Susanne Ressl

Dr. Susanne Ressl is a structural biochemist and neuroscientist whose career has been defined by a passion for understanding how proteins shape and drive cellular and biological function. After earning her doctorate at the Max-Planck Institute of Biophysics, where she specialized in membrane protein structure, Dr. Ressl expanded her focus to neuroscience during her postdoctoral research at Stanford University. There, she began bridging structural biology with the complexities of neuronal function.
Dr. Ressl investigates how synaptic proteins organize and shape neuronal connectivity and ultimately regulate brain function. Driven by a vision to bridge structural biology with functional neuroscience, Dr. Ressl aims to uncover molecular mechanisms critical for synaptic plasticity, brain health, and neurological disorders. 
An innovative problem solver, Dr. Ressl is dedicated to advancing foundational insights at the intersection of biochemistry and neuroscience. Her work aims to not only deepen our understanding of brain health and neurological disorders but also drive the development of next-generation tools for studying complex neuronal systems across multiple biological scales. By combining fundamental research with technological innovation, she aims to transform how we explore and interpret the molecular architecture of the brain.

The Ressl Lab integrates biophysics, biochemistry, structural biology, and cell biology to investigate how proteins govern cellular function, with a focus on visualizing their biological, physical, and chemical properties across scales—from atomic structures to cellular contexts. We are driven by the fascination of uncovering how proteins operate at the molecular level and translating these insights to understand complex biological systems.

Structural Neuroscience

Our research focuses on understanding how secreted and membrane-associated proteins organize and regulate synaptic connectivity and communication. These molecular interactions are essential for maintaining synapse stability, plasticity, and overall brain function. Disruptions in these processes are linked to a range of cognitive and neuropsychiatric disorders. We aim to reveal the molecular mechanisms that govern synapse protein interaction, organization, and function, providing insights into fundamental neuroscience and disease-associated pathways.

Structural Biology of Membrane Proteins

Membrane proteins play critical roles in signaling, transport, and cellular homeostasis but remain among the most challenging targets in structural biology. The Ressl Lab applies advanced structural and biophysical approaches to investigate membrane proteins involved in diverse physiological processes. By combining structural determination with functional studies, we seek to uncover how these complex proteins operate within their native environments, advancing our understanding of cellular mechanisms across biological systems.