Brandstätter, Johann Helmut

Prof. Dr. Johann Helmut Brandstätter

Chair

Department Biologie
Chair of Animal Physiology (Prof. Dr. Brandstätter)

Room: Room 00.135 (Building A1)
Staudtstr. 5
91058 Erlangen

Curriculum Vitae

Academic Training

1988 PhD in Zoology, Biochemistry and Philosophy, Karl Franzens University, Graz, Austria
1988 – 1991 Postdoc and Research Associate, Department of Neuroscience, Life Sciences Centre, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Canada (Laboratory of Prof. I. A. Meinertzhagen)
1992 Postdoc, Institute of Biology III, Albert Ludwigs University, Freiburg, Germany, (Laboratory of Prof. K.-F. Fischbach)
1992-1993 Max Planck Fellow, Max Planck Institute for Brain Research, Department of Neuroanatomy, Frankfurt/M., Germany (Laboratory of Prof. H. Wässle)
1993 – 1998 Research Group Leader, Max Planck Institute for Brain Research, Department of Neuroanatomy, Frankfurt/M., Germany (Laboratory of Prof. H. Wässle)
1997 Habilitation and degree Privatdozent with the venia legendi in Zoology, Johannes Gutenberg University, Mainz, Germany
1998 – 2003 Heisenberg Fellow, Max Planck Institute for Brain Research, Department of Neuroanatomy, Frankfurt/M., Germany (Laboratory of Prof. H. Wässle)
2003 – 2004 Research Group Leader, Max Planck Institute for Brain Research, Department of Neuroanatomy, Frankfurt/M., Germany (Laboratory of Prof. H. Wässle)
2004 – 2006 Associate Professor of Animal Physiology, Institute of Biology, FAU Erlangen-Nürnberg, Germany
since 2006 Full Professor and Chair of Animal Physiology/Neurobiology, Department of Biology, FAU Erlangen-Nürnberg, Germany

 

Main Research Interests

  • Sensory systems with a focus on the mammalian retina
  • Molecular composition and function (physiology/pathophysiology) of chemical synapses with a focus on sensory
    ribbon synapses
  • Mechanisms of synapse formation, plasticity, adaptation, degeneration and regeneration

 

Fellowships and Honors

1988 PhD with highest honors by the President of Austria “sub auspiciis praesidentis”
1992 Max Planck Fellowship
1998 Heisenberg Fellowship
2012 – 2016 Member of the Review Board of the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) for Neuroscience

 

Executive and Administrative Functions

since 2005 Member of the Executive Board of the Department of Biology, FAU Erlangen-Nürnberg
2005 – 2012 Member of the Executive Board of the Franz-Penzoldt-Center, FAU Erlangen-Nürnberg
since 2011 Founding Member and Co-Speaker of the Interdisciplinary Center of Neuroscience (ICN), Faculty of Medicine and FAU Erlangen-Nürnberg
Scientific Advisor in the Universitätsbund Erlangen-Nürnberg e.V.
Member of the Examination Board for the Bachelor and Master program, Department of Biology, FAU Erlangen-Nürnberg
2011 – 2014 Chairman of the Examination Board for the Bachelor and Master program, Department of Biology, FAU Erlangen-Nürnberg
since 2013 Member of the Scientific Executive Board of the Biologisches-Technisches Entwicklungslabor (BTE), Department of Biology, FAU Erlangen-Nürnberg
2015 – 2017 Chair of the Department of Biology, FAU Erlangen-Nürnberg
Vice Dean of the Faculty of Sciences, FAU Erlangen-Nürnberg
since 2016 Vice Speaker and Member of the Steering Committee of the DFG Research Training Group 2162 “Neurodevelopment and Vulnerability of the Central Nervous System”, Faculty of Medicine and FAU Erlangen-Nürnberg
2016 – 2022 Member of the Executive Board of the FAU Optical Imaging Competence Centre Erlangen (OICE), FAU Erlangen-Nürnberg
since 2016 Member of the FAU Competence Center for Applied Philosophy of Science and Key Qualifications (ZIWIS), FAU Erlangen-Nürnberg
Member of the Executive Board of the Interdisciplinary Center for Clinical Research (IZKF), Faculty of Medicine, FAU Erlangen-Nürnberg
2017 – 2021 Member of the Executive Board of the Graduate School Life@FAU, FAU Erlangen-Nürnberg
2021 – 2023 Senator of the FAU Erlangen-Nürnberg
since 2023 Member of the Doctoral Examinations Board at the Faculty of Sciences, FAU Erlangen-Nürnberg
Deputy Chair of the Department of Biology, FAU Erlangen-Nürnberg