About us

The Department of Plant and Microbial Biology (IPMB) is host to 15 research groups. The research accomplished at the IPMB is highly visible at the international level, as mirrored by numerous collaborations across the globe and frequent publications, regularly including papers in top-level journals. A key feature of our research is the complementation of molecular genetics with emerging technologies, allowing the exploration of fundamental questions in novel, interdisciplinary ways that often breach traditional biological disciplines and blur the barrier between basic and applied science - be it towards mathematical modeling, chemistry, agricultural breeding and biotechnology, or micromechanical engineering.

The second focus of IPMB, high-quality teaching, is pursued with dedication and skill. IPMB’s involvement in courses at all levels covers a broad range of topics that include the latest technological developments. Importantly, IPMB also engages in communicating both fundamental and applied aspects of its research to society, administration, and politics, e.g. by participating in working groups of the Swiss Academy of Science, by lecturing at schools, or through reports in the media.

We are located in the beautiful Botanical Garden of the University of Zurich (UZH) whereas the Limnological Station situated at the shore of Lake Zurich in Kilchberg.