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

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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

11 Jun 2026

Openness & Collaboration FTW! How to improve our science in uncertain times

Speaker(s): Australia, Image Cooperative, Juan Nunez-Iglesias
Host: Erick Ratamero, EMBL Heidelberg

Seminar

EMBL Heidelberg

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11 Jun 2026

Accelerating research with innovative spatial omics and NGS technologies

Speaker(s): NOT SPECIFIED, Takara Bio, Florian Paasch and Matthieu Pesant
Host: Vladimir Benes

Seminar

EMBL Heidelberg, Virtual

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Photographer

Technology in EMBL Heidelberg

The photographer will join a team of eight, providing modern photographic, video and conference services in a large international scientific research environment.Your role As a member of the Photographic Section, the post holder will be expected to undertake digital imaging and processing, studio an...

Closes on 18th June. Posted 3rd June 2026

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Project Manager

Administrative and support in EMBL Heidelberg

The Operations Management Team (OMT) works closely with the COO and members of the COO Leadership in delivering an ambitious change and improvement programme and provide effective administrative and operational support to the scientific community across the whole of EMBL.To enable OMT to drive organ...

Closes on 16th June. Posted 1st June 2026

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Team Leader – AI Engineering & Automation

Science, research and training in EMBL Heidelberg

Do you want to be part of EMBL’s newly created AI Hub, using AI to solve complex interdisciplinary challenges? We’re seeking a visionary scientist to establish and lead a new AI Engineering & Automation Team at the AI Hub Heidelberg as part of EMBL AI, a major institutional initiative to embed AI ac...

Closes on 12th June. Posted 29th May 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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