Research

Research at the biochemistry division focuses on the analysis of molecular mechanisms and signal transduction pathways underlying the regulation of primary metabolism and cellular communication in plants. Applying molecular physiology and phytopathogical methods intra- as well as inter-organismic interactions are studied. Moreover, biotechnological approaches to optimize crop plants are followed.

Website of Biochemistry

Research

The research interests of the Biotechnology Division emphasize the general area of structural biology, using crystallographic and computational approaches.

Website of Biotechnology

Research

The Computational Biology Group focuses on the structure, dynamics, and function of biological membrane mimics, including e.g. lipid-protein interactions, membrane (nano-)domain formation, and (membrane) protein oligomerization studied both in atomistic and coarse-grained  molecular dynamics simulations (Biological Membrane Biophysics).

Website of Computational Biology

Research

Our research addresses the molecular and genetic mechanisms that govern the development of embryos, tissues, and germ cells.
The developmental processes of interest include patterning of the embryonic ectoderm and mesoderm, embryonic axis formation, muscle specification and differentiation, heart development, organogenesis, germ cell and stem cell development, and tissue polarity. We are also interested in the evolutionary conservation and divergence of these processes.

Website of Developmental Biology

The aim of our research is to reveal the molecular mechanisms of cell division. In the laboratory we are using cutting-edge microscopy techniques in the model system Caenorhabditis elegans and human tissue culture cells.

Website of Experimental Molecular Cell Dynamics (Prof. Zanin)

Research

The research of the division of Genetics is focused on the regulation of humoral and innate immune responses. Besides B lymphocyte development and activation, studies also focus on genetic factors which may lead to deregulated immune responses and ultimately to autoimmune diseases. Further research is directed towards the elucidation of the molecular causes of leukemia and lymphoma formation.

Website of Genetics

Research

Our group is using and developing methods of statistical physics to address exciting problems in biology and medicine. We are a part of the newly established, interdisciplinary “Max-Planck-Zentrum für Physik und Medizin” in Erlangen.

Website of Mathematics in Life Sciences

Research

Research at the Microbiology Section focuses on bacterial regulation mechanisms e.g. in Campylobacter jejuni and Helicobacter pylori. It spans from host/pathogen interactions, analyses of regulatory signaling networks and expression analyses to molecular aspects of protein/DNA, protein/protein or protein/ligand interactions.

Website of Microbiology (Prof. Backert)

Research

Our research interests span different aspects of molecular microbiology including biotechnology, host-pathogen-interaction and synthetic biology. Furthermore, we are involved in teaching in a wide variety of study programs, e.g.  biology, cell and molecular biology, integrated life sciences, life science engineering, molecular science etc.

Website of Microbiology (Prof. Burkovski)

Website of Molecular Plant Physiology

Website of Pharmaceutical Biology

Research

As neuroscientists, we are interested in questions of nervous system function with a focus on neurons and synapses and the mammalian retina as an established model system in the neurosciences.

Website of Animal Physiology

Research

The Cell Biology Division investigates molecular and cellular processes underlying the perception and processing of signals (e.g. light, gravity), as well as the establishment and maintenance of polarity. Experimental systems covering a wide range of the evolutionary spectrum are studied: photosynthetic protists, green algae, mosses and vascular plants.

Website of Cell Biology

Website der Junior Research Group

Website of Schambony Group