Priv.-Doz. Dr. Hajar Maleki
| Address | Institute of Inorganic Chemistry, Department of Chemistry, University of Cologne, Greinstrasse 6, 50939 Cologne |
|---|---|
| Room | office: 213, lab: 215 |
| Phone | +49 (0) 221 470-1981 |
E-mail: h.maleki | |
uni-koeln.de ******
Professional Experiences
2023-Present | Associated Junior Research Group Leader – Center for Molecular Medicine Cologne, CMMC Research Center |
2019 – present | Junior Research Group Leader supported by German Science Foundation (DFG) and German Aerospace Center (DLR) Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences/ Department of Chemistry/ Institute of Inorganic Chemistry/ University of Cologne/ Cologne/ Germany, Mentor: Prof. Dr. Sanjay Mathur |
2016 – 2018 | Postdoctoral Fellowship (principal investigator) - Lise Meitner - Austrian Science Fund (FWF). Chemistry and Physics of Materials/ Materials Chemistry Division/Paris Lodron University Salzburg/ Salzburg/ Austria, Mentor: Prof. Dr. Nicola Huesing |
2015 - 2016 | Postdoctoral Research Fellow - Department of Chemical Engineering/ University of Coimbra/ Coimbra/ Portugal Mentor: Prof. Dr. Antonio Portugal |
09.2015 – 06.2016: | Career break due to maternity leave |
2012 – 2015 | Marie-Curie-Early-Stage Researcher - Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Coimbra (UC), Coimbra, Portugal Mentor: Prof. Dr. Antonio Portugal |
05/2011 – 09/2011 | Visiting Scholar - Biocant - Biotechnology Innovation Center, University of Coimbra (UC), Cantanhede, Portugal Mentor: Prof. Dr. Lino Ferreira |
2008 - 2011
| Research assistant - Institute for Nanoscience and Nanotechnology (INST), Sharif University of Technology (SUT), Tehran, Iran. Research group: Prof. Dr. Arash Simchi |
Educations
May 11, 2023 | Habilitation (Venia legendi) in Inorganic Chemistry Multifunctional Bio-inspired Silk-based Hybrid Porous Materials: Rational Design and 3D Printing for Theragenerative Applications |
Dec 10, 2014 | Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering – Nanomaterials: Magna Cum Laude, GPA: 18 from 20. Development of Mechanically Reinforced Polymer-Silica Aerogel for Thermal Insulation in Space Applications PI: Antonio Portugal, Faculty of Sciences and Technology, Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal |
Sep 13, 2008
| Master in Organic Chemistry, GPA: 17.45 from 20. A comparative study of catalyzed rearrangement of allyloxy- coumarins and allyloxynaphthalenes to dihydrofurocoumarins and dihydronaphthofurans. PI: Mohammad Reza Saidi Department of Chemistry, Sharif University of Technology, Tehran, Iran. |
Jun 30, 2006 | Bachelor in Chemistry, GPA: 16.02 from 20 Energetic Polymers PI: Mehdi Mahdavi, Department of Chemistry, Tehran University, Tehran, Iran. |
Recent Awards and Honors
2023 | 2023 Rising Star in Materials Science, distinguished by American Chemical Society-- ACS Materials Au |
2021 – 2023 | Grant/ German Science Foundation (DFG – Eigene Stelle)/ Germany |
2018 - 2020 | Grant/ German Aerospace Center (DLR)/ Germany |
2016 - 2018 | Fellowship/ Austrian Science Fund (FWF) - Lise Meitner postdoctoral fellowship/ Austria |
2012 – 2015 | Fellowship/ Marie Curie Early-Stage Researcher (ESR)/ Portugal |
2019 | Grant/ Chemical Industry Fund (VCI) - Materials cost allowances for young university teachers/ Germany |
2019 | Grant/ Postdoc-Kids & ElderCare within the Female Professors Programme II/ University of Cologne, Germany |
2020 | Grant/ Kopf Frei-Postdoc-Programme for Female Professors Programme III/ University of Cologne, Germany |
2021 | Grant/ Kopf Frei – Postdoc-Programme for Female Professors Programme IV/ University of Cologne, Germany |
2019 | Award/ Most downloaded and cited article from Elsevier Publisher for a review paper ‘’H. Maleki*, et al., 385, 2014 |
Biography
Dr. Maleki is a materials chemist specializing in the design and development of advanced aerogels for biomedical applications. After earning a master’s degree in organic chemistry, I was awarded the prestigious Marie Curie Ph.D. fellowship at the University of Coimbra, Portugal, where I pioneered mechanically reinforced hybrid aerogels for aerospace thermal insulation. My postdoctoral research at the University of Salzburg, supported by the Austrian Science Fund, expanded to biopolymer-based aerogels, including the first silk-based aerogels (AeroSF) with exceptional thermal insulation and mechanical flexibility. Since 2019, during my habilitation in Germany, I have led innovative research on bio-inspired aerogels for bone tissue engineering and theragenerative medicine. With over 50 publications, ~5000 citations (h-index 29), and ~1.5 million euros in independent funding, I have built a strong international collaboration network and mentored numerous students and researchers. Recognized as a 2023 ACS Materials Au Rising Star and among the world’s top 2% most influential scientists (2022-2024, Stanford/Elsevier), I remain dedicated to advancing sustainable aerogel technologies for healthcare and beyond.