Matthias Schleiden Institute
at the Faculty of Biological Sciences
Schleiden monument in the botanical garden in the spring
Research at the Matthias Schleiden Institute is done in the spirit of Schleiden: with a focus on cells, in an interdisciplinary way and questioning dogmas.
In the areas of General and Molecular Botany, research at the institute is done on light-regulated processes and the circadian clock in the unicellular green alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii and on the secondary metabolism of algae and their interactions with bacteria, among other topics. In Plant physiology, the symbiosis between plants and fungi under normal and stress conditions are in the focus. Genetic research in the institute deals with transcription factors controlling flower development, with mechanisms of gene regulation in Bacillus subtilis and other topics. Bioinformatics studies include mathematical modelling and computer simulation of biological processes such as metabolism and host-pathogen interactions.
Numerous projects have an interdisciplinary character, for example, the mathematical description of the complexity of fatty acids and polyketides, computer simulation of circadian rhythms and of the nitrogen metabolism in algae or the application of game theory in molecular and cell biology.
Executive Director: Prof. Dr Stefan Schuster
Ernst-Abbe-Platz 2
07743 Jena
Postal address:
There is no central postal adress for the Matthias Schleiden Institute!
In der contact field you can find the adresses for the professorships for Genetics, Bioinformatics and Molecular Botany.
Genetics
Philosophenweg 12
07743 Jena
Google Maps site planExternal link
Postal address:
Friedrich-Schiller-Universität Jena
Matthias-Schleiden-Institut
Genetik und Bakteriengenetik
Philosophenweg 12
07743 Jena
Bioinformatics
Ernst-Abbe-Platz 2
07743 Jena
Google Maps site planExternal link
Postal address:
Friedrich-Schiller-Universität Jena
Matthias-Schleiden-Institut
Bioinformatik
Ernst-Abbe-Platz 2
07743 Jena
Professorship of General Botany
Am Planetarium 1
07743 Jena
Google Maps site planExternal link
Postal address:
Friedrich-Schiller-Universität Jena
Matthias-Schleiden-Institut
Allgemeine Botanik
Am Planetarium 1
07743 Jena
Secretary: Silvana Buchwald
Professorship of Plant Physiology
Dornburger Str. 159
07743 Jena
Google Maps site planExternal link
Postal address:
Friedrich-Schiller-Universität Jena
Matthias-Schleiden-Institut
Pflanzenphysiologie
Dornburger Str. 159
07743 Jena
Juniorprofessorship in Synthetic Biology of Photosynthetic Organisms
Dornburger Str. 159
07749 Jena
Google Maps site planExternal link
Postal address:
Friedrich-Schiller-Universität Jena
Fakultät für Biowissenschaften
Matthias-Schleiden-Institut
Pflanzenphysiologie
Dornburger Str. 159
07743 Jena
Matthias Jacob Schleiden (5.4.1804 until 23.6.1881)
The Matthias Schleiden Institute at the University of Jena is named after the biologist Matthias Jacob Schleiden (1804 – 1881). He earned his PhD at Jena University in 1839, was appointed an extraordinary professor here in the subsequent year already and an ordinary professor in 1846. In 1851, he became, in addition, the director of the Botanical Garden. Schleiden was the first to describe cells in living plants and became, together with Theodor Schwann, one of the founders and pioneers of cell biology.
Matthias Schleidens research interests were manifold and not restricted to Botany. He pointed out to Carl Zeiß the relevance of microscopes for biological research and the necessity to improve their optical properties. Thus, he instigated Zeiß to establish, together with the physicist Ernst Abbe, optical workshops in Jena. In this way, the successful cooperation between the university and local industry in Jena started.