Prof. Pfänder Appointed as Professor (W3) of Emerging Viruses at the University of Hamburg

Hamburg – Prof. Dr. Stephanie Pfänder has been appointed to the W3 Professorship in Emerging Viruses at the University of Hamburg. The formal certificate ceremony took place on 27 March 2026, with Prof. Pfänder taking up her position on 1 April 2026.

Her appointment is additionally supported by the prestigious Leibniz Professorship Programme for Women, and was made jointly with the Leibniz Institute of Virology.

"I am delighted about this appointment and the opportunity to further develop my research at the interface of fundamental science and translational virology. The close collaboration between the University of Hamburg and the Leibniz Institute of Virology provides an excellent foundation for deepening our understanding of how RNA viruses interact with their hosts – and for developing new strategies to combat viral diseases," said Prof. Pfänder.

Since 2024, Prof. Pfänder has led the Emerging Viruses research unit at the Leibniz Institute of Virology. Her group investigates the complex interplay between viruses and their hosts, with a particular focus on RNA viruses such as coronaviruses and flaviviruses.

At the heart of her research is the question of how the human body responds to novel and re-emerging viruses. To explore this, her team employs cutting-edge laboratory technologies and advanced model systems, including organoids that replicate human organ function. The ultimate goal is to translate these findings into new approaches for prevention and therapy.

Alongside this work, she coordinates the EU-wide project DEFENDER (Identification of Novel Viral Entry Factors and Development of Antiviral Approaches), which aims to develop innovative strategies against emerging and re-emerging viruses by investigating both the mechanisms within human cells and the properties of the viruses themselves to identify vulnerabilities in virus-host interactions.

"We are thrilled about Stephanie Pfänder's appointment. Her expertise not only strengthens cutting-edge virology research at the LIV and in Hamburg, but also the training of the next generation of virologists," said Prof. Marcus Altfeld, Scientific Director at the Leibniz Institute of Virology.

Prof. Pfänder's academic career has been shaped by international experience and outstanding training. She completed her doctorate at the TWINCORE Centre for Experimental and Clinical Infection Research in Hanover, before going on to deepen her expertise at the Institute of Virology and Immunology in Bern, Switzerland, and during a research stay at Rockefeller University in New York. She subsequently held a junior professorship at Ruhr University Bochum before moving to Hamburg to lead the Emerging Viruses research unit at the LIV, while also serving as a professor at the University of Lübeck.