Director, EMBL Heidelberg

Europe’s leading laboratory for the Life Sciences

The European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL) is Europe’s leading laboratory for the life sciences and one of the world’s foremost centres for biological research. Founded in 1974, EMBL was established to advance molecular biology research across Europe, develop new technologies, and train future generations of scientists. Today, EMBL brings together researchers, engineers, data scientists, technology developers and professional staff in pursuit of a shared goal: understanding life in context, across scales, and in all its complexity.

Supported by more than 30 member and associate states, EMBL operates six sites across Europe in Germany, the United Kingdom, France, Italy and Spain. Together, these sites form a highly integrated scientific organisation, combining world‑class research, scientific services, advanced infrastructure, technology development, and training and innovation. Heidelberg serves as EMBL’s headquarters and principal laboratory, while each site contributes distinct scientific capabilities to a common institutional mission.

A unique scientific organisation, EMBL occupies a distinctive position within the global life sciences landscape. As Europe’s only intergovernmental organisation dedicated to life sciences research, it provides a framework through which member states collectively support ambitious long‑term scientific programmes, strategic infrastructure and international collaboration. The organisation’s multi‑site structure enables scientific challenges to be addressed at a scale that extends beyond individual laboratories, institutions or national research systems.

In addition to conducting pioneering research, the organisation develops technologies, operates internationally recognised facilities, provides scientific services and biological data resources, and delivers advanced training programmes for the global life sciences community. This combination of discovery science, infrastructure, services and capability‑building has made EMBL a cornerstone of the European research ecosystem.

EMBL Heidelberg is the organisation’s headquarters and largest scientific site. It serves as a major centre for scientific research, technology development, training and scientific services, while also hosting the Director General’s Office and key institutional and headquarter functions. Heidelberg occupies a unique position within EMBL, acting both as a world‑leading scientific campus and as a focal point for the organisation’s broader strategic leadership.

The Heidelberg site is home to four complementary scientific research units, extensive scientific facilities and technology platforms, and cross‑cutting research centres such as the Data Science Centre, EMBL AI, the EMBL Imaging Centre, the EMBL International Centre for Advanced Training (EICAT), and a broad range of professional and operational functions. Together, these activities create a deeply interdisciplinary environment that supports scientific excellence, collaboration and innovation across the life sciences, collectively contributing to EMBL’s wider mission.

Cell Biology and Biophysics

Investigates the molecular and biophysical mechanisms that underpin cellular function.

Developmental Biology

Studies how organisms, tissues and biological systems develop, evolve and interact.

Genome Biology

Explores how genomic information is regulated, processed and utilised, and how its alteration contributes to disease.

Molecular Systems Biology

Examines biological organisation through integrated molecular, computational and quantitative approaches.

As EMBL’s headquarters, Heidelberg plays an important role in shaping the organisation’s future scientific direction while continuing…