Volker Strauss 🌱

likes to talk across borders, finds creative solutions, is interested in societal developments and has a passion for chemistry

Dessau, Saxony-Anhalt, Germany

About

My professional career began with an apprenticeship in the construction sector, after which I quickly decided for a move to work in development cooperation. A 14-months assignment in the UK, Malawi, and South Africa changed my life significantly. During that time I learned two important lessons: Education (including my own) is essential for sustainable development (including my own) and that I have the luxury and freedom to decide what I do. At the time, I could never have imagined that I would one day be able to understand something about chemistry. But I dared to go back to school because I was interested. Studying science allowed me to understand the world and myself in a whole new way. Since then I've been active in various disciplines of chemistry, working as a researcher, developer, author, reviewer, team leader, and lecturer. During this time, I also learned to overcome many of my personal limitations. Thankfully, I found my way to the German Environment Agency, where I am passionately committed to the sustainable development of chemistry. Meanwhile I continue my volunteer work in development cooperation with my friends at Soulfood Namibia.

Experience

  • Lecturer at Technische Universität München (Technical University of Munich)
    Apr 2026 - Present · 3 mos

    Sustainable Chemistry

  • Head of Department at Umweltbundesamt - German Environment Agency
    Nov 2022 - Present · 3 yrs 8 mos

  • Max-Planck-Institut für Kolloid- und Grenzflächenforschung (4 yrs 2 mos)
    • Group Leader
      Jan 2022 - Nov 2022 · 11 mos

    • Group Leader (Parental part-time)
      Jul 2021 - Dec 2021 · 6 mos

    • Group Leader
      Apr 2019 - Jun 2021 · 2 yrs 3 mos

  • Lecturer at Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin
    May 2022 - Jun 2022 · 2 mos

    Nanomaterials

  • Lecturer at Universität Potsdam
    Apr 2021 - Jun 2021 · 3 mos

    physical chemistry of interfaces