Peter Schuhmacher was born in 1965 in Flörsheim am Main, Germany. From 1985 onwards, he studied Chemistry at the Johannes Gutenberg University of Mainz, Germany, and at the University of Amherst, Massachusetts, United States. He received his degree in 1991. After a research fellowship at Scripps Research Institute in San Diego, California, United States, he earned his doctorate in 1995 at the University of Mainz. He started his career at BASF as Research Manager in Colorants Laboratory, BASF Aktiengesellschaft, Ludwigshafen in 1995. As of January 1, 2022 he became President for Catalysts & Head of Battery Materials and Recycling at BASF Corporation in Iselin, New Jersey.