Ilse Denise Jacobsen

Prof. Dr. Ilse Denise Jacobsen is Professor of Microbial Immunology at Friedrich Schiller University Jena and holds dual leadership positions as Head of the Microbial Immunology Department and Deputy Director at Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology (Leibniz-HKI). Her academic career includes:

• Habilitation in Microbiology (FSU Jena, 2013)
• PhD in Veterinary Medicine (summa cum laude, 2005)
• Specialist veterinarian for microbiology (2007)

Her research specializes in fungal pathogenesis and host immune responses, with emphasis on:

• In vivo/ex vivo modeling of invasive fungal infections
• Mucosal pathogen-host interactions
• Commensal-to-pathogen transitions of Candida species
• Microbiome dysbiosis during fungal infections

Recent publications (2023-2025) demonstrate focus on:

• Fungal-bacterial synergistic pathogenesis
• Novel antifungal therapeutic targets
• Impact of fungi on lung microbiome ecology
• Advanced infection model development

Awards & Recognition:
Includes research grants (DMykG, 2015), international scholarships (Wellcome Trust, 2000), and editorial roles for PLoS One and Medical Mycology Case Reports.

Teaching & Training:
Leads courses in Translational Medical Microbiology and Pathophysiology at FSU Jena, and directs practical training in state-of-the-art infection models through international workshops.