The Role of Individuals Versus Teams in Transformative Scientific Breakthroughs Doctoral project supervised by Prof. Dr. med. Dr. h.c. Matthias H. Tschöp (Ludwig Maximilian University/Munich)

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Project Description: The planned doctoral project investigates whether groundbreaking scientific breakthroughs in STEM are primarily attributable to the genius of individual visionary figures or to synergetic team efforts. Through a systematic analysis of at least 50 key examples from the history of science – ranging from antibiotics to DNA structure, CRISPR-Cas9, and modern pharmacotherapies – the project examines contexts of emergence, participation structures, and the “moment of creative breakthrough.” The methodology combines detailed case studies, comparative pattern analyses, and quantitative data evaluation with interdisciplinary perspectives from medicine, biology, chemistry, pharmacology, physiology, and the history of science. The project aims both to develop a new understanding of the dynamics between individuality and teamwork in scientific progress and to derive practical implications for research funding, team organization, and innovation policy. PROJECT: Scientific discoveries and technological breakthroughs have shaped human development for centuries – from antibiotics to DNA structure, CRISPR-Cas9, and modern pharmacotherapies such as GLP-1-based drugs. Yet one fundamental question remains: Do such transformative insights arise primarily from the genius and perseverance of individual visionaries, or are they the result of synergetic team efforts that pool collective knowledge and creativity? The doctoral project addresses this question through an interdisciplinary approach combining methods and perspectives from medicine, biology, chemistry, pharmacology, physiology, and the history of science. It conducts a systematic analysis of several dozen key STEM breakthroughs from the early modern period to the present, examining primary sources, historical documents, biographies, and science-history studies to trace origins, participation structures, and decisive impulses behind each discovery. Methodological Key Points: Case Study Analysis: In-depth reconstruction of selected scientific breakthroughs based on publications, archives, and biographies. Comparative Pattern Recognition: Identification of similarities and differences in the conditions of emergence (individual vs. team achievements). Quantitative Evaluation: Development of a systematic database of at least 50 central examples from the history of STEM sciences. Interdisciplinary Perspective: Integration of historical and analytical approaches with modern concepts from innovation and team research. The study places particular emphasis on the “moment of creative breakthrough”: Was it attributable to an extraordinary individual, or did it result from the intensive interaction of several researchers? The findings could not only provide a new understanding of the history of science but also yield highly relevant implications for contemporary research funding, team organization, and innovation policy. The project promises a scientifically rigorous yet broadly accessible examination of a topic that captivates not only the academic community but also the wider public: the dynamics of individuality and teamwork in the advancement of science. Keywords History of Science, Technological Breakthroughs in STEM, Dynamics of Individuality vs. Teamwork, Innovation, Transformational Processes