Boyan Bonev

Dr. Boyan Bonev is a Research Group Leader at the Institute of Epigenetics and Stem Cells (IES) within Helmholtz Center Munich, where he leads the Bonev Lab Brain Epigenomics. His lab is located at the Pioneer Campus in Martinsried, near the Max-Planck institutes for Biological Intelligence and Biochemistry. Bonev holds a position as GSN temporary or junior faculty and has established himself as an emerging leader in epigenetic research of brain development.

His research focuses on decoding the epigenetic mechanisms of cell fate decisions in the mammalian brain, with particular emphasis on cerebral cortex development. Bonev's interdisciplinary approach combines single-cell multiomics, lineage tracing, high-throughput CRISPR perturbations, computational biology, and human cerebral organoids. His work investigates how cellular identity in the cortex is established through the interplay between transcriptional regulators, cis-regulatory elements, and the chromatin landscape within 3D nuclear architecture. His lab has made significant contributions to understanding how chromatin remodellers and epigenetic regulation determine fate choices in the cortex and how non-coding genetic variants relate to neurodevelopmental disorders.

Bonev's research group has demonstrated impressive growth, with numerous postdocs and PhD students joining since the lab's establishment in 2019. His publications reveal a strong focus on 3D genome organization during neural development, with recent work advancing single-cell multimodal profiling techniques. His research trajectory shows increasing sophistication from early work on microRNA regulation to current cutting-edge multi-omics approaches examining epigenetic mechanisms at unprecedented resolution.

His scientific achievements have been recognized with prestigious awards including the EMBO Young Investigator Award (2022) and ERC Consolidator Grant (2022), which provides €2 million over 5 years. He has also secured an ERA-NET Neuron grant (2021) and received "The Great Advances in French Biology 2018" from the French Academy of Sciences. These awards reflect the significance of his work in epigenetics and brain development.

Bonev actively mentors PhD students and postdoctoral researchers, with his team expanding rapidly since the lab's founding. His current research program, funded by the ERC Consolidator Grant, investigates the molecular mechanism and functional contribution of epigenetic rewiring during cortical development, combining single-cell multiomics, high-throughput reporter assays, and functional CRISPR perturbations. The Bonev Lab maintains strong collaborative relationships, including work with Prof. Magdalena Götz on epigenome remodeling in direct neuronal reprogramming.

The Bonev Lab operates as a highly interdisciplinary team at the intersection of developmental neurobiology, single-cell genomics, mouse genetics, CRISPR technology, and computational biology. The lab is developing novel tools for simultaneous multimodal epigenome profiling and perturbations in single cells, positioning itself at the forefront of epigenetic research methodology. Located within the high-tech Pioneer Campus in Martinsried, the lab benefits from proximity to leading research institutions including the Max-Planck institutes.