Henning Stahlberg

Henning Stahlberg is a Full Professor at École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL) in the School of Basic Sciences, Institute of Physics, and also holds a Professor ad personam position at the University of Lausanne in the Department of Fundamental Microbiology, School of Medicine and Biology. He leads the Laboratory of Biological Electron Microscopy (LBEM), a joint research unit of EPFL and UNIL, and serves as Academic Director of the Dubochet Center for Imaging. He previously held leadership roles at the University of Basel and UC Davis.

• PhD in Chemistry, EPFL (1997)
• Habilitation in Structural Biology, University of Basel (2002)
• Diploma in Solid State Physics, Technical University of Berlin (1993)

His research centers on high-resolution cryo-electron microscopy to study neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson’s and Multiple System Atrophy, with a focus on alpha-synuclein fibrils and Lewy pathology. He also pioneers advancements in electron microscopy technology, including 4D-STEM ptychography, automated data analysis software (2dx, FOCUS, DYNAMO), and microfluidic sample preparation (CryoWrite). His work integrates physics, biology, and engineering to push the limits of structural imaging.

The most recent publications highlight innovations in low-dose cryo-ptychography, microfluidic isolation of proteins, and atomic-level structures of disease-related fibrils. His research spans from fundamental biophysics to clinical neuropathology, using multimodal imaging techniques like correlative light and electron microscopy (CLEM) and cryogenic X-ray nanotomography. He has developed widely used software tools that automate and streamline cryo-EM data processing workflows.

Henning Stahlberg mentors several PhD students and has supervised multiple doctoral theses at EPFL. His leadership extends to directing major imaging centers and fostering collaborations across physics, medicine, and bioengineering. He is actively involved in teaching courses such as 'Physics of Life' and practical lab instruction.

His lab has developed key technologies now commercialized through CryoWrite AG, and he continues to lead cutting-edge research in structural biology and imaging instrumentation. The group is supported by both EPFL and the University of Lausanne, reflecting its interdisciplinary nature.