EMBL Programme
Pushing boundaries in research, services, training and technology
From genomes to organisms, EMBL is exploring the secrets of life
EMBL’s diverse research programme is pushing the limits of biological knowledge, with our researchers developing innovative techniques and technologies as part of the process.
The European Molecular Biology Laboratory is made up of many independent groups of research scientists, who work on a wide range of biological topics. EMBL categorises these groups by area of scientific interest into nine research units. This structure helps EMBL scientists working on similar scientific questions to leverage common tools and experimental apparatus.
Pushing boundaries in research, services, training and technology
Explore how EMBL research groups collaborate with partners
Making science open and accessible to the global scientific community
Explore EMBL’s full list of scientific publications and preprints which go back as far as 1979
EMBL supports fair and responsible research assessment practices
From exploring the molecular components inside a cell to studying whole populations and ecosystems, EMBL scientists will explore these different scales through research themes that foster collaborative, multidisciplinary research.
Unravelling genetic and environmental influences in biomes and ecosystems to understand biological processes and improve planetary health
Characterising pathogen interactions with the host at an atomic, molecular, and tissue level to tackle infection and antimicrobial resistance
Developing a quantitative, mechanistic, and molecular understanding of environmental effects on human biology
Ensuring research data is expertly curated, annotated, managed, integrated, visualised, and shared
Conducting and supporting world class research, building global collaborations, and helping to define the role of artificial intelligence and machine learning in the life sciences
Promoting theory-guided paths to understanding and conceptualising the underlying principles of biological systems
Dissecting microbial functions and communities to understand how microbes interact with their environments
These institutional collaborations are based on shared goals and scientific synergy or complementarity. The aim is to create a network of institutions that enhance molecular life science in Europe and around the world.

EMBL Grenoble is a leading centre for molecular structural biology, bringing together an international community of scientists, engineers, and support professionals. At the interface of structural biology and cell biology, we investigate fundamental questions in RNA and infection biology, eukaryogen...
Closes on 1st October. Posted 10th September 2026
EditYour roleThe Scientific Officer contributes to the delivery of high-quality protein production services within the Protein Expression and Purification Core Facility. The role coordinates and delivers protein production projects across different expression systems and chromatogratography platforms,...
Closes on 25th September. Posted 10th September 2026
EditThe Dorrity group at EMBL Heidelberg is seeking a motivated and skilled molecular biologist to join as a Laboratory Officer. Our group uses cutting-edge single-cell genomic techniques to study how cells regulate gene expression over time, with the goal of understanding how individual cells make deci...
Closes on 1st October. Posted 10th September 2026
EditAre you interested in studying metagenomic derived protein families and developing methods to interrogate vast collections of proteins, to determine pockets of interesting novel families? Metagenomics is transforming our understanding of the microbial world by uncovering enormous numbers of novel pr...
Closes on 28th September. Posted 8th September 2026
EditWith support from more than 30 countries, laboratories at six sites across Europe and thousands of scientists and engineers working together, the European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL) is a powerhouse of biological expertise. EMBL is an intergovernmental organisation, headquartered in Heidelberg, and was founded in 1974 with the mission of promoting molecular biology research in Europe, training young scientists, and developing new technologies.
EMBL currently employs more than 1800 people in Barcelona, Grenoble, Hamburg, Heidelberg, EMBL-EBI Hinxton (near Cambridge), and Rome.
Publishing hundreds of research articles and hosting dozens of conferences every year, EMBL is driving visionary fundamental research and training Europe’s future scientific talent.