 15 (presentation to the Executive Committee in July)
  • December 15 (presentation to the Executive Committee in January)

Upcoming Meetings of the GRC Executive Commitee

  • January 19, 2026 (Presentation of new proposals for GRC Fellowships)
  • April, 27, 2026
  • June 8, 2026
  • July 13, 2026 (Presentation of new proposals for GRC Fellowships)

Upcoming events of the GRC Network (usually mondays, 6 p.m.)

  • January 19, 2026: GRC talk: GRC fellow Stefan Hirschauer presents his research
  • May 18, 2026: Annual celebration of the GRC: presentation of the Gutenberg Research Award 2026 and welcoming of new GRC fellows