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

02 Jul 2026

Expanding Intracellular Access: The LumiPore Platform for Delivery of Functional Molecules and Imaging Probes

Speaker(s): Belgium, Trince, Simon Sioen
Host: Beate Neumann, ALMF

Seminar

EMBL Heidelberg

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03 Jul 2026

Sexual reproduction in a divergent eukaryote — Insights from systematic genetic screens in a malaria parasite

Speaker(s): Sweden, Umeå University, Oliver Billker
Host: Kristina Djinovic-Carugo, EMBL

Seminar

EMBL Grenoble, Virtual

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Research Technician/Lab Manager (maternity cover)

Technology in EMBL Heidelberg

The research group of Alba Diz-Muñoz at the Cell Biology and Biophysics Unit of EMBL Heidelberg is seeking a Lab Manager/Technician for assistance with routine lab tasks and management of lab resources. Dependent on prior experience, it is foreseen that the Lab Manager/Technician would participate i...

Closes on 12th July. Posted 26th June 2026

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Design and Visual Identity Lead

Administrative and support in EMBL Heidelberg

EMBL is Europe’s life sciences laboratory. At our six sites in Barcelona, Grenoble, Hamburg, Heidelberg, Hinxton near Cambridge, and Rome, we seek to better understand life in its natural context, from molecules to ecosystems. EMBL is an intergovernmental organisation supported by 29 member states....

Closes on 22nd July. Posted 23rd June 2026

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Group Leader – AI in Biology

Science, research and training in EMBL Heidelberg

Are you ready to lead groundbreaking research in AI for Biology? Join us at EMBL!We are seeking a visionary scientist to establish their own independent research group bridging innovations in machine learning/AI with modern biology at the AI Hub Heidelberg as part of EMBL AI, a major institutional i...

Closes on 24th July. Posted 23rd June 2026

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Imaging Specialist

Technology in EMBL Heidelberg

EMBL’s Mobile Laboratories are a mobile, interdisciplinary core facility that brings advanced light microscopy, flow cytometry, and electron microscopy sample preparation directly to the users throughout our member states. We enable high-quality science on site and in real time and we support resear...

Closes on 9th July. Posted 18th June 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.

Contact

General Enquiries
Get in touch
Phone: +49 6221 387-0

Press
Email: media [at] @embl.org

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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