Maria Leptin

Professor Maria Leptin
Leptin in 2017
Citizenship	Germany
Alma mater	University of Bonn University of Heidelberg Basel Institute for Immunology
Awards	EMBO member
Scientific career
Fields	Developmental biology Cell & Tissue Architecture Immunology
Institutions	University of Cologne European Molecular Biology Organization European Molecular Biology Laboratory Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute Laboratory of Molecular Biology University of California, San Francisco École Normale Supérieure
Doctoral advisor	Fritz Melchers[citation needed]
Website	www.genetik.uni-koeln.de/groups/Leptin www.embo.org/about-embo/leadership-oversight/maria-leptin

Professor Maria Leptin is a German scientist working in developmental biology and immunology. Since 2021, she has been serving as president of the European Research Council.^[1]

Leptin leads research groups at the Institute of Genetics, University of Cologne and at the European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL) in Heidelberg. In 2010 she was appointed Director of the European Molecular Biology Organization.^{[2][3][4][5][6][7]}

Education[]

After completing her studies in mathematics and biology at the University of Bonn and the University of Heidelberg, Leptin worked for her PhD at the Basel Institute for Immunology, Switzerland, (1979-1983) studying B-lymphocyte activation under the supervision of Fritz Melchers.

Career[]

Early career[]

In 1984 Leptin moved, as a post doctoral fellow (1984-1987), to the Laboratory of Molecular Biology (LMB), Cambridge, UK, where she started her research on position-specific (PS) integrins involved in the embryonic development of Drosophila, joining the laboratory of Michael Wilcox. This work laid the foundations for her future work in the field of molecular morphogenesis.^[8] In 1988, Maria Leptin was appointed as staff scientist at the same institution.

Leptin then went to Pat O’Farrell's lab at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), as a visiting scientist. This was the occasion for her to begin studying gastrulation. Afterwards she joined the Max Planck Institute for Developmental Biology in Tübingen, Germany, where, between 1989 and 1994, she worked as group leader.

In 1994, Leptin became Professor at the Institute of Genetics University of Cologne, Germany, where she still leads a research group.

Subsequently, she had two more experiences abroad as a visiting Professor at the École Normale Supérieure, Paris, France (2001) and as visiting scientist at the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, Hinxton, UK (2004-2005).

Director of EMBO, 2010–2021[]

In 2010 Leptin was appointed Director of the European Molecular Biology Organization,^[2] Heidelberg. At the same time, she established a research group in Heidelberg at the European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL). The group studies the development of complex cell shapes in the respiratory system of Drosophila and the role of RNA localisation in generating cell shape.^[9][10]

Leptin was the first woman to be appointed Director of EMBO, succeeding the previous EMBO directors Raymond Appleyard, John Tooze, Frank Gannon and Hermann Bujard.^[8] “I am thrilled to continue the initiatives begun by previous directors that promote the molecular life sciences in Europe and worldwide,” said Maria Leptin upon her acceptance as the next Director of EMBO. “EMBO plays a vital role in representing biological research – a role made possible through the organization’s extensive networks of respected leaders across the many fields of molecular biology.”^[11]

President of the ERC, 2021–present[]

On 30 June 2021, Leptin was appointed President of the European Research Council (ERC).^[12] She will take office from 1st October 2021 for a four-year term.^[13]

Research interests[]

Leptin's interest in biology dates back to high school years where she was taught by a "fantastic teacher, a skinny little old lady, who was very original, and very enthusiastic."^[14] Her degree in maths and biology was meant to lead her into teaching. Maria Leptin eventually decided to become a researcher while attending a practical at the University of Heidelberg, taught by scientists from the Basel Institute of Immunology.

After her PhD in immunology Leptin moved to development biology as a post doc, but had the chance to get back to immunology later in her scientific career. Her two research groups are now working on both fields.^[14]

Other activities[]

• Developmental Cell, Member of the Advisory Board^[15]
• Institute of Molecular Biotechnology (IMBA), Member of the Scientific Advisory Board^[16]
• Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics, Member of the Scientific Advisory Board^[17]

Recognition[]

• Academia Europaea, Member (since 1998)^[18]
• German National Academy of Sciences Leopoldina (since 2016)

References[]