Home - Max Planck Institute of Immunobiology & Epigenetics

Welcome at the Max Planck Institute of Immunobiology and Epigenetics

The Max Planck Institute of Immunobiology and Epigenetics in Freiburg is an interdisciplinary research institution that conducts basic research in two key areas of modern biology.

Immunobiology is concerned with the ways multicellular organisms defend themselves against pathogens. Epigenetics is the study of inheritable traits that are not caused by changes in the underlying DNA sequence.

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Research Groups

Our current labs.

Core Facilities

World-class expertise.

Publications

Institute overview

Staff List

Contact us.

News

From one to the right

April 07, 2025

Chromatin enzymes play a crucial role in germ layer formation at the onset of zygotic genome activation in Drosophila embryos.

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Healing a broken heart

April 02, 2025

How a vitamin A metabolite could help myocardial infarction patients by modulating blood stem cell activity

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Ankita Kapoor awarded two prestigious fellowships

March 25, 2025

EMBO and Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions honor Max Planck researcher with postdoctoral fellowships

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International Day of Women and Girls in Science 2025

February 11, 2025

Interview series

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Bringing Cellular Condensates to Light

December 12, 2024

New light-based method reveals the nature of biomolecular condensates through in vivo targeting and manipulation

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Gaining insights into neurological diseases and RNA biology with fruit flies and mini-brains

December 03, 2024

Valérie Hilgers receives an ERC Consolidator Grant

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Davor Solter named 2024 Citation Laureate

September 19, 2024

Davor Solter, MPI-IE Director Emeritus, has been named a Citation Laureate in Clarivate’s annual list of “Researchers of Nobel Class”

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Discovery of key protein that helps cells maintain their identity

August 20, 2024

The protein Mrc1 is essential for the accurate transfer of chemical marks on histones during cell division

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Seminars & Events

Symposium: TriRhena in Gene Regulation Club

16 June 2025 at the MPI-IE in Freiburg (Germany)

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Biophysical Coffee Meeting

A relaxed, caffeine-fueled afternoon, filled with short talks, posters, & lively discussions

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Upcoming Seminars

MPS: Apoorva Baluapuri - Integrator loss leads to dsRNA formation that triggers the Integrated Stress Response

Apr 25, 2025 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM (Local Time Germany)

MPI-IE, Room: Lecture Hall

MPS: Danny Leung - Deciphering the epigenomic impacts of repetitive elements: How do retroviruses control our genes?

May 12, 2025 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM (Local Time Germany)

MPI-IE, Room: Iovino Seminar Room

1st Biophysical Coffee Meeting Freiburg

May 23, 2025 02:00 PM - 06:00 PM (Local Time Germany)

Max Planck Institute of Immunobiology and Epigenetics (MPI-IE), Freiburg, Germany, Room: Lecture Hall

Career

Excellent PhD training

We train the next generation of research scientists. Learn more about our PhD program – the International Max Planck Research School for Immunobiology, Epigenetics, and Metabolism (IMPRS-IEM)

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Welcome Service

We welcome all new arrivals, assist in the onboarding procedure, help you to find a new place and get acquainted with your new colleagues. Learn more about our services.

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Job offers

The Max Planck Postdoc Program offers early-career researchers attractive opportunities, including guaranteed three-year contracts, targeted mentoring, and career workshops. Positions are advertised biannually.

Open Postdoc positions in Freiburg

April 01, 2025

The Max Planck Postdoc Program provides talented early career researchers with a range of attractive opportunities to advance their careers in science. Here is what the MPG and the MPI in Freiburg are offering:

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Multimedia

Watch: Can we hack our genes?

November 05, 2023

Epigenetics studies how certain parts of our genome can be switched on or off. Can epigenetics help us to become more musical, fitter, smarter, more beautiful? – Epigenetics TV documentary with Thomas Jenuwein on ARTE

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Swarms & swarming immune cells

Podcast July 07, 2022

podcast

Podcast special by detektor.fm on swarms and swarm intelligence, including an interview with Max Planck scientist Tim Lämmermann on immune cell swarms and pathogen hunting in a collective.

How the immune system learns to defend itself

Video February 11, 2021

podcast

Thomas Boehm talks to detektor.fm editor Dominik Lenze about vaccinations. The Max Planck Director explains how an immune reaction actually takes place during vaccination.