Rate My Professor Moritz Riede

Moritz Riede serves as Professor of Soft Functional Nanomaterials in the Department of Physics at the University of Oxford, where he leads the Advanced Functional Materials and Devices (AFMD) group. His research centers on photovoltaics and nanoscience within the Condensed Matter Physics subdepartment, with a particular emphasis on organic solar cells and soft functional nanomaterials. These investigations explore the potential of organic semiconductors—similar to those used in OLED displays—for developing lightweight, flexible, large-area, durable, and efficient solar cells capable of delivering cheaper electricity. Riede's work spans fundamental studies in the photophysics of organic semiconductors, device optimization, spin effects in degradation, energy level control, and pathways toward commercializing organic photovoltaics (OPV). Broader interests include renewable energies, energy policy, open science, support for early-career researchers, and the responsibility of researchers toward society in tackling global challenges.

Riede joined the University of Oxford in 2013 as a University Lecturer in the Condensed Matter Physics Subdepartment and a Governing Body Fellow at Wolfson College. From 2007 to 2013, he served as a Postdoctoral Researcher and Junior Research Group Leader on organic photovoltaics at the Institut für Angewandte Photophysik (IAPP) of Technische Universität Dresden. Earlier, he worked at the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems ISE and conducted PhD studies at the University of Freiburg, both in Germany. He co-founded Ark Metrica in January 2020 with Grey Christoforo, James Ball, and Henry Snaith to solve measurement problems via open science hardware and software, and TerraChange Solar with Dr. Pascal Kaienburg and Chris Charles to advance OPV commercialization. Key publications include "Organic solar cells—the path to commercial success" (Advanced Energy Materials, 2020, with Donato Spoltore and Karl Leo), "The role of spin in the degradation of organic photovoltaics" (Nature Communications, 2021), "Controlling energy levels and Fermi level en route to fully tailored energetics in organic semiconductors" (Nature Communications, 2019), and "An Open Source Sensitive External Quantum Efficiency Setup for Characterising Optoelectronic Devices" (Journal of Open Hardware, 2025). Awards include election as Fellow of the International Science Council (2023), one of the first Green Future Fellows by the Royal Academy of Engineering, graduation from Oxford's Climate Stream in the Creative Destruction Lab (2024), "Emerging Tech" win at Oxfordshire Business Awards, and completion of StartLife Accelerate (2025). He was a member of the Global Young Academy (2014-2019), serving as Co-Chair.