Stefan Raunser

Prof. Dr. Stefan Raunser is Director of the Department of Structural Biochemistry at the Max Planck Institute of Molecular Physiology in Dortmund, Germany. He holds concurrent professorships at the University of Duisburg-Essen (Honorary Professor, 2015–now) and Technical University Dortmund (Adjunct Professor, 2015–now).

• PhD in Biochemistry, University of Frankfurt (2001–2004)
• Diploma in Biology, University of Mainz (1995–2000)

His research focuses on structural and functional analysis of macromolecular complexes governing cellular processes, particularly muscle contraction (actin-myosin-tropomyosin interactions) and bacterial toxin mechanisms (Tc toxins, Type VI secretion systems). He pioneered cryo-EM and cryo-ET applications for high-resolution imaging of sarcomeres, toxin complexes, and membrane proteins like the ryanodine receptor. His department also developed SPHIRE, a user-friendly cryo-EM image processing suite.

Scientific awards include the ERC Synergy Grant (2020), ERC Consolidator Grant (2014), and Einstein Foundation Berlin Professorship (2013). He has advised numerous PhD and Master’s students, including Elmar Behrmann, Shyamal Mosalaganti, and Zhexin Wang, and led collaborations on projects involving Cryo-EM of TRPC4 ion channels and septin complex regulation.