Professor Dr. Christian Weinheimer
Current affiliations
- Professur für Kernphysik (Prof. Weinheimer)Wilhelm-Klemm-Str. 9, 48149 Münster
Curriculum Vitae (CV)
Research Focus
- Neutrino physics (Nuclear, particle and astroparticle physics): Mainz Neutrino Mass Experiment (neutrino mass, 1987-2005), CHORUS (neutrino oscillation, CERN, 1995-1998), AMANDA (neutrino telescope, 1998-2001), KATRIN (neutrino mass, KIT, 2001-)
- Direct search for dark matter (particle physics, astroparticle physics): XENON100 and XENON1T experiment (Untergrundlabor LNGS/Italien, 2009-), DARWIN (2010-)
- Fundamental interactions (Atomic, nuclear and particle physics): WITCH experiment (CERN, 2007-2013), SpecTrap Libelle experiment (GSI, 2007-)
- Development of a TMB-based detector with Cherenkov light and charge readout for positron emission tomography (PET) (together with EIMI/CiM, 2017-) Readout for Positron Emission Tomography
- Hadron spectroscopy (nuclear and hadron physics): CBELSA-TAPS experiment (Bonn, 2001-2004)
Academic Education | |
| 2000 | Habilitation in experimental physics at the Johannes Gutenberg-Universtität Mainz with Prof. Dr. Dr. h.c. E.W. Otten, translated title of habilitation: "Search for neutrino masses and oscillations" |
| 11/1989 - 11/1993 | PhD thesis at Johannes Gutenberg-Universität Mainz, supervisor: Prof. Dr. Hartmut Backe, translated title: "A new upper limit for the rest mass of the electron neutrino from the tritium beta spectrum", grade: summa cum laude |
| 11/1982 - 11/1989 | Study of mathematics and physics at Johannes Gutenberg-Universität Mainz, intermediate diploma in mathematics with grade "very good", diploma in physics with grade "with distinction". Translated title of diploma thesis: "Test and set up of the detector system of the Mainz Neutrino Mass Experiment", supervisor: Prof. Dr. H. Backe |
Work Experience | |
| since 2004 | Professor of Physics (C4/W3, full professor) at the Westfälische Wilmhelms-Universität Münster |
| 2001 - 2004 | Professor for physics (C3, similar to "associate professor") at University of Bonn, Germany |
| 2000 - 2001 | Hochschuldozent (C2, faculty member, like "assistent professor") at the Johannes Gutenberg-Universität Mainz |
| 1997 - 2000 | Postdoctoral fellow (C1) at the Johannes Gutenberg-Universität Mainz |
| 1995 - 1996 | CERN fellow at the European particle physics laboratory CERN |
| 1993 - 1994 | Postdoctoral fellow at the Johannes Gutenberg-Universität Mainz |
| 1989 - 1993 | Research assistant at the Johannes Gutenberg-Universität Mainz |
Functions and Memberships | |
| since 02/2026 | Member, Specialist section physics , The German National Academy of Sciences Leopoldina |
| since 01/2025 | Executive Director, Institute for Nuclear Physics, University of Münster |
| since 09/2023 | Member, Rectorate Research Council, University of Münster |
| since 01/2023 | Member, Scientific Council DESY, DESY |
| since 2021 | International Advisory Board of the Nuclear Physics Institute of the Czech Academy of Sciences |
| since 03/2020 | Deputy Spokesperson of the Research Training Group "Strong and Weak Interactions - from Hadrons to Dark Matter", financed through the German Science Foundation DFG (GRK 2149) |
| since 02/2020 | Member of the Euroepan APPEC-SAC (Science Advisory Committee of the Astroparticle Physics European Consortium) |
| since 08/2019 | Member of the International Scientific Advisory Committee (ISAC) of the Arthur B. McDonald Canadian Astroparticle Physics Research Institute |
| since 05/2017 | Member of the Interfaculty Centre Cells in Motion (CiM) |
| 09/2025 - 08/2029 | Member, Arthur B. McDonald Canadian Astroparticle Physics Research Institute Advisory Board, Arthur B. McDonald Canadian Astroparticle Physics Research Institute Advisory Board |
| 01/2021 - 12/2026 | Scientific Member, Senate and Grants Committee for Collaborative Research Centers of the German Research Foundation (DFG), German Research Foundation (DFG) |
| 01/2024 - 12/2025 | Co-chair of the Collaboration Board of the XENON Collaboration, Collaboration Board, XENON Collaboration |
| 2001 - 2022 | Co-Spokesperson, Collaboration of an international experiment, International KATRIN Collaboration |
| 05/2019 - 11/2022 | Chair, DESY, Chair of the Astroparticle Physics Committee (APC) of DESY |
| 10/2016 - 09/2022 | Executive Director, Institute for Nuclear Physics, University of Münster |
| 04/2015 - 04/2021 | Advisory Board of the section "Particle Physics" of the German Physical Society (DPG) |
| 09/2015 - 02/2020 | Spokesperson of the Research Training Group "Strong and Weak Interactions - from Hadrons to Dark Matter", financed through the German Science Foundation DFG (GRK 2149) |
| 09/2013 - 09/2019 | Member of the Scientific Committee's of the Italien underground laboratory LNGS (Gran Sasso National Laboratory) |
| 2017 - 05/2019 | Member of the Physics Review Committee (PRC) of DESY |
| 11/2012 - 05/2019 | Chair of Scientific Council of the Cluster of Excellence PRISMA (Precision Physics, Fundamental Interactions and Structure of Matter) of Johannes Gutenberg University at Mainz |
| 2005 - 03/2019 | Chair (2013-2019), elected member (2010-2019), representative of the committee for hadron and nuclear physics KHuK in KAT (2005-, Elected committee of the astroparticle phycists working in akademia in Germany, Committee for astroparticle physics KAT (Chair 2013-2019) |
| 2012 - 2016 | Committee of the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft "309 - Particles, nuclei and fields" |
| 11/2014 - 11/2016 | Dean of the Department of Physics of WWU |
| 11/2012 - 10/2014 | Deputy Dean of the Department of Physics of the WWU |
| 2006 - 2013 | Co-organizer of the yearly workshop "Arbeitstreffen Kernphysik" in Schleching |
| 2005 - 2013 | Chair of the working team "school physics" of the faculty for physics of the Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität Münster |
| 2011 - 2012 | Scientific Advisory Board of the Max-Planck-Institut for Nuclear Physics, Heidelberg |
| 2007 - 2012 | Managing Director, Institute for Nuclear Physics, University of Münster |
| 2005 - 2012 | Committee for hadron and nuclear physics KHuK (elected member: 2005-2010, 2010-2012 the representative of the committee for astroparticle physics KAT in KHuK) |
| 2010 - 2011 | Chair of the organisation committee of the spring meeting of the German Physical Society DPG at Münster with the divisions "hadron and nuclear physics" and "didactics of physics" |
| 2006 - 2011 | Committee of the German Ministery for Education and Research "Hadron and nuclear physics", 2009 - 2011 vice chair |
| 2008 - 2010 | Chair of the board of the internatinal graduate school FANTOM (Fundamental and Applied Nuclear and aTOMic physics) |
| 2005 - 2010 | Committee of the German Federal Ministery for Education and Research "Ground-based astrophysics and astroparticle physics" |
| 2007 - 2008 | Committee of the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft "309 - Particles, nuclei and fields) |
Appointments | |
| 2004 | Offer to a Professorship for Physics (C4) , University of Münster (accepted) |
| 2001 | Offer to a Professorship for Physics, University of Washington |
| 2001 | Offer to a Professorship for physics (C3) , University of Bonn |
Publications
Schulte, P.; Wenz, D.; Althueser, L.; Braun, R.; Hannen, V.; Huhmann, C.; Koke, D.; Lin, Y.-T.; Unkhoff, P.; Weinheimer, C. (2026) In: European Physical Journal C: Particles and Fields, 86(5), 488-488. doi:10.1140/epjc/s10052-026-15739-4 Research article (journal) | Peer reviewed | Published | |
Aprile, E.; others (2026) In: Physical Review C, 113(4), 044303-044303. doi:10.1103/b3r7-6ff4 Research article (journal) | Peer reviewed | Published | |
Aprile, E.; others (2026) In: Physical Review Letters, 136(12), 120201-120201. doi:10.1103/2jm3-4976 Research article (journal) | Peer reviewed | Published | |
Aalbers, J.; others (2026) In: European Physical Journal C: Particles and Fields, 86(3), 312-312. doi:10.1140/epjc/s10052-025-15161-2 Research article (journal) | Peer reviewed | Published | |
Aalbers, J.; Abe, K.; Adrover, M.; Maouloud, S. Ahmed; Akerib, D. S.; Al Musalhi, A. K.; Alder, F.; Althueser, L.; Amaral, D. W. P.; Amarasinghe, C. S.; Ames, A.; Andrieu, B.; Angelides, N.; Angelino, E.; Antunovic, B.; Aprile, E.; Araujo, H. M.; Armstrong, J. E.; Arthurs, M.; Babicz, M.; Baker, A.; Balzer, M.; Bang, J.; Barberio, E.; Bargemann, J. W.; Barillier, E.; Basharina-Freshville, A.; Baudis, L.; Bauer, D.; Bazyk, M.; Beattie, K.; Beaupere, N.; Bell, N. F.; Bellagamba, L.; Benson, T.; Bhatti, A.; Biesiadzinski, T. P.; Biondi, R.; Biondi, Y.; Birch, H. J.; Bishop, E.; Bismark, A.; Boehm, C.; Boese, K.; Bolotnikov, A.; Bras, P.; Braun, R.; Breskin, A.; Brew, C. A. J.; Brommer, S.; Brown, A.; Bruni, G.; Budnik, R.; Burdin, S.; Cai, C.; Capelli, C.; Carini, G.; Carmona-Benitez, M. C.; Carter, M.; Chauvin, A.; Chawla, A.; Chen, H.; Cherwinka, J. J.; Chin, Y. T.; Chott, N. I.; Chavez, A. P. Cimental; Clark, K.; Colijn, A. P.; Colling, D. J.; Conrad, J.; Converse, M. V.; Coronel, R.; Costanzo, D.; Cottle, A.; Cox, G.; Cuenca-Garcia, J. J.; Curran, D.; Cussans, D.; D'Andrea, V.; Garcia, L. C. Daniel; Darlington, I.; Dave, S.; David, A.; Davies, G. J.; Decowski, M. P.; Deisting, A.; Delgaudio, J.; Dey, S.; Di Donato, C.; Di Felice, L.; Di Gangi, P.; Diglio, S.; Ding, C.; Dobson, J. E. Y.; Doerenkamp, M.; Drexlin, G.; Druszkiewicz, E.; Dunbar, C. L.; Eitel, K.; Elykov, A.; Engel, R.; Eriksen, S. R.; Fayer, S.; Fearon, N. M.; Ferella, A. D.; Ferrari, C.; Fieldhouse, N.; Fischer, H.; Flaecher, H.; Flehmke, T.; Flierman, M.; Fraser, E. D.; Fruth, T. M. A.; Fujikawa, K.; Fulgione, W.; Fuselli, C.; Gaemers, P.; Gaior, R.; Gaitskell, R. J.; Gallice, N.; Galloway, M.; Gao, F.; Garroum, N.; Geffre, A.; Genovesi, J.; Ghag, C.; Ghosh, S.; Giacomobono, R.; Gibbons, R.; Girard, F.; Glade-Beucke, R.; Glueck, F.; Gokhale, S.; Grandi, L.; Green, J.; Grigat, J.; van der Grinten, M. G. D.; Groessle, R.; Guan, H.; Guida, M.; Gyorgy, P.; Haiston, J. J.; Hall, C. R.; Hall, T.; Hammann, R.; Hannen, V.; Hansmann-Menzemer, S.; Hargittai, N.; Hartigan-O'Connor, E.; Haselschwardt, S. J.; Hernandez, M.; Hertel, S. A.; Higuera, A.; Hils, C.; Hiraoka, K.; Hoetzsch, L.; Hoferichter, M.; Homenides, G. J.; Hood, N. F.; Horn, M.; Huang, D. Q.; Hughes, S.; Hunt, D.; Iacovacci, M.; Itow, Y.; Jacquet, E.; Jakob, J.; James, R. S.; Joerg, F.; Jones, S.; Kaboth, A. C.; Kahlert, F.; Kamaha, A. C.; Kaminaga, Y.; Kara, M.; Kavrigin, P.; Kazama, S.; Keller, M.; Kemp-Russell, P.; Khaitan, D.; Kharbanda, P.; Kilminster, B.; Kim, J.; Kirk, R.; Kleifges, M.; Klute, M.; Kobayashi, M.; Kodroff, D.; Koke, D.; Kopec, A.; Korolkova, E. V.; Kraus, H.; Kravitz, S.; Kreczko, L.; von Krosigk, B.; Kudryavtsev, V. A.; Kuger, F.; Kurita, N.; Landsman, H.; Lang, R. F.; Lawes, C.; Lee, J.; Lehnert, B.; Leonard, D. S.; Lesko, K. T.; Levinson, L.; Li, A.; Li, I.; Li, S.; Liang, S.; Liang, Z.; Lin, J.; Lin, Y-T; Lindemann, S.; Linden, S.; Lindner, M.; Lindote, A.; Lippincott, W. H.; Liu, K.; Loizeau, J.; Lombardi, F.; Lopes, J. A. M.; Lopes, M. I.; Lorenzon, W.; Loutit, M.; Lu, C.; Lucchetti, G. M.; Luce, T.; Luitz, S.; Ma, Y.; Macolino, C.; Mahlstedt, J.; Maier, B.; Majewski, P. A.; Manalaysay, A.; Mancuso, A.; Manenti, L.; Mannino, R. L.; Marignetti, F.; Marley, T.; Undagoitia, T. Marrodan; Martens, K.; Masbou, J.; Masson, E.; Mastroianni, S.; Maupin, C.; McCabe, C.; McCarthy, M. E.; McKinsey, D. N.; Mclaughlin, J. B.; Melchiorre, A.; Menendez, J.; Messina, M.; Miller, E. H.; Milosovic, B.; Milutinovic, S.; Miuchi, K.; Miyata, R.; Mizrachi, E.; Molinario, A.; Monteiro, C. M. B.; Monzani, M. E.; Mora, K.; Moriyama, S.; Morrison, E.; Morteau, E.; Mosbacher, Y.; Mount, B. J.; Mueller, J.; Murdy, M.; Murphy, A. St J.; Murra, M.; Naylor, A.; Nelson, H. N.; Neves, F.; Newstead, J. L.; Nguyen, A.; Ni, K.; O'Hare, C.; Oberlack, U.; Obradovic, M.; Olcina, I.; Oliver-Mallory, K. C.; Orebi Gann, G. D.; Orpwood, J.; Ouahada, S.; Oyulmaz, K.; Paetsch, (2025) In: Journal of Physics G: Nuclear and Particle Physics, 52(4), 045102. doi:10.1088/1361-6471/adb900 Research article (journal) | Peer reviewed | Published |
Projects
Duration: 16/10/2026 - 17/10/2026 Funded by: Sparkasse Münsterland Ost Type of project: Scientific Event | |
Duration: 18/10/2024 - 19/10/2024 Funded by: Universitätsgesellschaft Münster e.V. Type of project: Scientific Event | |
Duration: 01/07/2023 - 30/06/2026 | 2nd Funding period Funded by: Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space Type of project: Participation in federally funded joint project | |
Duration: 01/07/2023 - 30/06/2026 | 6th Funding period Funded by: Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space Type of project: Participation in federally funded joint project | |
Duration: 01/11/2022 - 31/10/2027 Funded by: EC Horizon Europe - ERC Advanced Grant Type of project: EU-project hosted at University of Münster |
Talks
| Direct neutrino mass search with the KATRIN experiment and beyond
Weinheimer, Christian (22/05/2026) CENPA Seminar, University of Washington, Seattle Type of talk: scientific Talk | |
| Purification of xenon for the next generation of xenon experiments
Weinheimer, Christian (21/05/2026) International Workshop on the Application of Noble Gas Xenon to Science and Technology XeSAT 2026, Vancouver Type of talk: scientific Talk | |
| Unravelling the secrets of the universe: novel sensitivities through quantum technologies and machine learning Weinheimer, Christian (29/04/2026) Symposium on Frontier of Nano-Science - From Quantum Science to Nanophotonics, Precision Chemistry and Biomolecular…, Universität Münster Type of talk: scientific Talk | |
| KATRIN: From the idea via challenges and & solutions to neutrino results
Drexlin, Guido; Weinheimer, Christian (17/04/2026) Weighing the Invisible – 1000 Days of KATRIN data , Karlruher Institut für Technologie Type of talk: scientific Talk | |
| High resolution time-of-flight spectroscopy at a MAC-E filter
Weinheimer, Christian (16/04/2026) Internationaler Workshop (NuMass 2026), titled “Determination of the Absolute Electron (Anti-)Neutrino Mass, Karlsruher Institut für Technologie Type of talk: scientific Talk |
Prizes
| Appointment as Member of the German National Academy of Sciences Leopoldina Awarded by: German National Academy of Sciences Leopoldina Award given to: Weinheimer, Christian Announced at: 01/02/2026 | Date of awarding: 01/02/2026 Type of distinction: Research award or other distinction | |
| ERC Advanced Grant Awarded by: European Research Council (ERC) Award given to: Weinheimer, Christian Announced at: 26/04/2022 | Date of awarding: 15/04/2022 Type of distinction: Research award or other distinction | |
| Helmholtz Award 2001 Awarded by: Helmoltz-Fonds, Association for the Promotion of Science and Humanities in Germany Award given to: Bonn, Jochen; Weinheimer, Christian; Hell, Stefan W.; Klar, Thomas A. Announced at: 01/01/2001 | Date of awarding: 01/01/2001 Type of distinction: Research award or other distinction | |
| Dissertation Award 1993 Awarded by: Association of the Friends of the University of Mainz e.V. Award given to: Dr. Weinheimer, Christian Date of awarding: 01/01/1993 Type of distinction: Research award or other distinction | |
| CERN-Fellowship 1995-1996 Awarded by: European Organisation for Nuclear Research CERN (European particle physics laboratory), Geneva Award given to: Weinheimer, Christian Announced at: 01/01/1994 Type of distinction: Scholarship |
Doctorates
| Measurement of the Nuclear Transition Energies of 83mKr for Tritium Q Value Determination at KATRIN Candidate: Böttcher, Matthias | Supervisors: Weinheimer, Christian | Reviewers: Weinheimer, Christian; Andronic, Anton Period of time: 01/03/2021 - 15/09/2025 Doctoral examination procedure finished at: Doctoral examination procedure at University of Münster | |
| Determination of the Energy-dependent Energy-loss Function and Sensitivity Improvements for the KATRIN Experiment Candidate: Sonja Schneidewind | Supervisors: Weinheimer, Christian | Reviewers: Weinheimer, Christian; Andronic, Anton; Baudis, Laura Period of time: 01/07/2020 - 05/09/2025 Doctoral examination procedure finished at: Doctoral examination procedure at University of Münster | |
| Development of a soft X-ray spectrometer for fluorescence photons emitted during laser cooling at SIS100 and of a fast high voltage divider for CRYRING@ESR Candidate: Ueberholz, Ken | Supervisors: Weinheimer, Christian; Hannen, Volker | Reviewers: Weinheimer, Christian; Kappes, Alexander Period of time: 01/06/2020 - 05/09/2025 Doctoral examination procedure finished at: Doctoral examination procedure at University of Münster | |
| Studies of Background Reduction via angular-selective Electron Detection in the KATRIN Experiment Candidate: Kevin Gauda | Supervisors: Weinheimer, Christian | Reviewers: Weinheimer, Christian Klein-Bösing, Christian Period of time: 01/10/2018 - 15/07/2024 Doctoral examination procedure finished at: Doctoral examination procedure at University of Münster | |
| Lattice QCD determination of baryon sigma terms Candidate: Petrak, Pia Leonie Jones | Supervisors: Heitger, Jochen; Weinheimer, Christian | Reviewers: Heitger, Jochen; Collins, Sara Period of time: 01/11/2020 - 24/05/2024 Doctoral examination procedure finished at: Doctoral examination procedure at University of Münster |