Buket studied biology at Heinrich Heine University, specializing in protein biochemistry. In her doctoral thesis funded by the SFB1208, she worked on the structural characterization of the ETR1 receptor. Her expertise lies in the biochemistry of membrane proteins. This includes expression, protein purification, structural and functional protein analysis, and crystallization. She joined the MolPhoto team in September 2024. Now she is biochemically characterizing chloroplast ion transport proteins, potentially regulated by nucleotides.

Sarah is from Germany and studied biochemistry at University of Leipzig and Heinrich-Heine University. Since 2024, she has been a PhD candidate at the Molecular Photosynthesis Institute, focusing on the thylakoid K⁺/H⁺ antiporter KEA3. Her research is part of the DFG-funded Research Group GoPMF (ww.uni-muenster.de/GoPMF) and integrates biosensor-based in planta experiments with protein purification, functional and structural analyses to study the role of KEA3 in photosynthesis.

Juan Carlos is from Guatemala. He studied Molecular Crop Science at University of Bonn and joined the Molecular Photosynthesis Institute as a PhD candidate in 2024. His project focuses on understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying photosystem II (PSII) assembly in eukaryotes. He employs a range of molecular and biochemical methods to characterize the function of eukaryote-specific PSII assembly factors in Arabidopsis thaliana and Chlamydomonas reinhardtii.

Huy got his Bachelor's degree in Biology from Vietnam National University of Science, and he finished his Master thesis within our group. He is now a PhD student in CEPLAS Graduate School. Huy investigates vascular plant photosynthesis under natural light conditions with a focus on non-photochemical quenching (NPQ) and its interdependence with temperature. Using mathematical modeling and experimental approaches, he aims to determine key factors that define NPQ kinetics and quantify chloroplast temperature during light fluctuations.

Jacqueline studied Biology at Heinrich-Heine University, specializing in biochemical plant physiology, focusing on membrane proteins. After completing her Master's degree, she worked as a scientific associate at a patent law firm in the technical field of patent litigation, concentrating on protein biochemistry, pharmaceuticals, and biotechnology. Actively advancing science in the lab, doing her own research and pursuing her own ideas were the motivation to return from the desk to the lab bench and change the pen to the pipette, so that since October 2024, she has been part of the Molecular Photosynthesis team. Jacqueline investigates the adaptive potential of dynamic photosynthesis in Arabidopsis thaliana, funded and supported by TRR341 Plant Ecological Genetics.

Betül studied Biology at Heinrich Heine University. Since June 2025, she has been investigating how the thylakoid K⁺/H⁺ transporter KEA3 is regulated. Her project focuses on comparing KEA3 regulation in Arabidopsis thaliana and Chlamydomonas reinhardtii — both in vitro, through interaction studies, and in vivo, by analysing growth and NPQ phenotypes. The aim of her work is to uncover potential differences in regulatory mechanisms between the two organisms.

Jorina studies biology at Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, where she also completed her bachelor's degree. She is currently working on her master's thesis, focusing on the physiological characterization of chloroplast transporter mutants in Arabidopsis thaliana. Her work combines molecular cloning, plant genetics, and chlorophyll fluorescence measurements to investigate how chloroplast ion transport proteins, which are potentially regulated by nuleotides, contribute to the regulation of photosynthesis.

Naomi has been working at the Institute of Molecular Photosynthesis since September to obtain her Master's degree in biology at Heinrich Heine University. Her research focuses on characterizing protein interactions of PSII assembly factors in Arabidopsis thaliana. Using various methods, the aim is to describe the protein interaction network required for PSII assembly.