Mission statement:

The Giessen Lab’s mission is to generate novel scientific insights at the chemistry-biology interface and to utilize them as a source of inspiration and innovation for biological engineering and synthetic biology. Specifically, we believe that studying protein organelles, protein machines, and microbial metabolism at the molecular level will lead to new fundamental and biomedically relevant discoveries. We believe that harnessing the insights gained from discovering and studying the molecular principles underlying living systems, will enable key engineering innovations for human health and a more sustainable world.

The Giessen Lab believes that an inspiring multidisciplinary research culture based around scientific excellence and collaboration will allow lab members to work to their highest potential, advance our scientific objectives, and develop into the next generation of innovators, scientists, and world leaders.

We believe that it is only through the unified commitment to and active involvement of each lab member that a culture of excellence and collaboration can be created. We highly value creativity and out-of-the-box thinking. A culture where everyone feels comfortable to express heterodox thoughts is our greatest strength in sustaining our intellectual and creative pursuits.

We hire based on competence alone.


“A university is a community of scholars. It is not a kindergarten; it is not a club; it is not a reform school; it is not a political party; it is not an agency of propaganda. A university is a community of scholars.”
Robert Maynard Hutchins, President of the University of Chicago —