Humboldt Research Fellow and guest researcher at FAU´s Chair of Inorganic and General Chemistry

Dr. Weiqing Mao was born in China. In 2014 he completed a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry at Soochow University, China. Subsequently, in 2019 he received his PhD in Organic Chemistry from the Shanghai Institute of Organic Chemistry at the University of Chinese Academy of Sciences.

In 2019 he received the Excellent Award from the President of the Chinese Academy of Science.

Until September 2021, Dr. Mao and his supervisor Dr. Karsten Meyer will work on the synthesis, structure and reactivity of highly reactive Iron complexes at the Chair of Inorganic and General Chemistry of FAU. His stay is supported by the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation.

First, FAU is the most innovative university of Germany. Second, Prof. Meyer is a very talented supervisor and the group members are the best researchers from all over the world.

Dr. Mao, what is your field of research and what exactly sparked your interest in this field?

My research field is organometallic chemistry. Colourful and beautiful crystals sparked my interest in this field.

Since October 2019, you have been working together with Prof. Dr. Meyer at the Chair of Inorganic and General Chemistry. What are you and Prof. Dr. Meyer currently researching?

I am working on the synthesis, structure and reactivity of highly reactive Iron complexes under Prof. Meyer’s supervisor.

What is the aim of your and Prof. Dr. Meyer´s research?

Our research aim is to investigate the potential application of highly reactive metal complexes in the activation of small molecules, such as O2, CO2, H2O, NO, N2O.

I like going fishing and playing table tennis in my spare time. Going fishing can always make me relax. Playing table tennis is a very interesting sport, which can keep me focused.

What were your reasons for choosing FAU as your host institution?

First, FAU is the most innovative university of Germany. Second, Prof. Meyer is a very talented supervisor and the group members are the best researchers from all over the world. Last but not the least; I am very interested in the research field of Prof. Meyer’s group.

Why did you become a scientist?

Well, to be honest, I didn’t have that big dream about becoming a scientist when I was a kid. I just met with Chemistry in the university and I had much freedom to playfully explore the unknown in the field of chemistry. Gradually I am kind of a scientist now.

What other interests do you have besides research?

I like going fishing and playing table tennis in my spare time. Going fishing can always make me relax. Playing table tennis is a very interesting sport, which can keep me focused.

How do you like Erlangen and the region surrounding it? Is this your first time in Erlangen?

Yes, this is my first time in Erlangen. It is a beautiful quiet city and people here are really nice. There are some gorgeous views in Erlangen and Nuremberg. My wife and I really enjoy our life here.

Do you have a favourite place at FAU or in Erlangen and/or Nuremberg?

My favourite place at FAU is our group’s XRD room, in which I can see beautiful crystals and their unprecedented structure.

Is there anything else you would like to mention?

I would like to thank the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation for the generous financial support, and I would like to thank the Welcome Centre of FAU for their kind help with my start in Erlangen.

Thank you for the interview, Dr. Mao.