Göttingen Graduate Center for Neurosciences, Biophysics, and Molecular Biosciences

Jakobs, Stefan, Prof. Dr.

Professor of High Resolution Microscopy


  • Since 2024 - Professor (W3) of High Resolution Microscopy, University Medical Center, Clinic of Neurology, Göttingen
  • Since 2021 - Head of Göttingen Location, Fraunhofer Institute for ITMP TNM (Translational
    Medicine and Pharmacology - Translational Neuroinflammation and Automated Microscopy)
  • 2010 – 2023 - Professor (W2) of High Resolution Microscopy of the Cell, University Medical Center, Clinic of Neurology, Göttingen
  • 2007 - Habilitation, Georg-August-University Göttingen, Christiane Gatz, "Botany and Cell Biology"
  • Since 2005 - Head of Research Group “Mitochondrial Structure and Dynamics”, Max Planck Institute for Multidisciplinary Sciences, Department of NanoBiophotonics, Göttingen
  • 1999 – 2005 - Postdoctoral Fellow, Max Planck Institute for Biophysical Chemistry in Göttingen, Department of NanoBiophotonics, with Prof. Dr. Dr. h.c. mult. Stefan Hell>
  • 1999 - Postdoctoral Fellow, Max Planck Institute for Plant Breeding Research in Cologne, Department of Plant Genetics, with Prof. Dr. Klaus Palme and Prof. Dr. Jeff Schell
  • 1995 – 1999 - Dissertation, Max Planck Institute for Plant Breeding Research in Cologne and John-Innes-Centre in Norwich, with Prof. Dr. Klaus Palme
  • 1995 - Diploma, University of Kaiserslautern, “Biology and Biochemistry”
  • 1990 – 1995 - Study of “Biology and Biochemistry”, University of Kaiserslautern and University of Manchester, Institute of Science and Technology, UK



Major Research Interests
Our research aims to understand how mitochondria, the cell’s power plants, are organized and function at the nanoscale. Mitochondria are essential for cell health, and their malfunction is linked to many severe diseases, such as neurodegenerative diseases, cardiomyopathies, and cancer. We study how mitochondrial structure and behavior change in healthy versus stressed cells, and which molecular mechanisms shape their dynamic architecture.
A key focus of our work is mitochondrial nucleoids, small DNA–protein assemblies that package and regulate the mitochondrial genome, which encodes 13 essential proteins in human cells. By uncovering how nucleoids are structured and controlled, we seek to better understand how mitochondria maintain and express their genetic information.
To pursue these questions, we combine molecular biology and biochemistry with cutting-edge imaging approaches, including electron microscopy and advanced fluorescence microscopy. In particular, we use super-resolution techniques such as STED and MINFLUX microscopy, which allows us to track proteins and cellular structures with exceptional precision.
Beyond mitochondria, we also develop new MINFLUX-based methods to follow individual proteins and protein complexes in real time and to study dynamic processes such as protein folding. Through this work, we aim to make nanoscale biology visible and measurable in living cells.

Homepage Department/Research Group
https://jakobs.mpibpc.mpg.de/

ORCID: 0000-0002-8028-3121