Photosynthesis is the process by which organisms convert sunlight into chemical energy, providing the foundation for life on Earth. However, many aspects of this process remain poorly understood. Our mission is to advance the knowledge of the molecular mechanisms and regulatory principles that underpin the photosynthetic process.

One of our primary research goals is to characterize the dynamic response of photosynthesis to environmental perturbations. We aim to understand how photosynthesis is regulated in response to changes in light intensity or other environmental factors. Our main focus is on describing molecular signals and their targets. Therefore, we combine biochemistry, biophysics, and molecular biology in an interdisciplinary approach to map out the intricate network of regulatory processes that govern dynamic photosynthesis.

Another key focus of our institute is the assembly of photosystem II (PSII), a central component of the photosynthetic machinery. PSII is responsible for capturing light energy and initiating the conversion of light into chemical energy. Our team has identified a number of eukaryote-specific factors that are crucial for efficient PSII assembly in plants, the molecular function of which we seek to uncover.