EMBL Heidelberg

EMBL's headquarters and main laboratory site supports research, services, advanced training, and technology development

EMBL Heidelberg is the organisation’s main Laboratory and serves as its headquarters

It is home to: the Director General’s Office and Council Secretariat; five research units; scientific services and core facilities; the EMBL International Centre for Advanced Training (EICAT), and; central administration and support functions.

Professor Jan Korbel is the Interim Head of EMBL Heidelberg. He is supported by the EMBL Heidelberg Director’s Office.

Cell biology and biophysics

Scientists in this unit use multidisciplinary approaches to investigate the molecular and biophysical mechanisms that enable cells to function.

Developmental biology

Research in the Developmental Biology Unit is focused on understanding the origin, development, and evolution of organisms and their communities.

Directors' research

The Directors' research unit covers thematically distinct research groups, headed by EMBL and EMBO leadership.

Genome biology

The Genome biology unit uses and develops cutting-edge methods to study how the information in our genome is regulated, processed, and utilised, and how its alteration leads to disease.

Molecular systems biology

The Molecular Systems Biology Unit investigates molecular structure, organization and function at a systematic level in and across cells.

Research at EMBL is supported by the development of enabling technologies that are made available to the scientific community in its Core facilities, 10 of which are located at EMBL Heidelberg. Core facilities provide practical tools and expert advice for life scientists.

World of Molecular Biology

Visit a vibrant, interactive permanent exhibition celebrating molecular biology with a focus on the work, people, and technologies of the European Molecular Biology Laboratory

Find out more

Topics

Cells

Understanding how cells work and how they are organised

Chemistry

Developing new drugs and tools to understand the chemistry of life

Development

How single cells give rise to complex organisms

Disease models

Understanding the causes of disease to find new treatments

Genomes

How cells interpret the DNA code to carry out biological functions

Imaging

Cutting edge technology, zooming into life at the tiniest scales

04 Mar 2026

EMBL Skills & Careers webinar: Negotiating your first group leader position

Speaker(s): Leslie Caromile, Assistant Professor at University of Connecticut Health Center, USA | Irma Querques, Assistant Professor at Max Perutz Labs, Austria | Margot Smit, Junior Group Leader at University of Tübingen, Germany
Host: EMBL Fellows' Skills and Career Development

Seminar

EMBL Heidelberg

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27 Mar 2026

EMBL Skills & Careers webinar: Careers in core facilities and scientific services

Speaker(s): Marvin Albert, Staff of D-BSSE Single Cell Facility at ETH Zürich, Switzerland | João Sequeira, Head of the Scientific Computing Core Facility at HCEEM, Hungary | Andy Riddell, Head of Flow Cytometry Science and Technology Platform at The Francis Crick Institute, UK
Host: EMBL Fellows' Skills and Career Development

Seminar

Virtual

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Security Service / Mitarbeiter im Sicherheitsdienst (m/w/d)

Administrative and support in EMBL Heidelberg

Für unser Sicherheitsdienst des EMBL Hauptlaboratoriums in Heidelberg suchen wir eine Verstärkung für 9 Std./Woche (Nacht-, Feiertags-, und Wochenendarbeit) zunächst befristet für ein Jahr mit einer Verlängerungsoption. Zu den Aufgaben gehören hauptsächlich:Überwachung aller technischen Störungen au...

Closes on 23rd March. Posted 20th February 2026

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People Development Partner

Administrative and support in EMBL Heidelberg

Are you an experienced career development, learning management, or talent development professional looking to shape strategy at organisational level?EMBL is seeking a strategic and operational expert in professional development who understands how to design scalable learning approaches, embed career...

Closes on 8th March. Posted 19th February 2026

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HR-Specialist (m/w/d) – Schwerpunkt Sozialversicherung

Administrative and support in EMBL Heidelberg

Zur Verstärkung unseres HR-/Payroll-Teams am EMBL Heidelberg suchen wir eine engagierte Persönlichkeit mit fundierter Expertise im deutschen Sozialversicherungsrecht. In dieser verantwortungsvollen Rolle sind Sie zentrale Ansprechperson für alle sozialversicherungsrechtlichen Fragestellungen und tra...

Closes on 23rd March. Posted 19th February 2026

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Postdoc / Research Scientist Computational Precision Oncology – Huber group

Science, research and training in EMBL Heidelberg

Your groupThe Huber group develop statistical and machine learning methods for multi-modal single cell and spatial omics data. They collaborate with biomedical researchers on clinical studies to translate basic science into new diagnostic, stratification and treatment options. They contribute to ope...

Closes on 10th March. Posted 9th February 2026

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Contact and travel

Accommodation

EMBL Hotel ISG and Guest Houses provide accommodation for scientists and visitors to EMBL Heidelberg.

Travel

EMBL Heidelberg is a 10-15 minute drive from Heidelberg's city centre and main station. During conferences EMBL arranges frequent bus transfers between EMBL and various stops around Heidelberg.

Address

EMBL Heidelberg
Meyerhofstraße 1
69117 Heidelberg
Germany

With support from more than 30 countries, laboratories at six sites across Europe and thousands of scientists and engineers working together, the European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL) is a powerhouse of biological expertise. EMBL is an intergovernmental organisation, headquartered in Heidelberg, and was founded in 1974 with the mission of promoting molecular biology research in Europe, training young scientists, and developing new technologies.

EMBL currently employs more than 1800 people in Barcelona, ​​Grenoble, Hamburg, Heidelberg, EMBL-EBI Hinxton (near Cambridge), and Rome.

Publishing hundreds of research articles and hosting dozens of conferences every year, EMBL is driving visionary fundamental research and training Europe’s future scientific talent.

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