Three new Dr. rer. nat. from our group(s): Dr. Anna Niehues, Dr. Jasper Wattjes, Dr. Stefan Hoffmann!

Today, Anna Niehues and Jasper Wattjes, both from Bruno Moerschbacher’s group, and Stefan Hoffmann from the ex-Goycoolea group, became Dr. Anna Niehues, Dr. Japser Wattjes, and Dr. Stefan Hoffmann. Their families and friends came to Münster to attend the convocation in which the certificates were presented to them, and to celebrate with them and us. Three new doctors in one day - we have never had that before. Thanks to their truly excellent work (and of course the work of those on whose shoulders they stand, and those who stand on their shoulders), we believe we can faithfully say that we are currently among the top groups in the world of chitin and chitosan science. A grand “Thank You” to the three of you! Stefan and Kathrin Norda, who recently obtained her MSc in the ex-Goycoolea group, will continue their scientific careers in Hamburg - after an extended holiday. Kathrin will start her doctoral project, while Stefan will continue collaborating with Dr. Christian Gorzelanny on the use of chitosan nanocapsules for drug delivery, extending this work towards real-world medical applications. Anna and Jasper will both continue to support us for a little longer, to finalise a few publications and the funCHI project, and to prepare for fresh challenges - alas, elsewhere. We already know that this will confront us with tough challenges, too: the brain drain will be strong next year. But excellent young Master students and doctoral researchers are already taking on these challenges! So 2019: you can come.