Scientific Profile
The Max Planck Institute of Molecular Plant Physiology (MPI-MP), located in the Potsdam Science Park, is a research institution dedicated to unravelling the molecular processes of plant life. We want to generate knowledge that informs both fundamental biology and future biotechnological innovation. Founded in 1994, the institute has grown from a modest team of 16 into an international hub of over 360 scientists, students, and staff from around the globe, united by a shared fascination for plant life.
Research
The central scientific mission of the institute is to understand the evolution and function of molecular processes that control the development, physiology and interaction of plants with their environment. To achieve this goal the institute investigates biological interactions of plants at various levels with a particular focus on three scales: interactions within plant cells, interactions of plant cells with each other, and interactions between organisms.
We are particularly interested in:
- the interactions between endosymbiotic organelles and the nucleus, explored by the department of Prof. Dr. Ralph Bock
- the interactions between embryo and the endosperm during seed development, investigated by the department of Prof. Dr. Claudia Köhler
- the interactions between plant roots and symbiotic fungi, studied by the department of Prof. Dr. Caroline Gutjahr
Other research topics include the interactions between plant cells and viruses and mathematical modelling.
Research History
Read more about our emeritus directors here:
