About Us

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.

Campus of Collaboration

The Max Planck Institute of Molecular Plant Physiology is located in the Potsdam Science Park, a growing hub of research institutes, university departments, and start-ups. The park offers shared services and infrastructure that support both research and collaboration across disciplines.

Within the park, MPI-MP shares a campus with the Max Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces and the Max Planck Institute for Gravitational Physics. A shared central building with seminar rooms, a lecture hall, and a cafeteria foster daily interaction and a collegial atmosphere—an ideal environment for scientific exchange.

 

Sustainability

Sustainability is an integral part of life on the Max Planck Campus in Potsdam-Golm. Our buildings are powered in part by a photovoltaic system and a geothermal energy plant, complemented by a combined heat and power gas turbine. Green spaces, blooming meadows, lookout perches for birds of prey and a bee hotel contribute to biodiversity. A community garden and rooftop terraces provide space for both ecological initiatives and informal exchange. Sports fields for football and beach volleyball round out the campus’s balance between research, recreation, and environmental responsibility.