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High Distinction: Urs Jenal elected as EMBO Member

The molecular biologist Prof. Urs Jenal from the Biozentrum at the University of Basel has been elected to join the distinguished European Molecular Biology Organization (EMBO) as a new member. The life-long membership has been awarded in recognition of his exceptional research achievements and honors his commitment to scientific excellence.

The European science organization EMBO promotes research in the life sciences as well as the exchange of scientific knowledge on the national and international level. Each year EMBO elects new members to its ranks, honoring their excellent achievements in science with the award of a life-long membership. This year, 55 scientists have been selected from eleven European countries as well as from Israel, South Korea, Argentina, Australia and the United States. Among the new members are also five from Switzerland. In the meanwhile EMBO has grown to include about 1550 members who are leading scientists in their field of research. With the election of Urs Jenal, 23 members of the Biozentrum have shared the honor of becoming an EMBO member.

Urs Jenal’s research group is working to uncover the molecular signaling pathways regulating growth and development in bacteria. The EMBO membership is an acknowledgement of his groundbreaking research in the field of infection biology. The discovery of a signaling pathway that coordinates the formation of microbial biofilms and contributes to the development of chronic bacterial infections has brought him international attention. The understanding of the regulation of the signaling pathway opens up new perspectives in the development of new antibacterial agents to fight chronic infections.

Urs Jenal graduated with a doctorate from ETH in Zurich in 1991 and subsequently took on two postdoctoral fellowships, one in Zurich and the other in Stanford. In 1996, he began research work at the Biozentrum of the University of Basel as an Assistant Professor. Since 2002, he has held the position of Professor with a research focus in both Infection Biology and Growth and Development. He is in charge of the “International PhD Program” and coordinates the Graduate Teaching curriculum at the Biozentrum.

The European research network was founded in 1964 with the goal to support and promote biological sciences in Europe. EMBO elects new members annually on the basis of outstanding scientific accomplishments and supports the careers of the scientists. “Our members are the basis for the excellent international reputation of EMBO. We welcome this group of exceptional scientists and look forward to fresh input and ideas.” With these words, the EMBO Director, Maria Leptin, greeted the newly elected members.

Contact: Communications, Katrin Bühler