Thomas Gensch

Dr. Thomas Gensch is a Researcher and group leader at the Institute for Biological Information Processes (IBI), specifically in the Molecular and Cellular Physiology (IBI-1) department at Research Center Jülich. He joined in 2000, leading the fluorescence microscopy and spectroscopy group, and has supervised approximately 30 students (bachelor, master, diploma, PhD), including one current PhD candidate.

He holds a Diploma in Physics from Humboldt University Berlin (1992) and a PhD in Biophysics from Heinrich-Heine-University Düsseldorf/Max-Planck-Institute of Radiation Chemistry (1996, summa cum laude).

His research focuses on advanced fluorescence techniques (e.g., lifetime imaging, FRET, single-molecule microscopy) applied to cellular physiology, with expertise in genetically encoded sensors and fluorescent proteins. Recent work explores singlet oxygen generation, phototoxicity, and applications in nanomedicine and optogenetics. His publications emphasize optical biosensors, super-resolution microscopy, and protein engineering.

Awards include the Casimir-Ziegler Award (1997) and a Marie-Curie Postdoc Grant (1998–1999).