Leibniz Prize

2025: Hannes Leitgeb

Theoretical Philosophy

Hannes Leitgeb researches and teaches at the interface between logic, mathematics, and the cognitive sciences. His current research interests include questions in logic and the analysis of neural networks with the logic of inductive reasoning. He holds the Chair of Logic and Philosophy of Language and is co-director of the Munich Center for Mathematical Philosophy at LMU Munich.

2025: Maria-Elena Torres-Padilla

Epigenetics

Maria-Elena Torres-Padilla is receiving a Leibniz Prize for her work on epigenetic plasticity and reprogramming of stem cells in the embryonal development of mammals. She is Director of the Institute of Epigenetics and Stem Cells at Helmholtz Munich and Professor of Stem Cell Biology at LMU.

2025: Bettina Valeska Lotsch

Solid State Materials Chemistry

Bettina Valeska Lotsch is being honored for her work in solid-state chemistry in the field between basic-research-oriented materials synthesis and the development of new materials. She is Director of the Max-Planck-Institute for Solid State Research in Stuttgart and honorary professor at LMU,

2024: Dmitri Efetov

Experimental Solid State Physics

Dmitri Efetov is a pioneer in manufacturing highly homogeneous ‘magic-angle’ graphene. If you twist two layers of graphene to a certain ‘magic’ angle in relation to each other, you get a variety of exotic quantum phases with new physical phenomena such as superconducting, magnetic, and isolating states, the properties of which Dmitri Efetov studies.

2022: Karen Radner

Ancient History of the Near and Middle East

Karen Radner is studying the early history and culture of the Near and Middle East. In thematically diverse and interdisciplinary projects, Karen Radner looks into the elements of early forms of power politics as well as the dynamics of settlement development and the evidence of early advanced civilization.

2017: Veit Hornung

Professor of Immunology

Veit Hornung studies the workings of the innate immune system, the body’s first line of defense against pathogens. His research work contributes in particular to the development of therapeutic agents for the treatment of autoimmune diseases.

2016: Karl-Peter Hopfner

Professor of Biochemistry

Karl-Peter Hopfner received the Leibniz Prize for his outstanding work in structural molecular biology and genome biology, with which he has made pioneering contributions to the field of DNA repair and the cellular detection of foreign nucleic acids.
Portrait on DFG's website

2013: Erika von Mutius

Professor of Pediatric Allergology at LMU and Senior Consultant at Dr. von Hauner Children’s Hospital

Erika von Mutius won a Leibniz Prize for her ground-breaking insights into the pathogenesis and therapy of childhood asthma and allergies.
Portrait on DFG's website

2010: Christoph Klein

Christoph Klein, Director of the Pediatric Clinic and Outpatient Clinic in the Dr. von Hauner Children‘s Hospital **

Christoph Klein studies the molecular mechanisms that underlie rare genetic diseases which disrupt blood-cell differentiation and immune-cell function, as a basis for the development of effective therapies for these conditions.
Portrait on DFG's website

2007: Magdalena Goetz

Professor of Physiological Genomics

The seminal work of Magdalena Götz on the genesis of nerve cells in the mammalian brain has had a major impact on the understanding of stem cell behavior in general, and on efforts to manipulate the differentiation of neural stem cells in a controlled manner.

2007: Oliver Primavesi

Professor of Greek Philology

Classical scholar Oliver Primavesi works at the interface between Greek philology and the philosophy of the Ancient Greeks. His pioneering research has provided the basis for the reconstruction of Aristotle’s lost work on the Pythagoreans, and for a new interpretation of the writings of Empedokles.

2006: Patrick Cramer

Professor of Biochemistry and Managing Director of the Gene Center *

Patrick Cramer Professor Cramer's elucidation of the three-dimensional structure of RNA polymerase II stands as a major advance in cell biology. This key enzyme is one of the largest molecular machines in the cell nucleus, and is essential for protein synthesis.

2006: Ferenc Krausz

Professor of Experimental Physics

Ferenc Krausz is regarded as the founder of the field now known as attoscience, which is based on techniques that enable the ultrafast motions of electrons within atoms to be observed in real time.

2005: Peter Becker

Professor of Molecular Biology

Peter Becker Professor Becker's discovery of a novel underlying principle for the dynamic behavior of chromatin is of fundamental significance for the understanding of gene activity, carcinogenesis and embryonic development.

2005: Immanuel F. Bloch

Quantum Optics **

Immanuel Bloch was the first experimental physicist to demonstrate that a Bose-Einstein condensate could be converted by means of laser radiation, and in a controlled fashion, into a new state of matter with very different properties. This breakthrough is of great interest for, among other things, the development of quantum computers.

2004: Thomas Carell

Professor of Organic Chemistry

Thomas Carell Professor Carell's work on DNA repair has potential applications in the treatment of cancer, while his research on electron transport is of crucial importance to the field of photonics. His interdisciplinary approach thus spans the spectrum from synthetic chemistry to molecular biology to medicine.

2004: Jürgen Soll

Professor of Molecular Cell Biology of Plants (shared with the Freiburg researcher Prof. Dr. Nikolaus Pfanner)

The research findings made by Nikolaus Pfanner and Jürgen Soll have made a major contribution to our understanding of protein import into the various subcellular compartments present in the cells of higher organisms.

2002: Christian Haass

Professor of Biochemistry

The work of Christian Haass on the molecular and cell biological mechanisms involved in the pathogenesis ofneurodegenerative diseases has ensured a leading position for German research groups in this burgeoning field.
Portrait on DFG's website

2001: Jochen Feldmann

Photonik und Optoelektronik

Jochen Feldmann studies the optical and electronic properties of novel inorganic and organic materials. His work has had a profound influence on both basic and applied research in the field.

2001: Arthur Konnerth

Institute of Physiology *

The work of Arthur Konnerth and his research group focuses on neuronal networks in the cerebellum and the hippocampus, and has made important contributions to the understanding of the mechanisms and processes that form the cellular basis for motor control and motor learning.

2000

Dieter Lüst **
Professor of Theoretical Physics

1999

Friedrich Wilhelm Graf
Professor of Lutheran Protestant Theology **

1997

Paul Knochel
Professor of Organic Chemistry **

1996

Wolfgang Schnick
Professor of Solid-State Chemistry **

1996

Winfried Schulze
Professor of Early Modern History

1993

Regine Kahmann
Professor of Molecular Genetics *

1992

Svante Pääbo
Professor of Molecular Biology *

1989

Claus Wilhelm Canaris
Professor of Civil Law / Commerce and Labor Law

1989

Theodor W. Hänsch
Professor of Laser Physics / Quantum Optics

1987

Knut Borchardt
Professor of Economic History / Economics *

* Leibniz Prize winner who was at LMU when the award was announced but has since left.

** Leibniz Prize winner who had already received the award before joining the staff at LMU.