Stephan grew up in Basel, Switzerland. He started out his career with an apprenticeship as chemical lab technician and later joined the University of Basel to study chemistry. After obtaining his BSc, he joined the Sparr Group for his MSc, where he focsed on the stereoselective synthesis of atropisomers. Before starting his PhD studies within the Sparr group in 2023, he gained some valuable industrial experience at Idorsia (Allschwil) and Bachem (Bubendorf). 

In his free time he enjoys climbing, traveling, heavy music and board games (i.e. DnD).

Catalyst Control over Threefold Stereogenicity: Selective Synthesis of Atropisomeric Sulfones with Stereogenic C–S Axes
T. A. Schmidt, S. Schumann, A. Ostertag, C. Sparr*
Angew. Chem. Int. Ed.2023, 62, e202302084; Angew. Chem. 2023, 135, e202302084. Selected as Hot Paper