Wolfgang Driever

Wolfgang Driever is Professor and Chair of the Department of Developmental Biology at the Institute Biology I, Albert-Ludwigs-University of Freiburg. He has held this position since 1996 after serving as Assistant Professor of Genetics at Harvard Medical School from 1990. His academic journey began with Biochemistry studies at the Universities of Tübingen and Munich, followed by doctoral research at the Max-Planck-Institute for Developmental Biology under Prof. C. Nüsslein-Volhard. After a postdoc at the University of Oregon, he established his independent research career in developmental mechanisms.

Professor Driever has held significant leadership roles including Dean of the Faculty of Biology (2014-2016), Director of the ZBSA Center for Systems Biology (2010-2012), and Coordinator of SFB/CRC592 Signaling Mechanisms in Embryogenesis and Organogenesis (2001-2012). He remains active as a member of the Steering Committee of the Centre for Biological Signalling Studies (BIOSS) Excellence Cluster since 2007.

His research primarily focuses on developmental biology using zebrafish as a model organism with key areas including:

• Genetic regulation of embryonic development
• Dopaminergic and noradrenergic neuron development
• Zygotic gene activation mechanisms
• Cell adhesion and morphogenesis during embryogenesis
• Neural circuit formation and function

Professor Driever's publication record spans decades with high-impact contributions in Science, Nature, and Cell, demonstrating consistent excellence in understanding vertebrate developmental mechanisms.

His notable scientific recognition includes:

• Otto-Hahn Medal of Max-Planck-Society
• Otto Mangold Award of the German Society for Developmental Biology

Professor Driever has significantly contributed to the scientific community as President of the German Society for Developmental Biology (1998-99) and through editorial board service for Development, Developmental Biology, and other leading journals in the field.