Prof. Dr. Jens-Karl Eilers

Prof. Dr. Jens-Karl Eilers

Universitätsprofessor

Haus E
Liebigstraße 27, Room 216a
04103 Leipzig

Phone: +49 341 97 - 15520
Fax: +49 341 97 - 15529

Prof. Dr. Jens-Karl Eilers

Prof. Dr. Jens-Karl Eilers

Vice-Rector for Excellence Development: Research and Transfer

Vice-Rector for Excellence Development: Research and Transfer
Rektoratsgebäude
Ritterstraße 26, Room 213
04109 Leipzig

Phone: +49 341 97 - 30020
Fax: +49 341 97 - 30029

Abstract

Professor Jens Eilers was appointed to Leipzig University as a professor for Physiology in 2003. From 2005 to 2022 he was acting director of the Carl-Ludwig-Institute of Physiology at the Medical Faculty. He studied medicine at the Universität zu Lübeck (licensure in 1992), where he also received his doctorate (1994). He received his habilitation in 1998 at the Medical Faculty of the Saarland University. As a Heisenberg stipend, he worked at the Duke University, NC and at the Max Planck Institute for Brain Research in Frankfurt, Germany. His research focusses on the molecular and cellular mechanisms of neuronal signal processing. He is also interested in high-resolution microscopic techniques.

Professional career

  • since 04/2003
    Full professor of Physiology at Leipzig University
  • 05/2000 - 01/2003
    Heisenberg stipend at the Department for Neuroscience, Duke University, NC with Prof. G. Augustine
  • 11/1999 - 04/2000
    Heisenberg stipend at the Department for Neuroscience, Duke University, NC with Prof. G. Augustine
  • 12/1993 - 10/1999
    Postdoc with Prof. A. Konnerth at the Institute of Physiology of the Medical Faculty of the Saarland University
  • 12/1992 - 11/1993
    Postdoc with Prof. A. Konnerth at the Max Planck Institute of Biophysical Chemistry in Göttingen, German
  • 07/2005 - 03/2022
    Acting director of the Carl-Ludwig-Institute of Physiology

Education

  • 12/1993 - 10/1998
    Habilitation in Physiology at the Medical Faculty of the Saarland University
  • 10/1985 - 09/1992
    Medical studies (Universität zu Lübeck, Germany)Medical licensure in 1992
  • 10/1989 - 10/1994
    Doctorate (with the title Dr. med.) at the Clinics of Surgery of the Universität zu Lübeck

Panel Memberships

  • 03/2021 - 03/2022
    Spokesperson (with Prof. M. Schönwiesner) of the Graduate School Brain Dynamics of Leipzig University
  • since 07/2019
    Member of the advisory board of the Medical Faculty Jena
  • 07/2016 - 03/2022
    Spokesperson (with Prof. M. Schönwiesner) of the Research profile area Brain Dynamics of Leipzig University
  • 04/2005 - 04/2008
    Elected member of the DFG grant council Neurosciences
  • 07/2005 - 04/2008
    Dean of Study Affairs at the Medical Faculty
  • since 04/2022
    Vice-rector for Excellence development: Research and Transfer at Leipzig University

Jens Eilers studies the molecular and cellular mechanisms of neuronal communication and neuronal integration. A major focus lies on the release of neurotransmitters, a process that occurs with sub-millisecond precision, hundreds of times per second and at submicrometer-sized neuronal contacts. His methodological tools include high-resolution optical methods such as two-photon microscopy and fluorescence-lifetime imaging.

Together with his colleagues at the Carl-Ludwig-Institute of Physiology, Jens Eilers trains students of Medicine, Dental medicine and Pharmacy in the foundations of the function of the human body. In lectures, practical courses and seminars, the function of individual cells, the interplay between cells, the functions of organs, and the interplay of organs are taught, with special emphasis on the function of the healthy body as well as on dysfunctions and diseases.


In the graduate training, the focus lies on molecular and cellular aspects of neuronal communication. Using high-resolution light-microscopic and electrophysiological methods (two-photon microscopy and patch-clamp recordings), the functions of neurons are investigated in life specimen from mice and fruit flies.

  • Human Physiology

    Lectures, seminars and electives for students of medicine an dentistry

Research fields

Neurophysiology

Contact for media inquiries

Phone: +49 341 97-15520
Fax: +49 341 97-15529