Since its foundation in 2009, Prof. Rolf Müller leads the HIPS as its Managing Director. Since 2019, Dr. Stephanie Thomas is in charge of the institutes administrative processes.
Prof Dr Rolf Müller - Managing Director
Rolf Müller studied pharmacy in Bonn, where he also obtained his PhD in 1994. After a two-year research scholarship at the University of Washington in Seattle, he became junior group leader at the Gesellschaft für Biotechnologische Forschung in Braunschweig. In 2003, he was appointed professor for Pharmaceutical Biotechnology at Saarland University. He became founding director of the new Helmholtz Institute for Pharmaceutical Research Saarland (HIPS) in 2009. Since then he is in charge of the HIPS management and leads the department for Microbial Natural Products. Rolf Müller is elected member of both acatech and Leopoldina as well as speaker of the research area “Novel Antibiotics” within the framework of the German Center for Infection Research (DZIF). In 2021, Rolf Müller was awarded the Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz-Prize.
Dr Stephanie Thomas - Administrative Director
Dr. Stephanie Thomas has been working at the HIPS as the Administrative Director since September 2019. In this role, she is responsible for managing all non-scientific processes at HIPS and coordinates the administrative processes between HIPS in Saarbrücken and HZI in Braunschweig. Due to her former work in the science department of the State Chancellery of Saarland, Dr. Stephanie Thomas has profound knowledge of the German science system, as well as many years of experience in the supervision and promotion of scientific institutions. As head of the Department of Non-University Research and Technology Transfer, Dr. Thomas was instrumental in the coordination and project development for the innovation strategy of the Saarland.
Dr. Stephanie Thomas holds a diploma in business administration and a doctorate in business informatics.
Prof Dr Rolf Müller - Managing Director
Rolf Müller studied pharmacy in Bonn, where he also obtained his PhD in 1994. After a two-year research scholarship at the University of Washington in Seattle, he became junior group leader at the Gesellschaft für Biotechnologische Forschung in Braunschweig. In 2003, he was appointed professor for Pharmaceutical Biotechnology at Saarland University. He became founding director of the new Helmholtz Institute for Pharmaceutical Research Saarland (HIPS) in 2009. Since then he is in charge of the HIPS management and leads the department for Microbial Natural Products. Rolf Müller is elected member of both acatech and Leopoldina as well as speaker of the research area “Novel Antibiotics” within the framework of the German Center for Infection Research (DZIF). In 2021, Rolf Müller was awarded the Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz-Prize.
Dr Stephanie Thomas - Administrative Director
Dr. Stephanie Thomas has been working at the HIPS as the Administrative Director since September 2019. In this role, she is responsible for managing all non-scientific processes at HIPS and coordinates the administrative processes between HIPS in Saarbrücken and HZI in Braunschweig. Due to her former work in the science department of the State Chancellery of Saarland, Dr. Stephanie Thomas has profound knowledge of the German science system, as well as many years of experience in the supervision and promotion of scientific institutions. As head of the Department of Non-University Research and Technology Transfer, Dr. Thomas was instrumental in the coordination and project development for the innovation strategy of the Saarland.
Dr. Stephanie Thomas holds a diploma in business administration and a doctorate in business informatics.
Our Administrative Team
We ensure a smooth operation of administrative processes at HIPS and support our scientists by providing professional technical and IT support.
Scientific advisory Board
Dailey, Lea Ann, Prof. Dr.
Universität Wien
Gilbert, Ian, Prof.
University of Dundee
Göpferich, Achim, Prof. Dr. (President)
Universität Regensburg
Klebe, Gerhard, Prof. Dr.
Universität Marburg
Knolle, Percy, Prof. Dr. med.
TU München
Lengauer, Thomas, Prof. Dr.
Max-Planck-Institut für Informatik
Piel, Jörn, Prof. Dr.
ETH Zürich
van der Donk, Wilfred, Prof. Dr.
University of Illinois
Vollmar, Angelika, Prof. Dr.
LMU München
Scientific Advisory Board Guests
Becker, Sören, Prof. Dr.
Saarland University
Flockerzi, Veit, Prof. Dr.
Saarland University
Großmann, Katja, Dr.
Helmholtz Association
Hammann, Peter, Prof. Dr.
Sanofi Aventis Pharma GmbH
Heinz, Dirk, Prof. Dr.
HZI Braunschweig
Rosenbaum, Jens, Dr.
Ministerium für Wirtschaft, Innovation, Digitales und Energie des Saarlandes
Santen, Ludger, Prof. Dr.
Saarland University
Schmitt, Manfred, Prof. Dr.
Saarland University