Schleiden monument in 4 seasons

Matthias Schleiden Institute

at the Faculty of Biological Sciences
Schleiden monument in 4 seasons
Collage: Ina Weiß

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.     

Direction

Executive Director: Prof. Dr Stefan Schuster

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.

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Genetics

Genetics

Postal address:
Friedrich-Schiller-Universität Jena
Matthias-Schleiden-Institut
Genetik und Bakteriengenetik
Philosophenweg 12
07743 Jena

Bioinformatics

Head: Prof. Dr Stefan Schuster
Secretary: Kathrin Schowtka

Bioinformatics

Postal address:
Friedrich-Schiller-Universität Jena
Matthias-Schleiden-Institut
Bioinformatik
Ernst-Abbe-Platz 2
07743 Jena

Molecular Botany

The structural unit Molecular Botany includes three research groups. For the education of the students, we offer topic specific teaching courses primarily within the Bachelors of Biology, Biochemistry and Bioinformatics, in the Higher School Education Program for Biology and in the Master Molecular Life Sciences.

Professorship of General Botany

Postal address:
Friedrich-Schiller-Universität Jena
Matthias-Schleiden-Institut
Allgemeine Botanik
Am Planetarium 1
07743 Jena

Secretary: Silvana Buchwald

Professorship of Plant Physiology

Postal address:
Friedrich-Schiller-Universität Jena
Matthias-Schleiden-Institut
Pflanzenphysiologie
Dornburger Str. 159
07743 Jena

Juniorprofessorship in Synthetic Biology of Photosynthetic Organisms

Postal address:
Friedrich-Schiller-Universität Jena
Fakultät für Biowissenschaften
Matthias-Schleiden-Institut
Synthetische Biologie
Philosophenweg 12
07743 Jena

Who was Matthias Jacob Schleiden?

Matthias Jacob Schleiden (5.4.1804 until 23.6.1881)

Image: Allgemeine Botanik

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.