Material Minds

What happens when electronics stop being rigid boxes and start becoming part of the world around us? In this episode of Material Minds, host Shrikrishnan Sankaran speaks with Professor Tobias Kraus about the future of flexible electronics, stretchable conductors, smart textiles, and recyclable electronic materials. From sensor-enabled T-shirts and intelligent furniture to the challenge of making s...

Have you ever calculated the environmental cost of every pair of socks you own or every flight you’ve taken since birth? In this episode of Material Minds, we sit down with Professor Matthias Finkbeiner, head of the Sustainable Engineering Department at TU Berlin and a world-leading researcher in Life Cycle Assessment (LCA). We dive deep into the science of assessing impact "from cradle to grave,"...

What’s it like to spend a week surrounded by over 30 Nobel Laureates? In this episode of Material Minds, host Shrikrishnan Sankaran speaks with Anna, Delvina, and Mingren, three INM researchers selected to attend the Lindau Nobel Laureate Meeting 2025 for chemistry. From intense scientific debates on AI, sustainability, and green chemistry to casual dinners with Nobel winners, our guests share the...

Join us on Material Minds as we delve into the groundbreaking world of protein-based Materials with Professor Luai R. Khoury from Technion, the Israel Institute of Technology!  Discover how Professor Khoury and his team are engineering revolutionary materials, including protein sponges with catalytic activity that remain active for extended periods. Learn about the fascinating development of...

Join us on Material Minds as we delve into the fascinating world of MXenes with their inventor, Professor Michael Naguib from Tulane University. Discover how these groundbreaking 2D materials , similar to graphene but with unique properties, are set to transform everything from energy storage and batteries to stimulating nerve cells and medical applications . In this episode, Michael shares the in...

Dive into the fascinating world of biomimetic adhesives with Marc Schoeneich, co-founder of Innocise, as he unveils how their gecko-inspired “Gecomer” technology leverages microscopic structures and Van der Waals interactions to grip and manipulate objects—completely glue-free. In this episode, Marc shares the journey from initial research breakthroughs to overcoming scale-up challenges, revealing...

In this episode, we talk to Phil Egberts, professor at the University of Calgary and INM alumni. He shares how his journey in materials science began with experiments on salt crystals, led him to Germany, and eventually into the world of nanotribology and graphene-based lubrication. We discuss his time as the first PhD student of Roland Bennewitz, how learning to code became essential for scientif...

In this episode, we dive into the fascinating world of AI-driven scientific discovery with our guest Prof. Jilles Vreeken. We explore how machine learning is revolutionizing materials science, from predicting crystallization structures to uncovering hidden patterns in data. Discover the surprising challenges of AI in medical diagnostics, including why some COVID-detection models failed in real-wor...

 Lara Teruel, PhD student, contact lens technology, futuristic contact lens, living contact lens, eye-care innovation, medical technology, wearable tech, future of healthcare, medical tech exhibition, scientific breakthrough, challenges in innovation, societal impact, cutting-edge science, vision care innovation, eye health technology In this episode, we sit down with Lara Teruel, a PhD stude...

In this episode of the Material Minds podcast, host Shrikrishnan Sankaran welcomes Marcus Koch, Head of the Physical Analytics Core Facility at INM, to discuss the power of advanced analytical techniques in materials science. Marcus shares captivating stories about using electron microscopy and X-ray spectroscopy to study a wide range of unusual samples—from ancient paintings and medieval artifact...

Join us in this episode as we explore how large scale sensing of environmental health can be achieved through material innovations. Albenc Nexha, a postdoctoral researcher in the Structure Formation research department of INM, tells us how they're working to achieve this in the project I-Seed. It involves the development of nanoscience-powered biodegradable seed-like sensors that can be distribute...

Join us in this episode as we dive into the intriguing world of synthetic biology with Alexandra Fischer, a PhD student in the Materials Synthetic Biology research department at INM. Discover how Alexandra's groundbreaking research on creating compartments in living cells using light is revolutionizing our understanding of cellular processes. Learn how she combines optogenetics and liquid-liquid p...

oin us this episode as we dive into the cutting-edge of Energy Materials with Mohammad Torkamanzadeh, a postdoctoral researcher at INM. Fresh from completing his PhD, Mohammad shares groundbreaking insights into electrochemical water desalination —innovatively extracting salts and specific ions, like precious lithium needed for batteries, using specialized electrodes and cells. His research illumi...

Join us in this episode of the Material Minds podcast as we sit down with Oskar Staufer, head of the Immuno Materials research group at the INM, to explore groundbreaking materials science. Oskar takes us on a journey through his career, sharing insights into his fascination with slime molds, the creation of bacterial jewelry, and one of his favorite materials, which he brought along with him. We...

In this Episode we have an insightful conversation with Sara Trujillo, head of the Materials Host Interactions Research Group at INM. Learn about her groundbreaking work on cell interactions, the remarkable story of Fluffy's bone regeneration, and her latest endeavors in ensuring new materials are safe for use in the body. Sara also shares her passion for blending science with art, revealing her f...

Join us on the Material Minds Podcast as we delve into the world of innovative materials with Roland Bennewitz, Head of the Interactive Surfaces Research Department at INM. Discover how he accidentally made nanodiamonds, the intriguing feel of gift wrap paper, and Roland's personal journey in research. Plus, don't miss our fun game to get to know our guest and his favorite materials for a better w...