Alex C. Faesen

Alex C. Faesen is the Max Planck Research Group Leader of the Biochemistry of Signal Dynamics at the Max Planck Institute for Multidisciplinary Sciences in Göttingen, Germany. His research focuses on the molecular mechanisms of protein signaling, particularly through HORMA domain dynamics in cell division, DNA damage signaling, and autophagy. He leads an independent research group dedicated to biochemical reconstitution of complex signaling systems.

His research interests lie at the intersection of biochemistry, structural biology, and cell biology. He investigates how reversible structural changes in proteins, particularly HORMA domains, regulate spatiotemporal signaling. His group uses a bottom-up approach combining biochemical reconstitution, structural biology, and biophysical methods to dissect the assembly and disassembly of signaling complexes from purified components.

His recent publications demonstrate a strong trend in understanding macromolecular machine assembly in mitosis and ubiquitin signaling. The work centers on protein-protein interactions, conformational switching, and dynamic regulation in cellular pathways. These studies have appeared in high-impact journals such as Nature and Molecular Cell.

Alex Faesen has held significant research positions, including postdoctoral work at the Max Planck Institute of Molecular Physiology and graduate studies at the Netherlands Cancer Institute. He is affiliated with the GGNB graduate program (Biomolecules: Structure - Function - Dynamics), indicating his involvement in training the next generation of scientists. Although no specific advisees are listed, his role as a group leader implies mentorship responsibilities. His research is driven by fundamental questions about signaling initiation, partner exchange, and target selection in HORMA-based systems.

His laboratory aims to reconstitute the full dynamic control of HORMA-centric signaling complexes in vitro, with the long-term goal of enabling in vivo manipulations and understanding disease-related perturbations. The team operates at the cutting edge of mechanistic biochemistry, focusing on minimal component systems to uncover fundamental principles of cellular regulation.