Ben Schuler

Ben Schuler is a Professor of Molecular Biophysics at the Department of Biochemistry, University of Zurich, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences. He joined as Assistant Professor in 2004, was promoted to Full Professor in 2009, and served as Head of Department from 2016 to 2020. His research focuses on understanding protein structure, dynamics, folding, and misfolding using innovative biochemical and spectroscopic approaches.

His educational background includes:

• PhD in Physical Biochemistry, University of Regensburg (1998)
• Diploma (MSc) in Biochemistry, University of Regensburg (1995)
• European Student Exchange Program (Erasmus), University of Kent at Canterbury, UK (1993-1994)

Professor Schuler's research centers on biomolecules with pronounced conformational heterogeneity, particularly intrinsically disordered proteins (IDPs), protein-nucleic acid interactions, and protein misfolding. His laboratory employs an integrative approach combining molecular biology, protein chemistry, biophysical methods, single-molecule spectroscopies, and computational modeling. A key focus is developing novel single-molecule techniques to probe biological macromolecules across diverse conditions and timescales. His work aims to establish quantitative physical models that explain biomolecular function at a mechanistic level.

Analysis of Professor Schuler's recent publications (2023-2025) reveals a strong emphasis on intrinsically disordered proteins, biomolecular condensates, and the development of advanced single-molecule techniques. His research increasingly explores the material properties of biomolecular condensates, the role of electrostatic interactions in protein complex formation, and the nanosecond dynamics of biomolecules. The work often integrates experimental and computational approaches to understand conformational heterogeneity and its functional implications.

Professor Schuler has received numerous prestigious awards:

• Member of the German National Academy of Sciences Leopoldina (since 2025)
• Fellow of the American Physical Society (since 2024)
• Kazuhiko Kinosita Award in Single-Molecule Biophysics (2023)
• Fellow of the Biophysical Society (since 2020)
• Human Frontier Science Program Research Grant (2019)
• Young Fluorescence Investigator Award of the Biophysical Society (2009)

Professor Schuler leads an active research group comprising senior scientists, postdoctoral researchers, PhD students, and master's students from diverse scientific backgrounds including physics, chemistry, and biology. His group has secured significant funding through competitive grants including the European Research Council Starting Independent Researcher Grant (2007) and the Human Frontier Science Program Research Grant (2019). He has mentored numerous graduate students and has established collaborations with leading researchers in biophysics worldwide.

The Schuler Group operates as a multidisciplinary team focused on single-molecule spectroscopy of protein folding, disorder, and dynamics. The laboratory features state-of-the-art instrumentation for single-molecule fluorescence measurements and develops novel methodologies for probing biomolecular dynamics. The team includes specialists in molecular biology, protein chemistry, biophysics, and computational analysis who work collaboratively to address fundamental questions in protein science.