On November 10, 2025, Katharina Hermainski was honored with the “Giersch Excellence Award", thereby joining the Graduiertenschule Giersch. The prize is granted by the "Stiftung Giersch" for outstanding scientific achievements during her doctoral studies.
In her doctoral research, she investigates the chemistry of homologues of superheavy elements, with a particular focus on polonium, using gas-solid thermochromatography. Her work provides a benchmark for the first chemical studies of the superheavy element livermorium (Z = 116) and advances the understanding of polonium chemistry.
Katharina Hermainski on the right with the director of the Stiftung Giersch", Stephan Rapp on occasion of the award ceremony on November 10, 2025, at FIAS in Frankfurt.
Photo: Uwe Dettmar