Kai Papenfort elected Fellow of the European Academy of Microbiology
Kai Papenfort, Principal Investigator in the Cluster of Excellence “Balance of the Microverse“ at the University of Jena, has been elected Fellow of the European Academy of Microbiology (EAM). The Academy announced the appointment as part of its 2026 cohort of 95 newly elected Fellows, recognizing outstanding scientific achievement and leadership in microbiology.
Election to the EAM is a distinction awarded through a rigorous nomination and evaluation process conducted by existing Fellows. It honors researchers whose work has significantly advanced microbiology and contributed to addressing major societal challenges in health, environment, and biotechnology.
Kai Papenfort’s research focuses on the regulatory roles of non-coding RNAs in bacteria. His work has substantially advanced the understanding of how small regulatory RNAs (sRNAs) control gene expression and shape complex microbial behaviors, including cell-to-cell communication, virulence, and stress responses. By elucidating the molecular mechanisms of sRNA-mediated regulation, his group also explores innovative approaches to engineer synthetic RNAs and investigate interactions between bacteria and bacteriophages.
“Being elected to the European Academy of Microbiology is a great honor and recognition of the work carried out by my group and collaborators,” says Papenfort. “It highlights the importance of fundamental research in uncovering molecular principles that ultimately underpin applications in health and biotechnology.”
Before joining the University of Jena in 2019, Papenfort held a professorship at Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich. He trained at leading international institutions, including Princeton University and the Max Planck Institute for Infection Biology, and has received numerous prestigious awards, among them grants from the European Research Council, the HFSP Career Development Award, and the Research Award of the Engelhorn Foundation.
The European Academy of Microbiology, part of the Federation of European Microbiological Societies, brings together eminent scientists whose work drives forward the field. With the election of the 2026 Fellows, the Academy continues to strengthen its global network and foster collaboration across disciplines. Fellows are committed to advancing microbiological research, supporting emerging scientific priorities, and mentoring the next generation of researchers.
The election of Kai Papenfort as a member of the EAM, making him the second researcher after Alex Brakhage to receive this distinction, highlights the international visibility and outstanding excellence of microbiology research at the Cluster of Excellence “Balance of the Microverse” and the University of Jena.
About the European Academy of Microbiology
The European Academy of Microbiology is a distinguished body within the FEMS network, uniting leading microbiologists from across Europe and beyond. Through the collective expertise of its Fellows, the Academy promotes scientific exchange, supports innovation, and enhances the global impact of microbiological research.