Claus-Peter Witte

Prof. Dr. Claus-Peter Witte is a full Professor and Executive Director at the Institute of Plant Nutrition, Leibniz University Hannover, within the Faculty of Natural Sciences. He leads research in molecular nutrition and plant biochemistry, focusing on nucleotide and nitrogen metabolism. He also serves on multiple academic committees, including the Faculty Council, Curriculum and Teaching Committee, and the Admissions Board for MSc Plant Biotechnology.

• Studied biotechnology at TU Braunschweig (1991–1997)
• Diploma thesis at University of Córdoba, Spain (1996–1997)
• PhD at Scottish Crop Research Institute, UK (1997–2001), supported by DAAD and Marie Curie scholarships
• Postdoctoral fellow at Max Planck Institute for Plant Breeding Research (2001–2004), EMBO fellow
• University Assistant at Free University of Berlin (2005–2009)
• Group leader of German-Chinese junior research group (2009–2014)
• Habilitation in Botany, Free University of Berlin (2012)
• Appointed W3 Professor at Leibniz University Hannover (2014)

His research centers on central nucleotide metabolism, including purine and pyrimidine catabolism, urea and ureide degradation, and nucleoside salvage pathways in plants. He investigates metabolic analytics and the role of nucleotide metabolites in plant development and stress responses. His work integrates biochemistry, molecular biology, and metabolomics.

Analysis of his recent publications (2021–2025) reveals a consistent focus on nucleotide metabolism in plants, particularly enzymes involved in purine and pyrimidine catabolism, nucleoside phosphorylation, and salvage pathways. His studies employ structural biology, metabolomics, and genetic approaches, often in Arabidopsis thaliana and crop plants, contributing to understanding metabolic regulation, genome stability, and plant nutrition.

Prof. Witte has held prestigious fellowships, including DAAD, Marie Curie, and EMBO, reflecting his international research recognition. While no specific awards are listed, these fellowships underscore his scientific excellence.

He advises students and collaborates widely, with frequent co-authorship with researchers such as Herde, Straube, and Medina-Escobar. He has contributed to methodological advances in nucleotide analysis and protein purification. His research is supported by institutional and likely external funding, though specific grants are not detailed.

Prof. Witte leads the Institute of Plant Nutrition, overseeing research and education in plant nutrition and biochemistry. His team investigates metabolic pathways critical for plant growth, nutrient use efficiency, and stress adaptation, with potential applications in agriculture and biotechnology.