Our PhD student David Beyer is awarded the 2022 prize of the Dr. Artur Fischer Stiftung in the category physics and chemistry for his master's thesis "Coarse-grained computer simulations of weak polyelectrolyte hydrogels, stars, and brushes". The thesis deals with the simulation of complex reaction equilibria in two-phase systems of pH-responsive, charged polymers. Such systems are governed by an interplay of multiple effects, both energetic and entropic in origin, and thus inherently challenging to describe theoretically. On the side of applications, they are promising candidates for "smart materials" in areas such as medicine, biotechnology and hygiene