Departmental Groups

Research at MPI-MP is organized into research groups, each focusing on different topics. The following research groups are associated with one of the Institute's three departments.

- All

Algal Cell Biology and Biophysics

The group of Dr. Adrian Nievergelt is interested in the fundamental molecular processes that define how algal cells work, with a special focus on ciliary biology and intracellular transport mechanisms.

Central Metabolism

The group of Dr. Alisdair Fernie focuses on identifying factors involved in metabolic regulation of primary metabolism within both photosynthetic and heterotrophic tissues.

Epigenetic Mechanisms of Plant Reproduction

The main goal of the research in the group "Epigenetic Mechanisms of Plant Reproduction" led by Prof. Dr. Claudia Köhler is to understand the molecular events regulating seed development and plant speciation.

Intercellular Macromolecular Transport

The main focus of Dr. Fritz Kragler's group is the characterization of the transport mechanism and function of proteins and RNA molecules moving between cells and via the phloem vasculature to distant plant parts.

Mycorrhiza and Root Biology

The main focus of the research in the group "Mycorrhiza and Root Biology" led by Prof. Dr. Caroline Gutjahr is to understand the molecular mechanisms underlying the formation of an arbuscular mycorrhiza.

Organelle Biology and Biotechnology

The overarching goal of the research group led by Prof. Dr. Ralph Bock is to obtain a systems-level understanding of chloroplast and mitochondrial function in the context of the genetic and metabolic networks operating in plant cells.

Receptor structures at the plant-microbe interface

The independent research group of Dr. Alexander Förderer focuses on the protein structure determination of plant receptors that monitor and mediate responses to environmental microbes.

Seed Development and Apomixis

The workgroup of Dr. Duarte Figueiredo studies seed development in flowering plants, with the aim of understanding the molecular mechanisms necessary for the formation of a viable endosperm and its surrounding seed coat and is particularly interested in the formation of apomictic seeds

Synthetic Biology

The lab of Dr. Daniel Dunkelmann develops methods in plant synthetic genomics, with a focus on chloroplast engineering in land plants. We design chloroplast genomes for programmable polymer synthesis, cross-species compatibility, and biocontainment, and pursue broader technology development in plant synthetic biology and genomics.

Translational Regulation in Plants

Dr. Reimo Zoschke's group studies translational regulation and ribosome behavior in plants. Their projects focus on plastid translation and its interconnections with cytosolic and mitochondrial protein synthesis.