MPIZ, 28 October 2005

MPIZ, 28 October 2005

History of the MPIZ

• 1927 Foundation in Müncheberg near Berlin

• 1948 joined the Max Planck Society

• 1956 transferred to Cologne

• Since 1970 focus on molecular research methods

• Now a world leading research institute in the field of molecular plant biology

MPIZ, 28 October 2005

General Information about the MPIZ

• one of 80 Max Planck Institutes in Germany

• 4 Directors in four departments

• 25 Research Groups

• 7 Service Facilities

• 400 employees

• 200 scientists

• From over 30 nations

• Financed by public funds (2/3) and third party funds (1/3)

• Yearly budget of MPIZ: 25 Million Euro

MPIZ, 28 October 2005

MPIZ, 28 October 2005

Research at the Institute

• The MPIZ has four departments– Plant Microbe Interactions (Paul Schulze-Lefert)

– Plant Developmental Biology (George Coupland)

– Molecular Plant Genetics (Heinz Saedler)

– Plant Breeding and Genetics (Maarten Koornneef)

Researchers at the MPIZ are confronted with questions concerning:

– structural and functional characterization of plant genes,

– genetic control of plant development,

– plant resistance to drought and other stress factors reaction of plants to pathogen infestation (disease resistance).

– the nature and significance of natural variation

MPIZ, 28 October 2005

Plant Microbe Interactions (Schulze- Lefert)

MPIZ, 28 October 2005

Plant Microbe Interactions (Schulze- Lefert)

– Interaction between plants and pathogens

– Disease resistance

– Disease susceptibility

– Integrated approach bridging traditional research territories like genetics, molecular biology, biochemistry and cell biology

– Programmed cell death

– Goal to define regulatory network -> disease resistance

MPIZ, 28 October 2005

Plant Developmental Biology (Coupland)

MPIZ, 28 October 2005

Plant Developmental Biology (Coupland)

– Regulation of plant development

– Effects of environment on plant development

– The elucidation of signalling pathways that control flowering of

Arabidopsis in response to daylength.

– Functional analysis of Arabidopsis B-box proteins related to the flowering-

time gene CONSTANS.

– Brassinosteroid synthesis and signalling.

– The role of the pleiotropic regulator PRL-1 in hormonal, stress and

metabolic responses.

– Development of technologies (T-DNA tagging approaches, gene targeting

and fluorescent marker proteins)

MPIZ, 28 October 2005

Plant Breeding and Genetics (Koornneef)

MPIZ, 28 October 2005

Plant Breeding and Genetics (Koornneef)

– Mol. markers to assist population genetics and the identification of genes

controlling disease resistance and quality in potato

– Plant development, especially branching, in tomato and Arabidopsis

– Genetic dissection of seed dormancy and growth properties including the

cloning of quantitative trait loci (QTLs)

– Developing methods assisting breeding in developing countries

– Understanding the population genetics and evolution of DNA variation

within and between species

MPIZ, 28 October 2005

Molecular Plant Genetics (Saedler)

MPIZ, 28 October 2005

Molecular Plant Genetics (Saedler)

– Transition from vegetative to generative growth (flower induction)

– Flower development in dicots (Antirrhinum majus and Arabidopsis

thaliana) and monocots (Zea mays)

– Evolution of architecture-controlling genes in various taxa (ferns,

mosses, gnetales and angiosperms)

MPIZ, 28 October 2005

Ph.D. Program

International Max Planck Research School (IMPRS)

The IMPRS wants to attract qualified and motivated young researcher by offering: 

– A structured, 3-years PhD for German und foreign (at least >50%) students

– Attractive scientific resources– Interdisciplinary and international education– Excellent Supervision– Logistic support / help with integration– Soft-skill classes / Language classes– Scientific course in cutting-edge technologies