Sixt Michael

Sixt Michael has been a tenured Professor at the Institute of Science and Technology Austria (ISTA) since September 2013. From 2014 to 2024 he additionally served as the institute’s Executive Vice President. His earlier career includes a tenure-track assistant professorship at ISTA (2010–2013), group-leadership at the Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry, post-doctoral research in Lund, and clinical residency in dermatology in Erlangen.

Research Interests
Professor Sixt’s work sits at the intersection of cell biology and immunology, with a focus on how cells navigate complex tissue environments. He explores:

• Tissue mechanics and how physical forces guide leukocyte migration.
• Gradient sensing and the molecular mechanisms that allow cells to detect and interpret chemical cues.
• Cell polarity and cytoskeletal dynamics, dissecting how cells establish front–rear asymmetry during chemotaxis.
• Chemotaxis in immune cells, linking basic cell-biological insights to immune-system function.

Scientific Awards & Distinctions
Sixt’s achievements have been recognized by numerous prestigious awards and honors:

• European Research Council (ERC) Synergy Grant (2022)
• ERC Consolidator Grant (2016)
• Elected Member, European Molecular Biology Organization (EMBO, 2014)
• European Biophysical Societies Association Young Investigator Medal (2013)
• Austrian Academy of Sciences Ignatz L. Lieben Award (2012)
• ERC Starting Grant and FWF START Award (2011)
• Peter Hans Hofschneider Foundation Endowed Professorship (2008)
• Novartis Dissertation Award (2003)

Leadership & Funding
Beyond his scientific output, Professor Sixt has held major leadership roles at ISTA, shaping institutional strategy as Executive Vice President for a decade. He has secured substantial European and national funding, including three ERC grants and the highly competitive FWF START Award, enabling his group to pioneer advanced imaging and biophysical approaches to study immune-cell migration in vivo.

Laboratory & Collaborations
He heads an active research group at ISTA that integrates molecular cell biology, biophysics, and in vivo imaging to decode how immune cells traverse tissues. Collaborative links extend across Europe, reflecting his ERC Synergy partnerships and EMBO network.