Joseph Strauss

Joseph Strauss is a Full Professor at the University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences Vienna (BOKU), leading the Institute of Microbial Genetics. With a career spanning over three decades, he has focused on fungal genetics, epigenetics, and bioactive metabolite discovery, particularly in filamentous fungi and pathogens. His work bridges fundamental research with applications in agriculture, medicine, and environmental biotechnology.

• Research Focus: Epigenetic regulation of fungal secondary metabolism, chromatin dynamics, bioactive compounds, nitrate signaling, and microbial interactions.
• Projects: Leads multiple grants from Austrian Science Fund (FWF), European Commission, and industry partners, including studies on chromatin engineering, fungal biotechnology, and toxin biosynthesis.

His recent publications highlight advancements in chromatin proteomics, fungal pathogenicity, and novel bioactive molecules like luteapyrone and rasfonin. Articles emphasize broad disciplines such as Fungal Genetics, Epigenetics, and Natural Product Discovery, with subfields including secondary metabolite clusters, histone modifications, and stress response mechanisms.

• Scientific Awards:
  • 2021 - Keratinophyton straussii fungal species named after him
  • 1999 - START Preis
  • 1995 - EMBO Stipendium
  • 1994 - OTTO LOEWI Stipendium

He has supervised over 69 theses and contributed to 186 publications, reflecting his leadership in fungal genomics and its applications. Projects like 'Bioaktive Mikrobielle Metaboliten' and 'TASSMATA' underscore his commitment to translating research into sustainable solutions.