Andreas Beck

PD Dr. Andreas Beck serves as Senior Curator of Lichens and Bryophytes, Research Scientist, and Deputy Director at the Bavarian State Collection of Botany (Botanische Staatssammlung München). His research focuses on the systematics and coevolution of lichen symbionts, employing molecular, morphological, and physiological techniques. He leads projects on photobiont distribution, phylogenetic analysis of lichen algae, and lichen responses to climate change. Beck also manages key scientific portals like Mycology.Net and Phycology.Net, promoting fungal and algal diversity awareness.

Current research initiatives include lichen metabolomics (collaborating with Technical University of Munich), heavy metal tolerance studies, and global plant collections digitization under the Global Plants Initiative. His work bridges field ecology with controlled laboratory experiments through lichen resynthesis studies.

As Scientific Head of the Laboratory, Beck oversees interdisciplinary projects combining genomics, metabolomics, and ecological modeling. His contributions advance both theoretical understanding and practical applications in lichenology, including conservation strategies for symbiotic organisms.