Dr. Elias Diesen New Group Leader in the Theory Department
The Fritz Haber Institute of the Max Planck Society is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Elias Diesen as a Junior Group Leader in the Theory Department, effective December 2025. Dr. Diesen leads the research group “Magnetism in Electrocatalysis,” which focuses on advancing the theoretical understanding of magnetic effects in electrocatalytic reactions critical to next-generation energy technologies.
Dr. Diesen brings an impressive academic and research background to the Fritz Haber Institute. He completed his Master’s degree in Engineering Physics at the Royal Institute of Technology in Stockholm, followed by a PhD with distinction (summa cum laude) from the Max Planck Institute for the Physics of Complex Systems in Dresden. His doctoral thesis focused on low-energy electrons in strong-field ionization. After postdoctoral research at the SUNCAT Center for Interface Science and Catalysis (SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory and Stanford University), Dr. Diesen joined the Theory Department at Fritz Haber Institute as a postdoctoral researcher in 2021.
Since December 2025, Dr. Diesen has been leading his own junior research group, investigating how external magnetic fields affect catalytic processes such as the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) and carbon dioxide reduction (CO₂RR)—both essential for sustainable energy conversion and storage. Combining electronic structure calculations with models of spin-dependent surface chemistry and transport phenomena, his group aims to deepen the fundamental understanding of how magnetic interactions can improve electrocatalytic performance. Part of this work is conducted within the framework of the ERC Synergy Grant MAGNESIS project, which seeks to unlock the hidden potential of magnets to enhance electrochemical reactions.
Dr. Diesen has a strong research record in theoretical catalysis and computational modeling. His recent publications cover topics such as electrocatalytic selectivity in oxygen reduction, multi-objective optimization of high-entropy alloy electrocatalysts, and simulation of IR and X-ray spectra for surface characterization, highlighting his broad scientific expertise and interdisciplinary engagement in surface chemistry, materials theory, and energy research.
The Fritz Haber Institute warmly welcomes Dr. Elias Diesen and looks forward to the collaboration.
