Detailed 3D model of a cell highlighting organelles like nucleus, mitochondria, and endoplasmic reticulum in vibrant colors.

Welcome to the Max Planck Institute of Biophysics!

We study the structure and function of proteins which regulate vital cellular processes using a wide methodological repertoire including advanced light and electron microscopy and as well as computational biology.

Our Research


Ernst Bamberg – The Functional Analysis of Electrogenic Membrane Proteins
Martin Beck – Molecular Sociology
Ulrich Ermler – Enzyme Mechanism
Ana J. García-Sáez
Gerhard Hummer – Theoretical Biophysics
Werner Kühlbrandt – Structural Biology
Eugene Kim – Structure and Dynamics of Chromosomes
Melanie McDowell – Membrane Protein Biogenesis
Hartmut Michel – Molecular Membrane Biology
Bonnie Murphy – Redox and Metalloproteins
Beata Turoňová – Image Processing
Florian Wilfling – Mechanisms of Cellular Quality Control

Overview

Scientific Facilities


https://brain.mpg.de/imaging
Sonja Welsch – Electron Microscopy
Julian Langer – Mass Spectrometry

News

Els Kuiper smiles into the camera while holding a flask filled with chocolate coins and bills in one hand.

From Grant Writing to Grant: Els Kuiper’s Marie Skłodowska-Curie Fellowship

December 15, 2025

Grants People Postdoctoral Researcher
Lessons on effective grant writing for early-career researchers
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3D animation of a ribosome attached to SND3 on the ER surface. The backgroud of the illustration shows heat marks, referencing the hot environment in which Chaeomium thermofilum thrives.

SNDing Proteins into the Membrane

October 29, 2025

Research News
Recent structural study reveals a new route for membrane protein insertion in fungi.
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Symposium on Cellular Biophysics, September 2025, IMPRS logo in scientific structures.

Symposium on Cellular Biophysics September 2025

Events
On the occasion of the annual program start for new PhD students, our graduate program – the IMPRS on Cellular Biophysics – organizes a versatile symposium on research topics from the field of…
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Meet us

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Work with us

You are looking for an inspiring job in a diverse environment? Check our job offers!
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Latest Publications

1.
Mello-Vieira, J.; Dikic, I.: Ubiquitination and autophagy in host-pathogen interactions: from immune surveillance to therapeutic targeting. Nature Reviews Immunology (2026)
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2.
Glushkova, D.; Böhm, S.; Beck, M.: Systematic membrane thickness variation across cellular organelles revealed by cryo-ET. Journal of Cell Biology 225 (1), e202504053 (2026)
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3.
Paul, S.: Integrative Multiscale Simulations Uncover the Mechanistic Principles Governing COPII Mediated Vesicle Formation. The Journal of Membrane Biology 259 (1), 1 (2026)
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4.
Post, M.; Hummer, G.: AI-guided transition path sampling of lipid flip-flop and membrane nanoporation. Nature Communications 17, 224 (2026)
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