Torsten John is Assistant Professor (Tenure-Track) of Physical Chemistry at Constructor University in Bremen, where he heads the Biomolecular Systems and Design Lab. His research decodes how peptide sequences encode self-assembly pathways at biological and synthetic interfaces, combining biophysical experiments and molecular dynamics simulations to establish mechanistic principles governing amyloid(-like) fibril formation, membrane activity, and nano-interface interactions.

He earned his doctorate in chemistry with summa cum laude from Leipzig University and conducted research at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), the Max Planck Institute for Polymer Research, and Monash University, among others. As former Chair of the International Younger Chemists Network (IYCN) and in current roles as Liaison Lecturer for the German Bunsen Society and the Friedrich Ebert Foundation, he remains committed to supporting the global early-career chemistry community.

Selected Awards

• Top 10 Young Scientist in Germany, academics.de Nachwuchspreis (2024)
• Finalist, Leibniz Dissertation Award, Leibniz Association (2021)
• Finalist, European Young Chemist Award (EYCA), EuChemS (2018)
• Element (Pb) Award, IUPAC Periodic Table of Younger Chemists (2018) — one of 118 selected globally
• Early Career Researcher Award, Royal Australian Chemical Institute (2016)

Selected Fellowships

• Feodor Lynen Return Fellowship, Alexander von Humboldt Foundation (2023–2024)
• Feodor Lynen Research Fellowship, Alexander von Humboldt Foundation (2021–2022)
• PhD Fellowship, Friedrich Ebert Foundation (2016–2019)
• Endeavour Research Fellowship, Australian Government (2018)

Selected Programs

• IUPAC/GDCh Young Observers Program (2023)
• Young Scientist, 70th and 71st Lindau Nobel Laureate Meetings (2020–2022)
• CAS SciFinder Future Leaders Program (2017)