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

26 Oct 2026

Advanced Mass Spectrometry-Based Proteomics for Exploring Proteome Organization and Regulation

Speaker(s): Bettina Warscheid, Theodor Boveri-Institute, Biocenter, University of Würzburg, Germany
Host: Kristina Djinovic-Carugo, EMBL

Seminar

EMBL Grenoble, Virtual

Edit

26 Oct 2026

What can we learn about the sarcomere from titin M-band cardio/myopathies?

Speaker(s): Mathias Gautel, King's College, London, United Kingdom
Host: Kristina Djinovic-Carugo, EMBL

Seminar

EMBL Grenoble, Virtual

Edit

27 Oct 2026

Mapping local neuronal circuits in Angelman Syndrome – the role of Ubiquitin-protein ligase E3A in shaping synapses

Speaker(s): Maura Francolini, Università degli studi di Milano, Dept. of Medical Biotechnology and Translational Medicine, Italy
Host: Paolo Ronchi

Seminar

EMBL Heidelberg

Edit

Director, EMBL Heidelberg

Administrative and support in EMBL Heidelberg

About EMBLEurope’s leading laboratory for the Life SciencesThe European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL) is Europe’s leading laboratory for the life sciences and one of the world’s foremost centres for biological research. Founded in 1974, EMBL was established to advance molecular biology researc...

Closes on 10th November. Posted 20th October 2026

Edit

Laboratory Animal Technician

Science, research and training in EMBL Heidelberg

The European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL) is one of the highest ranked scientific research organisations in the world. The Headquarters Laboratory is located in Heidelberg (Germany), with additional sites in Grenoble (France), Hamburg (Germany), Hinxton (UK) and Monterotondo (Italy). Responsi...

Closes on 18th November. Posted 20th October 2026

Edit

Laboratory Officer

Technology in EMBL Heidelberg

 The Quail group at EMBL Heidelberg is looking for a highly motivated biochemist or biophysicist to join us as a Laboratory Officer. We combine single-molecule biophysics, in vitro biochemistry, quantitative imaging, and cell biology to study how proteins and enzymes collectively organize the genome...

Closes on 29th October. Posted 8th October 2026

Edit

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.

Edit