Seraphine Wegner

Prof. Seraphine Wegner is a Full Professor at the Institute of Physiological Chemistry and Pathobiochemistry within the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Münster. Her research focuses on developing light-controlled systems for precise spatiotemporal manipulation of cellular processes, with applications in synthetic biology, tissue engineering, and cell-material interactions.

Dr. Wegner received her PhD in Chemistry from the University of Chicago (2005-2010), followed by postdoctoral training at the Max Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems and the University of Heidelberg (2011-2015). She served as an Independent Group Leader at the Max Planck Institute for Polymer Research (2016-2020) before joining the University of Münster as a Full Professor in 2019.

Her research program centers on the spatiotemporal control of cell-material and cell-cell interactions using visible light. This innovative approach enables non-invasive remote control over cell adhesions, self-assembly of cells into multicellular architectures, regulation of interactions with synthetic materials, and the study of underlying biological processes. Her work bridges multiple disciplines including synthetic biology, optogenetics, and tissue engineering, with specific focus areas on light-controlled minimal cellular systems, photoswitchable cell-cell interactions, and engineering designer biofilms with light.

Analysis of her recent publications reveals a strong focus on light-controlled synthetic biology, with particular emphasis on developing tools for precise spatial and temporal control of cellular behaviors. Her work spans from fundamental studies of cell adhesion and motility to applications in tissue engineering and synthetic cell communities, demonstrating consistent innovation in using light as a non-invasive control mechanism for cellular processes.

• ERC Consolidator Grant (2024) for 'LIGHTHOUSE - Light as a signal for nonchemical cell-to-cell communication'
• ERC Starting Grant (2018) for 'ARTIST - Artificial cell-cell interactions for light switchable cell organization'
• Young Leaders in Science Program (2016) by the Schering Foundation
• MaxSynBio Independent Group Leader position (2015)
• Alexander von Humboldt Postdoctoral Fellowship (2012)

Prof. Wegner actively mentors numerous PhD students and postdoctoral researchers in her lab at the University of Münster. Her research is supported by multiple grants including ERC funding and foundation support. She has established a strong research program that bridges synthetic biology, cell biology, and materials science, with applications in tissue engineering and synthetic cell communities.

The Wegner Lab at the University of Münster comprises a multidisciplinary team of postdoctoral researchers, PhD students, and technical staff working at the intersection of cell biology, synthetic biology, and materials science. The lab maintains strong collaborations with the Max Planck Society and participates in research networks such as CRC 1348, focusing on developing light-controlled systems for engineering synthetic cells and multicellular architectures with precise spatial and temporal control.