Gregor Bucher

Gregor Bucher is Professor of Evolutionary Developmental Genetics at the University of Göttingen, where he leads research on insect development using the red flour beetle (Tribolium castaneum) as a model system. His laboratory investigates the genetic and cellular mechanisms underlying insect head formation, brain development, and evolutionary diversification. Bucher developed the iBeetle RNAi screening platform that enables genome-wide functional analysis in Tribolium.

Research spans three interconnected areas: (1) Genetic control of insect head development, (2) Evolution of insect brain structures with focus on the central complex, and (3) Application of RNA interference for pest control. The laboratory employs CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing, transgenic tools, and comparative approaches to study evolutionary developmental processes.

Recent publications demonstrate increasing focus on RNAi applications for agricultural pest control and comparative brain development. Work from 2022-2025 shows methodological innovations in dsRNA design, genome-wide screening for pest control targets, and comparative analyses of neurodevelopmental timing between beetles and flies.

Bucher contributes to graduate education through the Göttingen Graduate Center for Neurosciences, Biophysics, and Molecular Biosciences, training PhD students in functional genomics and evolutionary biology.