Jo Richers

Scientist & Creative Director

Dr. Johannes Richers works in the intersection of science, art, and design. Based in Tübingen, Germany, he manages a studio focused on visual science communication. Jo received his academic education from the Technical University of Munich (M.Sc. Chemistry and Dr. rer. nat.), the Technical University in Berlin (additional M.Sc. in Science Marketing), and the Hasso Plattner Institute in Potsdam (Design Thinking). He was supported by the German National Academic Foundation (Studienstiftung des deutschen Volkes), received the »SciFinder Future Leader Award« from the American Chemical Society in 2016, and was selected as »Artist in Residence 2019« at Factory Berlin × Sonar+D.

Jo has created over 100 cover pages for scientific journals, has contributed to a range of research grant proposals including ERC, POF, SFB, COE, NCC, and shares his expertise through lectures and workshops.

Man with a beard and beanie using a stylus and tablet, with another person in the background.

    • Dr. rer. nat. in Organic Chemistry · 2017
      Technical University of Munich · Advisor: Prof. Konrad Tiefenbacher

    • Additional M.Sc. in Science Marketing · 2019
      Technical University of Berlin

    • Design Thinking Program · 2019
      Hasso Plattner Institute, Potsdam

    • M.Sc. & B.Sc. in Chemistry · 2012 / 2010
      Technical University of Munich

    • Guest Lecturer · since 2020
      Technical University of Munich

    • Innovation Organization · 2018
      Merck, Darmstadt, Germany

    • Innovation Accelerator Program · 2017
      Bayer, Berlin, Germany

    • Lab Management · 2017
      FabLab Berlin, Germany

    • Research Internship · 2012
      Schlumberger, Cambridge, United Kingdom

    • Idea Production Workshops · 2007
      BrainStore, Biel, Switzerland

    • Artist in Residence · 2019
      Factory Berlin × Sónar+D

    • SciFinder Future Leader Award · 2016
      CAS, American Chemical Society

    • German Academic Scholarship · 2007
      Studienstiftung des deutschen Volkes

  • Technical University of Munich • LMU Munich • ETH Zurich • Karlsruhe Institute of Technology • Max Planck Society • Helmholtz Association • Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft • Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin • American Chemical Society • Royal Society of Chemistry • Bayer • Merck • Boehringer Ingelheim • University of Vienna • Freie Universität Berlin • RWTH Aachen University • The University of Manchester • German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) • Goethe University Frankfurt • Berlin University Alliance • Leibniz Association • Thieme • Ruhr University Bochum • University of Tübingen • Ulm University • Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz • University of Freiburg • Technical University of Berlin • Technical University of Darmstadt • Otto von Guericke University Magdeburg • Universität Hamburg • Bielefeld University • Federal Institute for Materials Research and Testing (BAM) • University of Basel • BOKU University • Helmholtz Munich • Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine • Technical University of Denmark (DTU) • Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen–Nürnberg (FAU) • BayWISS – Bavarian Academic Forum • Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf • Julius-Maximilians-Universität Würzburg • TUM University Hospital • University of Bonn • University Hospital Regensburg • University of Konstanz

    • BOKU Future Conference, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences Vienna, Circular Bioengineering, Visual Talk + Panel discussion about science communication, Vienne, May 20, 2026

    • International Graduate School BACCARA, University of Münster, Explaining Science with Images + Software Training, Bad Sassendorf, April 21, 2026

    • Institute of Cognitive Neurology and Dementia Research, Otto von Guericke University Magdeburg Explaining Science with Images + Software Training, Magdeburg, March 23–24, 2026

    • BayWISS – Bayerisches Wissenschaftsforum, Resource Efficiency, University Bayreuth, Visualization of Research Results, Ingolstadt (Hybrid), March 3–20, 2026

    • Technical University of Munich, TUM Graduate Center of Natural Sciences, Explaining Science with Images, Munich, February 19–20, 2026

    • University of Tübingen, Interfaculty Graduate School of Infection Biology and Microbiology, Poster Presentation Workshop, Tübingen, January 30–February 13, 2026

    • Goethe University Frankfurt, SFB 1507: Protein Assemblies and Machineries in Cell Membranes, Scientific Illustration, Frankfurt, November 20–21, 2025

    • BayWISS – Bayerisches Wissenschaftsforum, BayWISS Energy, Visualization of Research Results, Nuremberg, October 29, 2025

    • Ruhr University Bochum, Cluster of Excellence RESOLV, Explaining Science with Images, Bochum, October 21–22, 2025

    • Munich Center for Quantum Science and Technology, International Max Planck Research School for Quantum Science and Technology IMPRS-QST 2025, Explaining Science with Images, Kufstein, June 3, 2025

    • Heinz Maier-Leibnitz Zentrum (MLZ Garching), Visual Science Communication, Munich, April 24–25, 2025

    • Gesellschaft Deutscher Chemiker e.V. (GDCh), JungesChemieForum Düsseldorf (JCF), Visual Science Communication, Düsseldorf, April 4–5, 2025

    • University of Konstanz, Konstanz Research School Chemical Biology (KoRS-CB), Explaining Science with Images, Konstanz, March 31–April 1, 2025

    • University of Tübingen, Interfaculty Graduate School of Infection Biology and Microbiology, Poster Presentation Workshop, Tübingen, March 7–21, 2025

    • Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), CRC 1608 Convide: "Consistency in the View-Based Development of Cyber-Physical Systems", Explaining Science with Images, Karlsruhe, February 06–07, 2025

    • Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), CRC 1573: "4f for Future", Explaining Science with Images, Online, November 04–18, 2024

    • Technical University of Munich, TUM Graduate Center of Natural Sciences, Explaining Science with Images, Munich, September 30–November 1, 2024

    • University of Tübingen, Interfaculty Graduate School of Infection Biology and Microbiology, Poster Presentation Workshop, Tübingen, September 6–20, 2024

    • Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), CRC HyPERiON Summer School 2024, Neustadt an der Weinstraße, July 29–30, 2024

    • Gesellschaft Deutscher Chemiker e.V. (GDCh), JungesChemieForum München (JCF), Visual Science Communication, Munich, July 13–14, 2024

    • Munich Center for Quantum Science and Technology, International Max Planck Research School for Quantum Science and Technology IMPRS-QST 2024, Explaining Science with Images, May 14, 2024

    • Technical University of Darmstadt, Graduateschool Life Science Engineering/Self-Organizing Systems, Poster Design and Presentation, Hirschegg, Kleinwalsertal, June 3–4, 2024

    • Helmholtz Zentrum München, Explaining Science with images (Online), January–February, 2024

    • Otto von Guericke University Magdeburg, RT 2408, Scientific Illustration with Adobe Illustrator, Magdeburg, December, 7–8, 2023

    • University of Hamburg, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, GRK2771 Humans and Microbes, Explaining Science with Images, Hamburg, November 23–24, 2023

    • Goethe University Frankfurt, GRADE IQbio, Independent Career Paths: Science Illustration, Frankfurt, November 11, 2023

    • Johannes Gutenberg-Universität Mainz, SusInnoScience, Scientific Illustration, Mainz, October 19–20, 2023

    • Max Planck Institute for Biology Tübingen, PhD Student Retreat, Visual Storytelling, Ellwangen, September 09, 2023

    • Goethe University Frankfurt, SFB 1507: Protein Assemblies and Machineries in Cell Membranes, Scientific Illustration, Frankfurt, July, 6–7, 18–19, August 29–30, 2023

    • University of Mainz, GRK 2516: Soft matter, Scientific Illustration, Trier, July 12, 2023

    • Technical University of Munich, TUM Graduate Center of Natural Sciences, Scientific Illustration and Design, Munich, June 1–2, 2023

    • Technical University of Munich, CRC 1035: Control of protein function by conformational switching, Scientific Illustration, Venice, May 2, 2023

    • University of Tübingen, Interfaculty Graduate School of Infection Biology and Microbiology, Poster Presentation Workshop, Tübingen, January 2 – February 3; March 17–31, 2023 → Link

    • University Ulm, Poster Design and Presentation, Ulm, February 7–20, 2023

    • Max Planck Society for the Advancement of Science, Max Planck PhDnet, Visual Science Communication, Munich, August 1–2, 2022

    • Technical University of Munich, Graduate Center, School of Natural Sciences, Visual Science Communication, Munich, July 19–20 2022

    • University Ulm, Graphic Design in Chemistry, July 14–15, August 19, 2022

    • Technical University of Munich, M. Sc. Chemistry, LV2001 + LV2002: Introduction to the Scientific Community, Poster Design and Presentation, Munich, May–June, 2022

    • University Vienna, Advanced Scientific Illustration Training (Online), July–August, 2022

    • University of Tübingen, PhD program Experimental Medicine, Alternative Careers in Science, Graphical Abstract Design, Bad Urach, June 24, 2022

    • University Ulm, Organic Chemistry Retreat, Scientific Illustration, Söllerhaus, Kleinwalsertal, April 7, 2022

    • Ruhr University Bochum, GRK 2376 Confinement-Controlled Chemistry, Scientific Illustration, Bochum, November 19, 2021

    • Leibniz Association, N²-Event Perspectives on Open and Sustainable Research, Science visualization and communication, Berlin, October 15, 2021

    • University of Tübingen, Interfaculty Graduate School of Infection Biology and Microbiology, Poster Presentation Workshop, October 8–19, 2021 → Article

    • Universität Bielefeld, Research Unit on Chemodiversity of Plants, Science Communication and Illustration, Marburg, August 2–3, 2021

    • Podcast: Wunstmaschine, 2021, #14 Interview mit Dr. Johannes Richers → Link

    • European Wildlife Disease Association (EWDA), Communicating Science in Wildlife Conservation (Online), March 3, 2021

    • Technical University of Munich, Scientific Illustration(Online), December 9, 2020

    • Bayerisches Wissenschaftsforum BayWISS, Poster Design and Pitch (Online), June 8, 2020

    • Technical University of Berlin, Science Marketing: Science Communication, Berlin, May–August, 2020

    • Kompetenzzentrum Kultur- und Kreativwirtschaft des Bundes, Sprungkraft Innovation Camp, Visual Facilitation, Berlin August 17, 2020

    • Helmholtz Zentrum München, Graphical Abstract Challenge (Online), April 14, 2020

    • MediaTech Con, 2018, »MediaTech in Science – Science Fiction?«, Potsdam → Link

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