Rate My Professor Dennis Kurzbach

Kurzbach's research centers on hyperpolarized nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy, electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR), and paramagnetic labeling techniques applied to peptide and protein chemistry, biomineralization, and intrinsically disordered proteins. He leads multiple funded projects, including the ERC Consolidator Grant-funded HypSurf: Hyperpolarized Surface-enhanced Liquid-State Spectroscopy (2026-2031, approximately 2 million euros), which develops dissolution dynamic nuclear polarization (dDNP), Autonomous Interface Devices, and AI-assisted super-resolution NMR for analyzing protein-DNA complexes, biomolecular condensates, and precursor clusters in biomimetic materials. Additional projects under his leadership are THREE: Elucidating the role of Se(III) radicals in catalysis (2026-2030, co-lead), Structure of supramolecular peptide assemblies (2026-2030), The evolution of biomineral prenucleation species: Real-Time (2022-2026), Beschleunigte biomimetische Kernmagnetresonanz (2020-2024), and HYPROTIN: Hyperpolarized NMR for Time-Resolved Monitoring of Interactions of Intrinsically Disordered Breast-Cancer Proteins (2019-2024). With over 90 publications, notable contributions include 'Hyperpolarized NMR Spectroscopy: d-DNP, PHIP, and SABRE Techniques' (Chemistry–An Asian Journal, 2018, 280 citations), 'Cooperative unfolding of compact conformations of the intrinsically disordered protein osteopontin' (Biochemistry, 2013, 137 citations), and 'Application and methodology of dissolution dynamic nuclear polarization in physical, chemical and biological contexts' (Journal of Magnetic Resonance, 2019, 134 citations). He delivers conference presentations on topics such as EPR, dynamic nuclear polarization, hyperpolarized NMR for biomolecular phase transitions, and biomineralization monitoring. In teaching, he covers courses including 'Paramagnetism in Spectroscopy: NMR, EPR and Hyperpolarization', 'Peptide and Protein Chemistry', 'Interpretation of Spectra and of Structural Analysis (UVIS, IR, MS, NMR)', 'Scientific Practice in Molecular Biology II', and seminars for postgraduates in biological chemistry.