Welcome Dr Fiona Kearns, Junior Professor for Theoretical Chemistry and Chemical Data Science
Freiburg, 20/01/2026
Dr Fiona Kearns has been a Junior Professor of Theoretical Chemistry and Chemical Data Science since October 2025. In this interview, the American explains how her research contributes to a better understanding of diseases and why the stereotype of Germans being cold-hearted is not true.
Dr Fiona Kearns has been a Junior Professor of Theoretical Chemistry and Chemical Data Science since October 2025. Foto: Michael Spiegelhalter / University of Freiburg
What excites you about your research?
As a computational chemist and biophysicist, I develop computer simulations that show how protein molecules interact with each other. Since I really enjoy working with modern technologies, I would like to create my digital models using artificial intelligence in the future. What’s more, my research enables us to better understand chemical processes that are already known. The chemical processes I study usually overlap with those of biology. I like the fact that my work is very interdisciplinary.
What solutions can you find in your research for present and future challenges?
Proteins shape many cellular processes. By investigating how and why small chemical changes (mutations) affect their form and functionality, I am contributing to a better understanding of diseases such as cancer and viral infections. Mutations have, for example, led to the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus pathogen using its spike protein to attack our cells. This has enabled the pathogen to interact more strongly with our cells, which may have increased the risk of infection with the coronavirus. At the same time, I am investigating how sugar building blocks bound to proteins can influence the structure, dynamics and function of proteins. This is important to know because sugar building blocks determine, among other things, how proteins interact with other molecules.
What would you like to pass on to your students, and what would you like to gain from teaching?
Our everyday lives are shaped by chemical processes. Whether it’s because they influence the weather and thus human activity, or because they cause leaves to turn colours in autumn. I want to make students aware of this fascinating view of the world and encourage them to consciously perceive chemistry in their daily lives.
Since students learn in different ways, it is important to me to be able to explain content in a variety of ways. I can only do this if I look at topics from multiple perspectives. That’s why teaching helps me to develop a deeper understanding of the subject matter.
What topics are you personally most concerned with at the moment, outside of your research?
I am American and closely follow developments in the scientific landscape in the United States. I often think of colleagues who have lost project funding or been forced to restructure their work because of their research topics. I am also concerned that freedom of expression is being further restricted and that the situation for immigrants is deteriorating.
What do you like most about Freiburg?
Before arriving in Freiburg, I was worried that it would take me a long time to settle in. One reason for this was the American stereotype of Germans being cold-hearted and unfriendly. But so far, I have only met nice people. My colleagues are helping me to settle in Freiburg and at the University. Some of them even organised a Thanksgiving dinner for me to make me feel at home here. I am very much looking forward to working in this warm and welcoming environment.
Info box
Name: Jun.-Prof. Dr. Fiona Kearns
Chair: Tenure-track professorship in theoretical chemistry and chemical data science
Main research areas: Biomolecular modelling and simulations/computer-assisted biophysics