President
Professor Michael Kühl

Areas of responsibility

Professor Michael Kühl has been President of Ulm University since 1 October 2026. He represents Ulm University in all matters, both internally and externally. He chairs the Board and the Senate, and has overall responsibility for all academic affairs. The President has the authority to set policy and is legally accountable for the university’s strategic development and internal governance structures. In the event of his absence, he is represented by the Vice Presidents. The Deputy CFO currently acts as his substitute for the area of financial and human resources management. 

Brief CV

Born:

1965

Education and training:

1987–1992: Studied Biochemistry at Freie Universität Berlin
1995: Award of a doctoral degree, Freie Universität Berlin (magna cum laude) 
2002:                   Habilitation, University of Göttingen

Professional experience: 

1995–1998:Postdoctoral researcher, Ulm University
1998–1999:Postdoctoral researcher, University of Washington, Seattle
2000–2002:Head of an independent DFG Junior Research Group, University of Göttingen
2002–2006: C3 Professorship in Biochemistry, Ulm University
2004–2016:Member of the M1 Examination Board at the Institute for Medicine and Pharmaceutical Examination Issues (IMPP), Mainz
Since 2006:W3 Professorship in Biochemistry, Director of the Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Ulm University
2006–2019:                                 Spokesperson for the International Graduate School in Molecular Medicine Ulm (IGradU), funded under the Excellence Initiative
2011–2016: Member of the Ethics Committee at Ulm University
2014–2021:Elected member of the Senate, Ulm University
2016–2019:Expert at the Institute for Medicine and Pharmaceutical Examination Issues (IMPP), Mainz
2016–2021:Dean of Studies in Molecular Medicine, Ulm University
Since 2016:Member of the Senate and Funding Committee for Research Training Groups of the German Research Foundation (DFG)
2018–2020Head of the Ulm University Academy for Early-Career Researchers: Graduate and Professional Training Centre Ulm
Since 2018Member of the Life Sciences Review Panel, Academy of Finland
Since 2021Member of the City of Ulm’s Climate Protection Advisory Board
2021–2026Vice President of Ulm University
Since 2026President of Ulm University

Main research focuses:

Molecular mechanisms of early embryonic development
Intracellular signal transduction
Systems biology

Prizes and awards:

1998:               DFG research grant
2003:Habilitation Prize, Göttingen
2003:Merckle Research Prize, sponsored by Merckle (Ratiopharm)

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