Moritz Nowack

Moritz Nowack is a Full Professor at Ghent University and VIB Group Leader in the Center for Plant Systems Biology. His research focuses on programmed cell death (PCD) in plants, particularly its roles in development, immunity, and reproduction. He leads a team of postdocs, PhD students, and technical staff investigating PCD mechanisms in model organisms like Arabidopsis and maize. Key research areas include root cap dynamics, seed longevity, and programmed cell death regulation in reproductive tissues.

His academic progression includes roles as Assistant Professor (2013–2018), Associate Professor (2018–2020), and Full Professor (since 2020). He has published extensively on PCD, including landmark studies on anther opening, Marchantia metabolites, and endosperm development. The lab collaborates internationally and contributes to translational research in plant biology and agriculture.

Lab members include PhD candidates Dawei Zhao and Geng Sun, postdocs Eugenia Pitsili and Achintya Kumar Dolui, and technical support like Freya De Winter. Research emphasizes systems biology approaches to unravel genetic and molecular networks underlying plant PCD, with potential applications in crop improvement and stress resilience.

Future work aims to advance understanding of PCD in plant immunity, seed viability, and developmental precision. The lab hosts regular seminars and participates in interdisciplinary projects at VIB and Ghent University.