Claudio Sunkel, new Council Chair of EMBL

IBMC director Claudio Sunkel has been elected as the new Chair of EMBL Council, it was announced at EMBL’s Winter Council Meeting in Hamburg, which took place 27–28 November.

Aside from being the director of IBMC, Claudio is also a Professor of Molecular Biology at the ICBAS - Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas Abel Salazar, Porto University, and previously served     for two years as vice-Chair of EMBL Council. His lab is mainly focused on the study of cell division and the mechanisms involved in maintaining genomic stability, using a combination of techniques such as classical genetics, cell biology and advanced light microscopy.

EMBL Council is composed of representatives from all 21 member states of the laboratory and determines the lab’s policy in scientific, technical and administrative matters. Claudio replaces outgoing Chair Eero Vuorio, who is director of the Biocenter at the University of Helsinki in Finland.

EMBL Director General Iain Mattaj said: “On behalf of EMBL I would like to welcome the appointment of Claudio Sunkel as Chair of Council and thank Eero Vuorio, particularly for his efforts in the negotiation of the lab’s current scientific programme and indicative scheme.”