Jan Ellenberg appointed Director for SciLifeLab

The SciLifeLab board has appointed Professor Jan Ellenberg as the new Director. Alongside this role, Professor Ellenberg will also be appointed as a Professor at Karolinska Institutet and Affiliated Professor at Stockholm University and KTH Royal Institute of Technology. He succeeds Professor Olli Kallioniemi, who has served as SciLifeLab Director since 2015.

Professor Ellenberg is moving into his new responsibility from the European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL) in Heidelberg, where he serves as the Head of the Cell Biology and Biophysics Unit at as well as the Head of the EMBL Imaging Centre.

"I am honored and excited to take on the role of Director at SciLifeLab, with its strong international reputation for fostering interdisciplinary collaboration and driving cutting-edge research in the life sciences. I am excited to lead the future development of SciLifeLab, at a time of unprecedented opportunity where the life sciences start to make living systems predictable and are increasingly important for society”, said Professor Ellenberg.

Professor Ellenberg is renowned for his groundbreaking research in cell biology, particularly in the areas of advanced imaging and the study of cell division. He has authored numerous influential publications and has been recognized with several prestigious awards for his contributions to the field, including his recently awarded second ERC Advanced Grant. He also has extensive leadership experience in building up pan-European research infrastructure, having coordinated the establishment of the Euro-BioImaging ERIC and the EMBL Imaging Centre. In addition, Professor Ellenberg has been the chair of the SciLifeLab International Advisory Board in the past. Professor Ellenberg is an elected member of the German Academy of Sciences – Leopoldina, the Academia Europeae, and an EMBO member.

Olli Kallioniemi, the outgoing Director, stated, "I am confident that Professor Ellenberg will lead SciLifeLab to new insights with his extensive expertise and visionary approach."

As a professor at KI, SU and KTH, Jan Ellenberg will also build up a new research group on cell division and nuclear organisation and looks forward to engaging in new collaborative opportunities at SciLifeLab, including new technology development and translational aspects of his work.

SciLifeLab and EMBL already collaborate closely, having signed a Memorandum of Understanding in 2021. They have since worked together in several areas, including training, research infrastructure and life science data. As incoming Director, Jan Ellenberg looks forward to building even closer collaboration between SciLifeLab and EMBL in the future.

“On behalf of the entire Board, it is my great pleasure to welcome Jan Ellenberg to SciLifeLab. With his exceptional leadership and vision, I am confident this appointment will continue to drive SciLifeLab’s mission forward, fostering impactful research and data infrastructure, and excellence in life sciences”, says Ylva Engström, Chair of the SciLifeLab Board.