The profile line LIFE supports existing structures within the current focal research areas in the life sciences and medicine, which have a long tradition in Jena. At the same time, new and innovative topics are identified and promoted. A high degree of interdisciplinarity within the profile line LIFE connects the different faculties of the Friedrich Schiller University and the non-university partners. The application of technical solutions in biological research interlinks the profile lines LIGHT and LIFE, whereas social and ethical aspects are explored in connection with the profile line LIBERTY.
Units of Excellence and Research Centres:
Cluster of excellence "Balance of the Microverse"
German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv), Halle-Jena-Leipzig
Collaborative Research Centres (CRCs) and Transregios (TRs):
ChemBioSys (CRC 1127), since 2014
FungiNet (CRC/TR 124), since 2013
AquaDiva (CRC1076), since 2013
NC3 (SFB/TRR 212), since 2018 (participation)
Recently completed CRCs:
ReceptorLight (CRC/TR 166), 2015 - 2020
Research Units (RUs) and Research Training Groups (RTGs):
QuaLiPerF (RU 5151), since 2020
Jena Experiment (RU 5000), since 2019 (participation)
SYNABS (RU 3004), since 2019
Mechanisms of Lysosomal Homeostasis (RU 2625), since 2017 (participation)
MAD Soil (RU 2179), since 2015
DynIon (RU 2518), since 2015
Active Perception (RU 2293), since 2015 (participation)
TreeDì (Interanational RTG 2324), since 2018 (participation)
TransTiP (International RTG 2309), since 2018 (participation)
ProMoAge (RTG 2155), since 2016
Molecular Signatures of Adpative Stress Responses (RTG 1715), since 2012
Recently completed RTGs and RUs:
Exploring mechanisms underlying the relationship between biodiversity and ecosystem functioning (RU 1451), 2010 - 2020
Heme and heme degradation products (RU 1738) de, 2012 - 2019
Anaerobic Biological Dehalogenation (RU 1530), 2011 - 2018
Structured Doctoral Programmes:
Jena School for Microbial Communiaction (JSMC)
Jena School of Molecular Medicine (JSMM)
IMPRS "Exploration of Ecological Interactions with Molecular and Chemical Techniques"
IMPRS for Global Biogeochemical Cycles (IMPRS gBGC)
IMPRS for the Science of Human History (IMPRS SHH)
Helmholtz Interdisciplinary Graduate School for Environmental Research (HIGRDADE)
Leibniz Graduate School on Ageing and Age-Related Diseases (LGSA)
ILRS for Microbial and Biomolecular Interactions (ILRS Jena)
Young Biodiversity Graduate School (yDiv)
Further Projects and Facilities:
NFDI4Chem, DFG-funded consortium for the national research data infrastructure
NFDI4Biodiversity, DFG-funded consortium for the national research data infrastructure (participation)
Centre for Innovation Competence (ZIK), cross-faculty research centre
Competence Cluster for Nutrition and Cardiovascular Health (NutriCARD), funded by the BMBF
Center for Sepsis Control & Care (CSCC), funded by the BMBF
InfectControl 2020, part of the BMBF Zwanzig20 funding programme
InfectoGnostics, BMBF Research Campus
Automated Multisensor Stations for Monitoring of BioDiversity (AMMOD), funded by the BMBF
Gut-brain-axis: Targets for improvement of cognition in the elderly (SmartAge), EU-financed Innovative Training Network
Understanding virus-host interactions (ViroInf), EU-financed Innovative Training Network
OrganAge, Program for young clinician scientists
AntiAge, Research training group funded by the Else Kröner Foundation
InfectoOptics, Leibniz ScienceCampus
Regenerative Aging, Leibniz ScienceCampus
Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology - Hans Knöll Institute (HKI)
Leibniz Institute on Aging - Fritz Lipmann Institute (FLI)
Leibniz Institute of Photonic Technology (IPHT)
Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research (UFZ)
Max Planck Institute for Biogeochemistry (MPI-BGC)
Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology (MPI-ICE)
Max Planck Institute for the Science of Human History (MPI-SHH)
The 12-person coordination team serves as the reporting and strategic body within the LIFE profile line. The spokesperson (currently Prof. E. Kothe) and deputy (currently Prof. M. Bauer) are elected every 3 years. Additionally, the steering committee is supported by a coordinator (Dr. Franziska Eberl). A list of all members of the steering committee can be found here [pdf, 50 kb] de.