Before his retirement in 2008, he held the professorial chair for genetics and neurobiology at the Bio Centre of the University of Würzburg.
Since then, he continues his research with a senior professorship at the Rudolf Virchow Center of the University of Würzburg.
Heisenberg studied chemistry and molecular biology in Munich, Tübingen and Pasadena.
Heisenberg's work has focused on the neurogenetics of Drosophila (the fruit fly), with the aim of investigating the genetic foundations of the Drosophila brain by studying the effect of genetic mutations on brain function.
In addition, Heisenberg contributed a number of essays on the topics of science in society, perception, as well as the question of the freedom of the will.