Dr. Volker Deringer

Biography

Volker Deringer studied chemistry at RWTH Aachen University, Germany, where he obtained his diploma in 2010 and doctorate summa cum laude in 2014 under the guidance of Richard Dronskowski. In 2015, he moved to the University of Cambridge as a fellow of the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation and was awarded the Leverhulme Early Career Fellowship in 2017. Deringer joined the University of Oxford as an Associate Professor in September 2019 and was awarded the title of Professor of Materials Chemistry in August 2025. His research is centered on understanding and controlling materials at the atomic scale, combining quantum mechanics and machine learning to study the relationships between structure, bonding, and properties. His theoretical and computational work is conducted in close collaboration with experimental partners, addressing practical applications. Deringer's interests include machine-learning approaches in inorganic chemistry, structural chemistry of amorphous solids, and the design of functional materials for various applications such as phase-change memory devices and battery electrodes. Currently, he also teaches first and second-year Inorganic Chemistry at St Anne's and Oriel Colleges.

Research Interests

Experience