Jochen Staiger

Jochen Staiger is a Full Professor and Director of the Department of Neuroanatomy at the University Medical Center Göttingen, University of Göttingen, where he leads research on cortical microcircuits and thalamo-cortical interactions. He is affiliated with multiple graduate programs under the Göttingen Graduate Center for Neurosciences (GGNB), including Neurosciences (IMPRS), Sensory and Motor Neuroscience, Cellular and Molecular Physiology of the Brain (CMPB), and Molecular Biology of Cells (GZMB).

• Dr. med., Justus Liebig University Giessen (1993), summa cum laude
• Habilitation in Anatomy, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf (2000)
• W3 Professor of Cell Biology, Albert-Ludwigs-University Freiburg (2006)

His research focuses on the synaptic architecture of neocortical microcircuits, particularly in the barrel cortex, examining how thalamo-cortical inputs shape cortical processing, how inhibitory interneurons organize layer-specific circuits, and how sensory experience drives genomic and structural plasticity. He uses transgenic mouse models, including the reeler mutant, to study cortical function in both normally laminated and dysplastic cortices.

The recent publications (2015–2020) reflect a strong focus on VIP and parvalbumin-expressing interneurons, neuromodulation, layer-specific connectivity, and functional organization of cortical columns. Key themes include synaptic targeting, burst-tonic transitions, brain-wide connectivity mapping, and compensation in malformed cortices.

No scientific awards were mentioned in the provided text.

Prof. Staiger leads an active research group with a focus on fundamental neuroscience questions. His lab investigates how cortical circuits develop, function, and adapt, with implications for understanding neurodevelopmental disorders. The team employs advanced neuroanatomical, genetic, and imaging techniques to dissect circuit motifs. While no formal students are listed, his collaborative publications suggest mentorship of junior researchers.

His research group maintains a dedicated homepage: http://www.neuroanatomie.uni-goettingen.de/ and a specialized site on barrel cortex research: http://neuro.ukat.gwdg.de/barrels/.