The Leibniz Junior Research Group led by Dr. Corinna Kufner investigates the role of UV light in the emergence of biological functionality on the early Earth. The research focuses on fundamental mechanistic studies using ultrafast spectroscopic techniques to elucidate how light–matter interactions may have shaped early biomolecular processes.

Based on the central hypothesis that UV light acted not only as an energy source but also as an active selective pressure, the project examines light-driven, enzyme-like processes in biomolecules. The aim is to understand how photochemical reaction pathways contributed to the stabilization, functionalization, and ultimately the evolution of biological systems.

The work addresses fundamental questions concerning the origins of life on Earth and in a broader cosmic context. At the same time, it opens up new perspectives for photochemical approaches in the study of synthetic cells and for a deeper understanding of light-induced mechanisms in modern biomedicine.

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