PD Dr Joachim Franzke in an expert in the field of laser-based analytical methods and plasma spectroscopy. At ISAS, he leads the Miniaturisation research group and carries out research into miniaturising analytical devices for analytical chemistry. For example, Franzke is planning to reduce the sample quantities required, as well as lowering the costs involved and resources consumed, by developing miniaturised ionisation sources for mass spectrometry. Franzke’s scientific career has been linked to ISAS for many years: after finishing his physics degree thesis at the institute back in 1991, he carried out the work underlying his PhD, which he completed in 1994, at ISAS as well. He completed his habilitation degree at the University of Hohenheim in Stuttgart in 2000 and at TU Dortmund University in 2007.