Georg Nagel

Professor Georg Nagel leads the Chair of Botany I - Molecular Plant Physiology and Biophysics at the University of Würzburg. His research focuses on microbial photoreceptors, optogenetics, and light-gated ion channels. He pioneered the discovery of channelrhodopsins, enabling light-driven neural activation in diverse organisms. His work bridges plant, microbial, and animal systems, with applications in biotechnology and neuroscience.

Teaching includes advanced modules on biosensorics, protein biochemistry, and optogenetics in undergraduate and graduate programs. He collaborates with neuroscientists and institutions like the Julius von Sachs Institute, contributing to interdisciplinary research. Current projects include optimizing optogenetic tools and platelet optogenetics (funded through TR240).

Research highlights include the 2002 discovery of ChR1 and ChR2 (2003), enabling optogenetic breakthroughs in animal and human cells. He advises PhD student Yundan Wang. Grants include TR166 (until 2020) and TR240 (until 2022).