Henrik Kaessmann

Group Leader

I consider myself extremely fortunate to be able to explore the molecular and cellular origins and evolution of vertebrate organs together with all the wonderful and extremely talented members of our international team. Indeed, in our lab, we attach great importance to a highly collaborative and positive team spirit and value the diverse cultural backgrounds of our lab members, which contribute to a particularly enriching atmosphere. We have various “mini-teams” of dry and wet lab researchers within the lab, who enthusiastically drive projects forward in remarkable ways.

Outside the lab, I love being with my family and pursuing my hobbies, which include sports (especially running and biking) and music (listening to and producing).

Education and positions

since 2015 (October)	Full Professor (W3) at the ZMBH, University of Heidelberg & Member of the DKFZ-ZMBH Alliance
2014 - 2015	Full Professor at the Center for Integrative Genomics, University of Lausanne, Switzerland
2010 - 2015	Group Leader in the Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics
2007 - 2014	Associate Professor (with tenure) at the Center for Integrative Genomics, University of Lausanne, Switzerland
2003 - 2007	Assistant Professor (tenure-track) at the Center for Integrative Genomics, University of Lausanne, Switzerland
2001 - 2003	Postdoctoral position at the University of Chicago, Department of Ecology and Evolution (mentor: Dr. Wen–Hsiung Li)
2001	Postdoctoral position (02/2001 – 07/2001) at the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology (lab of Dr. Svante Pääbo)
1997 - 2001	*Ph.D. degree (Summa cum laude)* awarded by the University of Leipzig (02/2001). Ph.D. thesis at the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Leipzig (mentor: Dr. Svante Pääbo)
1992 - 1997	Master of Science degree awarded 11/1997. Biology studies first at the Ludwig Maximilians University Munich, Germany (until 1995) and then at Uppsala University, Sweden

Awards, honors and fellowships

2021	European Research Council (ERC) Advanced Grant
2021	Award for Outstanding Research Achievements (Heidelberg University)
2014	Cloëtta Prize (Max Cloëtta Foundation)
2014	Jürg Tschopp Life Science Prize (University of Lausanne)
2014	Election to EMBO Membership (European Molecular Biology Organization)
2014	European Research Council (ERC) Consolidator Grant
2010	Friedrich Miescher Award (Swiss Society for Biochemistry)
2009	European Research Council (ERC) Starting Grant
2008	Basic Life Science Award, Faculty of Biology & Medicine, University of Lausanne
2005	EMBO Young Investigator Award (European Molecular Biology Organization)
2004	Nomination for the Heinz Maier Leibnitz young investigator award by the Max Planck Society
2003	Emmy Noether group leader funding from the German Research Council – declined (instead Assistant Professorship in Lausanne)
2002	Emmy Noether postdoctoral fellowship from the German Research Council
2001	EMBO long–term fellowship (European Molecular Biology Organization)
1999	Sino–German Young Scholar (Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft)