Prof. Dr. Günter Schmid studied chemistry at the University of Munich and finished his PhD in Inorganic Chemitry in 1965. In 1966 he moved to the University of Marburg, Germany, where he performed his Habilitation that was completed in 1969. Two years later he got a professorship at the same university.

From 1975 - 1976 he was the dean of the chemical faculty in Marburg. In 1977 he followed a call to the chair for Inorganic Chemistry at the University of Essen, where he acted as the director of the Institute for Inorganic Chemistry until 2002, when he retired. Since then he has continued working as an Emeritus Professor.

From 1977 until 2002 Prof. Schmid was appointed to several academic positions. From 1987 - 1988 he was the dean of the chemical faculty and from 1988 - 1992 he was a member of the rectorate of the university, responsible for research.
Prof. Schmid`s scientific interests were and still are focussed on the synthesis, investigation and application of transition metal nanoparticles, mainly in the fields of catalysis, medicine and future storage devices.

He has published more than 300 original scientific papers and edited two books on nanoparticles.

He is a member of five editorial boards of international journals. Presently he is the chairman of a study group of international scientists at the European Academy Bad Neuenahr-Ahrweiler that is evaluating the present state and future aspects of nanotechnology. He is also a member of the advisory board of the Institute for Science and Ethics at the Universities Bonn and Essen.

In 2003 Prof. Schmid received the Wilhelm-Klemm-Award from the German Chemical Society for his work in nanoscience and nanotechnology.