A historic first for Bremen: Nobel Laureate Sir Konstantin Novoselov to lead Constructor University

At its meeting on February 24, 2026, Constructor University’s Board of Governors announced a landmark appointment: world-renowned physicist and Nobel Laureate Professor Sir Konstantin Novoselov has been named Constructor University’s new President, effective immediately. The appointment marks an unprecedented moment for Bremen — for the first time in the city’s history, a Nobel Laureate will lead one of its academic institutions.

With the appointment of Professor Sir Novoselov, Bremen welcomes its first Nobel Laureate into active academic leadership, marking a significant step onto the international research stage, while Constructor University joins an elite group of global institutions led by Nobel Prize-winning scientists.

“We are entering a new era for Constructor University, and we chose Professor Novoselov because he is uniquely positioned to drive it,” said Oznur Bell, Chairwoman of the Board of Governors. "Our goals are clear: to establish world-class research labs at Constructor University; to build the university into a genuine magnet for the brightest students and early-career researchers from around the globe; and to raise Constructor University into the top tier of European research universities. Professor Novoselov has done exactly this at leading institutions before. Now he will do it here, in Bremen.”

Professor Sir Novoselov is one of the world’s foremost physicists, specializing in condensed matter physics, mesoscopic physics and nanotechnology. A British scientist, he is best known for the isolation of graphene, the thinnest, strongest material ever discovered, a breakthrough that earned him the Nobel Prize in Physics in 2010 and made him one of the youngest Nobel Laureates in modern history.

Beyond graphene, Professor Sir Novoselov has been at the frontier of a new generation of materials science. He is the founder and director of the Institute for Functional Intelligent Materials (I-FIM), the world’s first institute dedicated to the design, synthesis and application of intelligent, adaptive materials. At I-FIM, he has pioneered an interdisciplinary approach that fuses physics, machine learning, robotics and artificial intelligence to dramatically expand the boundaries of what materials can do and be. From smart membranes and adaptive batteries to neuromorphic computing and biomedical applications, his vision is reshaping materials science as a discipline. He will bring this same transformative agenda to Constructor University.

Professor Sir Novoselov has a strong track record of working at the interface of fundamental science and industry. His research on graphene attracted partnerships with global technology leaders including Samsung, Huawei, IBM, and others, and he serves as Chief Scientific Advisor to Graphene Square, a company commercializing graphene for next-generation electronics, automotive and biomedical applications. This culture of translating scientific breakthroughs into real-world industrial impact is something he intends to bring directly to Constructor University and the Bremen innovation ecosystem.

Professor Sir Novoselov has published more than 320 scientific papers, including over 25 in Nature and Science, and has been ranked among the world’s most highly cited researchers every year since 2014. He is a regular speaker at the World Economic Forum, and in the United Kingdom, he is a Fellow of the Royal Society and was knighted at the 2012 New Year Honours in recognition of his scientific contributions.

Constructor University thanks outgoing President Dr. Serguei Kouzmine for his leadership and steady stewardship during the transitional period, which has ensured continuity of operations and a strong foundation for this next chapter.

“With Professor Novoselov at the helm, Constructor University is welcoming one of the most influential scientists of our time,” said Turgut Tülü, Chancellor of Constructor University. “His scientific leadership, global network, and commitment to industry-relevant research will significantly enhance our profile and accelerate innovation across disciplines.”