Who are ...

Professor Dr. Jan Riemer is a distinguished biochemist currently holding the position of Full Professor (W3) of Biochemistry at the University of Cologne since 2022. His academic and professional journey is marked by significant contributions to the fields of redox biology, protein folding, and organelle biology.

Jan studied Biochemistry at the Eberhard-Karls-Universität Tübingen from 1997 to 2003, where he earned his diploma under the supervision of Dr. Ralf Dringen. During his studies, he gained international research experience through stays at the University of Michigan (USA) with Prof. James Bardwell and at Monash University (Australia) with Prof. Stephen Robinson and Dr. Ralf Dringen.

He pursued his doctoral studies from 2003 to 2007, initially at ETH Zurich (Switzerland) and subsequently at the University of Copenhagen (Denmark), working with Prof. Lars Ellgaard and Prof. Ari Helenius. Following his PhD, he continued as a postdoctoral researcher in Copenhagen before returning to Germany.

From 2008 to 2012, Jan led a research group at the University of Kaiserslautern, where he was appointed Assistant Professor for Cellular Biochemistry (W1) in 2012. In 2015, he joined the University of Cologne as an Associate Professor (W2), and in 2022, he was promoted to his current W3 professorship.

Jan is actively involved in a range of academic leadership and administrative roles. He currently serves as Director of the Department of Chemistry (since 2023), Speaker of the DFG-funded graduate programs RTG2550 (“reloc”) and the “mito-RTG” (integrated in the CRC1218/SFB1218), and Speaker of the Cologne Graduate School for Chemistry (CGSC). Since 2015, he has been a central figure in the CRC/SFB1218, contributing both as a member of its steering committee and as head of its graduate school component.

Jan has also held several important academic positions, including Acting Director of the Institute of Biochemistry, Deputy Director of the Department of Chemistry, and Board Member of the Graduate School for Biological Sciences. He was the Speaker of the study group “Redox Biology” of the German Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (GBM) from 2017 to 2024.

His scientific excellence has been recognized with several prestigious awards and fellowships, including the Otto-Meyerhof Prize of the GBM (2017), an EMBO Long-Term Fellowship (2010–2012), a PhD fellowship from the Boehringer Ingelheim Fonds (2004–2006), and scholarships from the German National Academic Foundation.

Through his extensive academic work, international collaborations, and leadership within graduate education and research consortia, Jan has made lasting contributions to advancing the field of biochemistry in Germany and beyond.

Selected Publications

Why these publications matter

• Integrated trajectory: They trace a clear path—from mechanistic enzymology (e.g., Erv1–cytochrome c electron transfer) to pathway coordination (disulfide relay → Complex I), and network-level responses (immune-stress vesicles).
• High-impact venues: Took place in top-tier journals (EMBO J, J Cell Biol, Cell Metabolism, Molecular Cell, Science), reflecting both novelty and rigor.
• Influence and citation: Many articles attracted substantial citations, signaling significant interest by the broader field.
   

1. Salscheider SL et al., “AIFM1 is a component of the mitochondrial disulfide relay that drives complex I assembly through efficient import of NDUFS5.” EMBO Journal (2022)

• Unveils how AIFM1 and MIA40 cooperate to import and stabilize NDUFS5, a critical subunit of mitochondrial Complex I, via the intermembrane-space disulfide relay.
• Highlights a dual role of AIFM1 in MIA40 import and substrate oxidation, linking redox regulation to respiratory chain assembly.
• High citation count and central to Riemer’s research agenda.

2. Peker E et al., “A two‑step mitochondrial import pathway couples the disulfide relay with matrix Complex I biogenesis.” Journal of Cell Biology (2023)

• Demonstrated a sequential import mechanism linking disulfide relay and matrix Complex I formation, clarifying coordination between redox folding and respiratory chain assembly.
• Reflects direct continuation of the AIFM1–MIA40 pathway research. 

3. Li X et al., “Mitochondria shed their outer membrane in response to infection‑induced stress.” Science (2022)

• A major collaboration including Riemer, showing that mitochondria can release outer membrane-derived vesicles upon infection—a novel mechanism of host defense.
• Broadens his research portfolio into mitochondrial stress responses. 

4. Hoehne et al, “Spatial and temporal control of mitochondrial H2 O2 release in intact human cells“ EMBO Journal (2022)

• Describes the mechanistic basis of redox signaling from mitochondria and its impacting factors
• High citation count and central to Riemer’s research agenda.

5. Peker E et al., “Erv1 and Cytochrome c mediate rapid electron transfer via a collision‑type interaction.” Journal of Molecular Biology (2021)

• Describes the mechanistic basis of electron transfer between Erv1 and cytochrome c, advancing our understanding of oxidative folding enzyme function within mitochondria.
• Adds mechanistic depth to his redox biochemistry profile

Dr. Simon Pöpsel is a structural biologist and biochemist with a deep interest in the molecular machinery underlying epigenetic regulation, proteostasis, and cellular stress responses. He currently leads a Junior Research Group at the Center for Molecular Medicine Cologne (CMMC), where his research focuses on the structure and function of multi-protein complexes involved in homeostasis, aging, and cancer.

Originally from the south-eastern edge of the Ruhrgebiet in Germany, Simon pursued his academic studies in Medical Biology at the University of Duisburg-Essen. He completed his B.Sc. in 2008 and directly entered a fast-track PhD program under the supervision of Prof. Michael Ehrmann at the Center for Medical Biotechnology (ZMB), earning his PhD (Dr. rer. nat.) summa cum laude in 2014. His doctoral research shed light on how the human serine protease HTRA1 degrades tau fibrils, aggregates commonly associated with Alzheimer’s disease and related neurodegenerative conditions.

In 2015, Simon joined the laboratory of Prof. Eva Nogales at the University of California, Berkeley, as a postdoctoral fellow, supported by a Feodor Lynen Fellowship from the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation. At Berkeley, he mastered the method of single-particle cryo-electron microscopy and applied it to elucidate the structural mechanisms of epigenetic regulation, focusing on the Polycomb Repressive Complex 2 (PRC2) and its interactions with chromatin. His groundbreaking work revealed the structural basis of PRC2 binding to dinucleosomes, contributing to our understanding of gene silencing and chromatin architecture.

In 2019, Simon returned to Germany to establish his independent research group at the CMMC in Cologne, where he continues to explore the molecular logic of protein complexes involved in gene regulation and cellular stress adaptation, with a particular emphasis on systems relevant to cancer biology.

Over the course of his career, Simon has been recognized for both academic excellence and scientific promise. In addition to his Feodor Lynen Fellowship, he was a member of the Nobel Laureate Mentoring Programme at the University of Duisburg-Essen, receiving mentorship from renowned scientists Prof. Kurt Wüthrich and Prof. Robert Huber. He also participated in the 59th Lindau Meeting of Nobel Laureates, a prestigious platform for early-career researchers.

Publicationlist on PubMed and on ORCID