Clemens Kirschbaum

Clemens Kirschbaum is a Full Professor of Psychology and Chair of Biopsychology at Technische Universität Dresden, Germany, where he has held the position since 2003. Since 2014, he has served as Dean of the Faculty of Science. His academic career includes prior roles at the University of Düsseldorf and University of Trier, and postdoctoral training at the University of Rochester, USA. His research focuses on neuroendocrinology of stress, particularly using hair cortisol as a biomarker for chronic stress states in clinical populations such as PTSD, metabolic syndrome, and depression. He has pioneered methodologies for quantifying stress through hair-based hormone analysis and has conducted longitudinal studies on burnout and cognitive control.

Education:

• Diploma in Psychology, University of Münster (1985)
• PhD, University of Trier (1991)
• Habilitation, University of Trier (1996)

Research Interests: His work spans clinical applications of stress biomarkers, psychoneuroendocrinology, and translational research linking hormonal profiles to mental health outcomes. Notable areas include cortisol dynamics in pregnancy, trauma-related stress, and alcohol use disorders.

Awards:

• Elsevier Citation Award (2008)
• Member of German National Academy of Sciences Leopoldina (since 2013)
• Past-President, International Society of Psychoneuroendocrinology (since 2017)

Administration: Active in university governance as a member of TU Dresden's Senate and editorial boards of journals like Psychoneuroendocrinology. His lab has collaborations across clinical and basic science domains.

Labs/Teams: Leads the Biopsychology Lab at TU Dresden, focusing on translational stress research with clinical and population health applications.