Henrike Niederholtmeyer

Prof. Dr. Henrike Niederholtmeyer is a Tenure Track Assistant Professor (W2) in Synthetic Biology at TUM Campus Straubing, Technische Universität München. Her research focuses on cell-free synthetic biology, exploring how spatial order influences biochemical systems and engineering life-like systems using isolated biological components. She holds a PhD from École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL) and conducted postdoctoral research at UC San Diego. Previously, she led the Emmy Noether Research Group at the Max Planck Institute for Terrestrial Microbiology in Marburg. Her work bridges synthetic biology, biomimetic engineering, and cell-free systems to advance applications in synthetic cells and programmable organelles.

Research interests include creating artificial cells, studying spatial dynamics in biochemical networks, and developing cell-free platforms for rapid prototyping of genetic constructs. Her lab integrates microfluidics, lipid technologies, and synthetic DNA assembly to construct minimal cell-like systems. Key achievements include荣获 ERC Starting Grant (2022) and DFG Emmy Noether Fellowship (2020).

Publications highlight innovations in chloroplast-based cell-free systems, synthetic organelles, and microgravity protein assembly. Her interdisciplinary approach spans biomimetic materials, synthetic membranes, and modular genetic circuit design. Current initiatives focus on synthetic cell functionality, autonomous systems, and scalable bioengineering platforms.