Müller researches at the Helmholtz Institute for Pharmaceutical Research Saarland (HIPS), the Saarbrücken branch of Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research (HZI) in Braunschweig, and teaches at Saarland University.
Müller's department at HZI focuses on myxobacteria, soil-dwelling micro-organisms capable of synthesising a variety of chemical structures. By clarifying the synthesis pathways and mechanisms of action it is possible selectively to promote the formation of defined secondary metabolites and to optimise their application. By using molecular biological methods, ‘sleeping’ genes in organisms can be ‘awakened’, thus significantly augmenting the spectrum of substances produced. In the past this led to the discovery not only of substances, such as omega-3 fatty acids, but also the anti-cancer agent epothilone.
Born in 1965, Müller studied pharmacy in Bonn. After obtaining his doctorate, he spent two years researching at the University of Seattle, sponsored by DFG, the German research foundation. In 1998 he became head of a junior research group at Gesellschaft für Biotechnologische Forschung (now HZI) and research assistant at Technische Universität Braunschweig.
Since October 2003 he has been Professor for Pharmaceutical Biotechnology at Saarland University, and since 2009 head of HIPS. Müller won the DECHEMA Prize for Natural Product Research in 2002.
The €20,000 DECHEMA Prize has been presented annually since 1951. The award acknowledges research excellence in the fields of technical chemistry, process engineering, biotechnology and chemical apparatus engineering, with preference being given to younger scientists. The work should be of fundamental importance and manifest a strong correlation between research and practical application.
DECHEMA, based in Frankfurt am Main, has more than 5,800 members representing scientists, engineers, companies, organisations and institutes. Its mission is to shape and promote technological progress in the fields of chemical engineering, biotechnology and environmental protection.
