Carsten Lüter

Prof. Dr. Carsten Lüter is a Professor at the Museum für Naturkunde, Leibniz Institute for Evolution and Biodiversity Research in Berlin, Germany. He serves as Curator of Marine Invertebrates, coordinates morphology laboratories, and holds an adjunct professorship at Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin.

His research focuses on the evolution and neurobiology of marine invertebrates, particularly brachiopods and echinoderms. Key interests include photoreception mechanisms, deep-sea biodiversity, phylogenetic systematics, and taxonomic cataloging of marine fauna. He employs molecular, morphological, and imaging techniques to study evolutionary adaptations in benthic ecosystems.

Lüter's publications emphasize brachiopod evolution, sensory biology in echinoderms, and biogeographic patterns. His work frequently integrates genomics, proteomics, and micro-CT imaging to analyze invertebrate anatomy and biomineralization.

He leads multiple international projects, including:

• Studying sea-urchin dermal photoreception (HFSPO, 2019–2023)
• EvoCELL: Animal evolution from a cell-type perspective (EU MSCA, 2017–present)
• Deep-sea biodiversity exploration (BMBF-funded expeditions in the Coral Sea, Indian Ocean)

He advises PhD and Master’s students on topics ranging from brachiopod genetics to echinoderm neurobiology. His lab group includes technicians specializing in electron microscopy and histology, supporting research on invertebrate morphology and evolution.