Ab Initio Biomolecular Simulations
Group leader: Dr. Carsten Baldauf
Group Members
- Prof. Volker Blum (former Group Leader, now Professor at Duke University)
- Teresa Ingram
- Adriana Supady
- Mateusz Marianski, Ph.D.
- Markus Schneider
- Dr. Camilo Aponte-Santamaria (at HITS, Heidelberg)
Mission and Research Topics
The work of the Ab Initio Biomolecular Simulations Research Group is focused on the structure and dynamics of molecules of biological relevance. We employ density-functional theory as the primary, but not the only, production method. We believe that molecular systems cannot be understood by just looking at the one single lowest energy conformer, but that knowing about the dynamic behavior of conformational ensembles brings us closer to such understanding. Ideally we link our research to experimental studies by our collaborators, mainly to the gas-phase spectroscopy and spectrometry of our colleagues at the Molecular Physics department.
Methodology
This and other research is linked directly to methodological advances of the Fritz-Haber-Institute ab initio molecular simulations (FHI-aims) computer program package. Furthermore, we employ and implement advanced molecular dynamics (MD) techniques like parallel tempering and steered MD. In addition we develop methodologies and protocols to search the conformational space of (bio)molecules.
Collaborations
- Dr. Gert von Helden (FHI-MP, Berlin)
- Dr. Kevin Pagel (FHI-MP, Berlin)
- Dr. Frauke Gräter (HITS, Heidelberg)
- Prof. Beate Koksch (FU Berlin)
- Prof. Stefan Hecht (HU Berlin)
- Dr. René Meier (Uni Leipzig)
- Prof. Daniel Merkle (SDU Odense)
External funding
Open positions
Our research bridges methodological development and applications, predominantly in the biomolecular world. We are grounded in quantum-mechanical first principles, but with a clear focus on pushing our approaches towards time scales, length scales, and scientific targets where their accuracy makes a real difference compared to "coarser" descriptions. We are constantly looking for PhD students and postdocs to reach these goals.