Hanna Hinrika Cramer, PhD student in the group <link internal-link internal link in current>'Organometallic Electrocatalysis' of Dr. Christophe Werlé (<link internal-link internal link in current>Department 'Molecular Catalysis' - Prof. Walter Leitner) was awarded with the '<link https: www.studienstiftung.de en about-us external-link-new-window internal link in current>Studienstiftung des deutschen Volkes' scholarship. Her research proposal as well as her professional and personal qualifications have convinced the reviewer committee, which was prompted to financially support her doctoral studies.

"My project combines experimental, spectroscopic and quantum theoretical methods to develop catalysts for the hydrogenation of CO₂ in order to develop important fundamental chemicals," explains Hanna H. Cramer. "In this project, we investigate the catalytic cycle of iron and cobalt hydride complexes to obtain fundamental information about the factors that influence the reaction barriers and the catalytic activity. Our aim is to achieve an optimal metal-hydride interaction in the catalyst that minimizes the reaction barrier of the entire catalysis cycle."
The long-term goal of Hanna and her colleagues at the MPI CEC is to use the greenhouse gas CO₂ as a building block for the chemical industry, to close the production cycle and thus contribute to the turnaround in energy policy.

Hanna is highly motivated and demonstrates great ambition for this extraordinarily challenging and innovative research project, as it "gives reason to expect special achievements in the service of the general public". (reference: <link https: www.studienstiftung.de promotion promotionsvorschlag external-link-new-window internal link in current>Studienstiftung des deutschen Volkes)

The Studienstiftung des deutschen Volkes is the largest and oldest German sponsorship foundation. Unlike other funding programs, the selection of scholarship holders is independent of political, ideological and religious guidelines. The mission statement "Excellence, Initiative, Responsibility" shows that intellectual abilities and motivation as well as interests outside the research field and social commitment play a significant role in funding.

Hanna H. Cramer is an exceptional PhD student and extraordinarily grateful for the opportunity to conduct research at the MPI CEC and for the support of the Studienstiftung des deutschen Volkes.