As an undergraduate, Dr. Hiesinger studied genetics, computational biology and philosophy at the University of Freiburg in Germany. Under the guidance of Dr. Fischbach at the University of Freiburg, Germany, and Dr. Meinerzthagen at Dalhousie University, Canada, he subsequently received his PhD from the University of Freiburg for his work on visual system development in the fruit fly and computational visualization techniques.

During his postdoctoral work under Dr. Bellen at Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Dr. Hiesinger extended his studies on nervous system function in the fruit fly to the genetic, biochemical and physiological investigation of molecular and cellular mechanisms of synapse development and function.

Dr. Hiesinger joined the faculty of UT Southwestern as an Endowed Scholar in the Department of Physiology in 2006. Currently, the lab uses genetic, computational, live imaging, biochemical and electrophysiological approaches in the study of synapse specification, function and maintenance.