Shaping a growing research field
Dr. Dimitrios Pantazis elected president of the Quantum Bio-Inorganic Chemistry Society
Dr. Dimitrios Pantazis was elected president of the Quantum BioInorganic Chemistry Society, aiming to enhance networking and training for early-career researchers.
Dr. Dimitrios Pantazis, head of the Quantum Biochemistry group at the Max-Planck-Institut für Kohlenforschung, has been elected president of the Quantum Bio-Inorganic Chemistry Society (QBIC) for the next four years. The QBIC Society is the leading international organization that advances the development and application of quantum and computational chemistry in the fields of inorganic chemistry and biochemistry.
Bio-inorganic chemistry explores how metals function in biological systems and how they interact with organic molecules to enable essential life processes. Applying quantum chemistry to these complex interactions has given rise to a rapidly growing research field. “We connect quantum mechanics, chemistry and biology through high-precision calculations and simulations that predict the electronic structure and reactivity of complex biological systems like metalloenzymes. This allows us to uncover mechanistic details that are often inaccessible by experiment alone”, Pantazis explains. Beyond fundamental insight, the field aims to translate molecular understanding into practical solutions: “By learning how nature controls reactivity at the quantum level, we can move toward the rational design of bioinspired catalysts for future challenges.”
As president of the QBIC Society, he aims to expand training opportunities for early-career researchers and establish robust networks across continents. A step in this direction will be the next QBIC conference in India, organized by Dr. Abhishek Sirohiwal, former postdoctoral researcher at the Max-Planck-Institut für Kohlenforschung and now Max Planck partner group leader at the Indian Institute of Science in Bangalore.
