Frank Hoffmann is Scientific Supervisor and Head of the Central X-Ray Department of the Department of Chemistry at the University of Hamburg. After studying chemistry and obtaining a doctorate at the University of Hamburg, he worked as a scientific assistant to Professor Michael Fröba at the University of Gießen on periodic mesoporous organosilicas (PMOs) before moving to Hamburg in 2007 together with Fröba. His current research focus is metal-organic frameworks (MOFs). In 2014, Hoffmann held a seven-week Internet Course (MOOC) with approximately 2000 participants from around the world on the subject of crystals and symmetry.