Overview
Joachim Sauer (born 19 April 1949) is a German professor of physical and theoretical chemistry. His research spans quantum-chemical methods and computational modelling of materials and catalytic processes. He is widely respected within his field for methodological rigour and for applying electronic-structure theory to problems in solid-state and surface chemistry. Outside academia he is known because of his marriage to Angela Merkel, a prominent politician; she is often described in press material as the Chancellor of Germany.
Career and research
Sauer has held academic positions at German universities and research institutes where theoretical chemistry is pursued. His work makes regular use of quantum chemistry and density functional approaches to study molecules, extended solids and adsorption on surfaces. He has published on reaction mechanisms relevant to heterogeneous catalysis and on the comparative performance of computational methods in predicting structural and energetic properties.
Common topics in his publications include:
- Quantum chemical calculations and electronic structure theory
- Computational studies of catalysts and reaction paths
- Use of density functional methods for solids and adsorbates
- Method development and benchmarking in theoretical chemistry (reviews)
Education and positions
Born in Hosena, Brandenburg, Sauer trained as a chemist and advanced into theoretical chemistry during his doctoral and postdoctoral work. He has supervised doctoral students, taught courses in physical chemistry, and contributed numerous peer-reviewed articles. Institutional profiles and research databases list his academic posts and selected publications for those seeking primary sources.
Personal life and public profile
Sauer has two sons from his first marriage; details of his private life are deliberately limited (family, first marriage). He married Angela Merkel on 30 December 1998, after which he continued to keep a low public profile and rarely comments on politics. Media accounts emphasise his preference for privacy and his continued focus on scientific work rather than public life.
For authoritative institutional information and publication lists consult university pages, library catalogues and research repositories that index his work and contributions to theoretical and computational chemistry.