Dr. rer. nat. Thomas H. Schmidt

Managing Director and Shareholder of Next Scientific GmbH
Bioinformatician · Scientist · IT Architect

I combine scientific understanding with IT architecture and practical implementation. My professional background spans computational research, scientific data management, and the development and operation of complex IT systems.
Through Next Scientific, I support organisations in translating domain-specific requirements into robust digital solutions. I consider applications, data, processes and information security as parts of a connected whole.

Mit Next Scientific unterstütze ich Organisationen dabei, fachliche Anforderungen in tragfähige digitale Lösungen zu übersetzen. Dabei betrachte ich Anwendungen, Daten, Prozesse und Informationssicherheit im Zusammenhang.

My role in projects

Understanding requirements. Bringing technical solutions together.

Digital projects need to bring different perspectives together. I work at the interface between management, domain specialists and IT, combining conceptual work with technical implementation.

Structuring requirements

I work with stakeholders to clarify goals, constraints and open questions. This creates a clear basis for scope, priorities and technical decisions.

Developing architectures

I view applications, data flows, interfaces and infrastructure as a connected system. Security requirements and future operational needs are considered from the outset.

Supporting implementation

I combine architecture work with hands-on development and technical coordination. I bridge domain-specific requirements, technical possibilities and available resources.

Enabling further development

I consider documentation, maintainability and handover during implementation. This keeps a solution manageable beyond its initial deployment and ready for future changes.

Professional experience

Experience across science, development and IT operations

My career combines natural sciences research with software development, data management and the coordination of demanding IT environments. The following roles provide an overview of my professional responsibilities.

Since July 2022 · Next Scientific GmbH

Managing Director and Shareholder

Design, development and implementation of end-to-end IT and data management solutions for healthcare, medicine, pharmaceuticals and life sciences. Responsibilities include digital applications, data platforms and connecting architecture, development and operations.

April 2021 – September 2023 · BwFuhrparkService GmbH

Application Manager Java/Mobile Applikationen, German Bundestag Transport Service

Coordination and ongoing development of IT operations for the German Bundestag transport service. Subproject coordination during the redesign of the IT infrastructure, focusing on information security, highly available systems, automation and cloud service integration.

November 2018 – March 2021 · German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE)

IT and Data Management Coordinator, Rhineland Study

Coordination and ongoing development of IT operations for the Rhineland Study. Design and implementation of infrastructure and software solutions, including high-performance computing, study applications, and the integration of laboratory and biospecimen systems. Contribution to the study’s data protection concept.

January 2017 – October 2018 · German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE)

Software Engineer, Rhineland Study

Development of web-based applications and databases for contact management, study workflows, biospecimen management, image processing and research. Additional responsibilities included automation solutions and system administration.

February 2014 – April 2016 · University of Bonn, LIMES Institute

Postdoctoral Researcher, Membrane Biochemistry

Molecular dynamics simulations relating to neuronal communication and protein and lipid aggregation. Analysis of large simulation datasets and development of automation strategies.

October 2009 – August 2013 · University of Bonn, Bonn-Aachen International Center for Information Technology

Doctoral Researcher, Computational Structural Biology

Computational research into bacterial multidrug resistance factors. Development of software for the automated embedding of three-dimensional protein structures in membrane models.

January 2009 – May 2022 · Part-time self-employment

Software & web development, web hosting and consulting

Development of components and extensions for the Joomla! CMS, as well as custom solutions for groupware, hosting and system administration.

August 2007 – December 2008 · BASF AG, Polymer Research

Engineer, Molecular Modeling

Molecular dynamics simulations of hyperbranched polymers and multiphase interfaces. Development of software for generating and analysing polymer models.

Education

October 2009 – April 2014

Doctorate in Molecular Biomedicine

University of Bonn

Doctoral dissertation

Computational Studies of the Escherichia coli Multidrug Efflux Pump AcrAB-TolC

In my doctoral research, I used molecular dynamics simulations to investigate the bacterial efflux pump AcrAB-TolC. This protein complex contributes to antibiotic resistance in Escherichia coli by transporting drugs out of the cell. The work focused on its structure and dynamics, as well as the critical assessment of an existing structural model.

I also developed two software tools to improve and automate the embedding of membrane proteins in simulation models.

Learn more

October 2002 – January 2009

Studies in Bioinformatics

Fachhochschule Bingen (University of Applied Sciences)

Diploma thesis at BASF AG, Ludwigshafen (Polymer Research)

Development and implementation of a reverse-mapping algorithm and its application to polymer simulations

August 2000 – June 2001

Training as a state-certified biological technical assistant (BTA) and Fachabitur in Biotechnology

Adolf-Reichwein-Schule Marburg

Scientific publications

Google Scholar Profile | ResearchGate profile

Aziz A, Corman VM, Echterhoff AKC, Richter A, Schmandke A, Schmidt ML, Schmidt TH, De Vries F, Drosten C, Breteler M: Seroprevalence and Correlates of SARS-CoV-2 Neutralizing Antibodies: Results From a Population-Based Study in Bonn, Germany. Nature Communications (2021)

De Coninck D, Schmidt TH, Schloetel JG, Lang T: Packing Density of the Amyloid Precursor Protein in the Cell Membrane. Biophysical Journal 114, 1128-1141 (2018)

Schmidt TH, Homsi Y, Lang T: Oligomerization of the Tetraspanin CD81 Via the Flexibility of its δ-Loop. Biophysical Journal 110, 2463-2474 (2016)

Schmidt TH, Raunest M, Fischer N, Reith D, Kandt C: Computer Simulations Suggest a Direct and Stable Tip to Tip Interaction Between the Outer Membrane Channel TolC and the Isolated Docking Domain of the Multidrug RND Efflux Transporter AcrB. Biochimica et Biophysica Acta (BBA) - Biomembranes 1858, 1419-1426 (2016)

Batoulis H, Schmidt TH, Weber P, Schloetel JG, Lang T: Concentration Dependent Ion-Protein Interaction Patterns Underlying Protein Oligomerization Behaviours. Scientific Reports 6, 24131 (2016)

Destainville N, Schmidt TH, Lang T: Where Biology Meets Physics – A Converging View on Membrane Microdomain Dynamics. Current Topics in Membranes 77, 27-65 (2016)

Koch DC, Schmidt TH, Sahl H-G, Kubitscheck U, Kandt C: Structural Dynamics of the Cell Wall Precursor Lipid II in Presence and Absence of the Lantibiotic Nisin. BBA-Biomembranes 1838(12) 3061-3068 (2014)

Homsi Y, Schloetel J-G, Scheffer KD, Schmidt TH, Destainville N, Florin L, Lang T: The Extracellular δ-Domain is Essential for the Formation of CD81 Tetraspanin Webs; Biophysical Journal 107(1) 100-113 (2014)

Fischer N, Raunest M, Schmidt TH, Koch DC, Kandt C: Efflux Pump-Mediated Antibiotics Resistance: Insights From Computational Structural Biology; Interdisciplinary Sciences: Computational Life Sciences 6(1) 1-12 (2014)

Schmidt TH, Kandt C: LAMBADA & InflateGRO2: Efficient Membrane Alignment and Insertion of Membrane Proteins for Molecular Dynamics Simulations; ACS Journal of Chemical Information and Modeling 52(10) 2657-2669 (2012)

Schmidt TH, O’Mara ML, Kandt C: Molecular Dynamics Simulations of Membrane Proteins: Building Starting Structures and Example Applications; Current Physical Chemistry 2(4) 363-378 (2012)

Let’s bring your domain-specific and technical requirements together.

Would you like to structure a digital project, develop an existing solution further, or clarify architecture and security questions? In an introductory call, we will discuss your needs and possible next steps.

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