Robert Schneider

Prof. Robert Schneider serves as Professor at Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München's Faculty of Biology and Director of the Institute of Functional Epigenetics at Helmholtz Zentrum München. He leads Project A20 within the Collaborative Research Center 1064, investigating how metabolic enzymes and their products regulate chromatin dynamics and gene expression. His dual appointments position him at the nexus of academic research and translational biomedical science in Munich's vibrant research ecosystem.

His academic journey began with Biology Diploma studies (1990-1996) and doctoral research (1996) at LMU Munich under Prof. Regine Kahmann. This was followed by an EMBO fellowship at Cambridge's Gurdon Institute (2000-2004), a Max Planck Research Group leadership in Freiburg (2005-2012), and Director de Recherche position at Strasbourg's IGBMC (2012-2016) before his current roles.

Research focuses on metabolite-chromatin crosstalk, particularly how short-chain acyl-CoAs drive histone lysine acylations to reprogram gene expression. The lab employs innovative approaches including metabolic enzyme recruitment to specific genes, in vitro chromatin reconstitutions, and single-cell tracing of transcriptional memory. Current work emphasizes RNA modification enzymes (e.g., METTL5/6) in pluripotency and the role of sugar metabolism in epigenetic inheritance. This research provides fundamental insights into how nutrition and metabolism shape genomic regulation with implications for cancer and developmental disorders.

Recent publications (2017-2020) reveal a strategic expansion from histone modifications into RNA epigenetics and single-cell dynamics of metabolic-epigenetic interactions. The work consistently bridges biochemical mechanism with functional outcomes in stem cells and disease models, demonstrating increasing technical sophistication through integrative genomics and live-cell imaging approaches.

Major recognitions include:

• ERC Starting Grant (2008)
• HFSP Career Development Award (2006)
• Chaire Gutenberg, University of Strasbourg (2012)
• Multiple labellisation awards from French research foundations (2012-2014)
• Epigenome Network of Excellence membership

Mentorship occurs through structured PhD programs including CRC 1064's graduate initiatives and Helmholtz's doctoral training. The lab maintains active grants from DFG (CRC 1064), ERC, and collaborative consortia, supporting interdisciplinary projects that attract international talent. Prof. Schneider serves on editorial boards (PLOS Genetics) and selection committees, fostering global scientific exchange while maintaining a highly collaborative lab environment focused on mechanistic epigenetics.

The Institute of Functional Epigenetics operates as a dynamic hub within Helmholtz Zentrum München, combining biochemical expertise with genomic and computational approaches. The lab's integration into CRC 1064 enables synergistic collaborations across Munich's research institutions, particularly in developing novel methods to probe metabolism-chromatin interfaces in real time.