University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences ViennaAustria
Johannes Luca Kowal is a researcher at the Institute of Hydrobiology and Aquatic Ecosystem Management , part of the University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna (BOKU) . His work focuses on river ecology, connectivity dynamics, and ecological restoration of freshwater systems, particularly examining impacts on potamodromous fish species. Key projects include DANube SEdiment Restoration (2025–2028), NaturaConnect (2025–2026), and the Christian Doppler Laboratory for Meta Ecosystem dynamics in Riverine landscapes (2021–2028). He collaborates with institutions like the European Commission, Austrian Science Fund, and Christian Doppler Research Association. Research Themes : River connectivity analysis using graph theory and dynamic modeling Behavioral responses of fish to underwater soundscapes Policy challenges in restoring free-flowing rivers under the EU Nature Restoration Law Spatiotemporal impacts of hydropower dams on river ecosystems Recent Publications address Nile Basin connectivity changes (2025), Danube longitudinal fragmentation (2024), and experimental studies on fish behavior (2023). His scientific services include peer review for journals like Science of the Total Environment and Physical Geography (2024).
University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences ViennaAustria
Katarzyna Retzer serves as a Principal Investigator at the Institute of Forest Ecology, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences Vienna. Her work bridges plant biology, cell dynamics, and ecological applications. Education: PhD in Applied Genetics and Cell Biology (2002-2007), University of Vienna Research Focus: Auxin transporter dynamics, root mechanobiology, and development of imaging systems for dark-grown roots Her recent publications highlight: Elucidating SnRK1.1 as a master regulator of organ-specific growth-defense programs Innovations in Dynamic Dark Root Chamber for non-invasive phenotyping Exploring KIN10 integration of carbon availability in directional root growth Mechanistic insights into PIN2 sorting and ubiquitination in Arabidopsis
University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences ViennaAustria
Gaurav Patil is a researcher at the Institute of Food Technology , part of the Department of Biotechnology and Food Science at the University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna (BOKU). His work focuses on biochemical and structural studies of enzymes in Gram-positive bacterial heme biosynthesis, particularly coproheme decarboxylase and ChdC. Education: M.Sc. in a relevant field. Research Interests: Dr. Patil investigates the molecular mechanisms of actinobacterial enzymes involved in heme biosynthesis, combining structural biology, molecular dynamics simulations, and biochemical assays. His studies explore domain flexibility, substrate reactivity, and evolutionary conservation in Gram-positive bacteria. Publications: His recent articles analyze protein structures and dynamics in heme pathway enzymes, with a focus on actinobacterial systems. Collaborative projects highlight interdisciplinary approaches bridging microbiology, biophysics, and computational biology. Projects: Currently involved in the Austrian Science Fund (FWF)-supported project In-depth studies of actinobacterial ChdC , collaborating with the Institute of Biochemistry. Labs & Teams: Works within the Institute of Food Technology and partners with BOKU's Institute of Biochemistry and international research groups on heme biosynthesis and protein engineering.
University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences ViennaAustria
Vera Pfanzagl is a Research Fellow at the Institute of Biochemistry within the Department of Natural Sciences and Sustainable Resources at the University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna (BOKU). She currently holds an Elise-Richter Fellowship and has been actively conducting research on heme peroxidases since completing her PhD through the BioToP program at BOKU. Her work bridges biochemistry, structural biology, and molecular biology with a focus on human enzymes involved in immune response and thyroid function. Dr. Pfanzagl's research centers on the structure-function relationship of human heme peroxidases, with particular emphasis on Myeloperoxidase (MPO), eosinophil peroxidase (EPO), and Thyroid peroxidase (TPO). Her laboratory employs a multidisciplinary approach combining biochemical analysis , X-ray crystallography , and molecular biology techniques to unravel the fine structural differences between these enzymes. A significant portion of her work focuses on understanding TPO's role in thyroid hormone production and its involvement in Hashimoto's disease, where it serves as a primary auto-antigen. Analysis of her recent publications reveals a strong focus on structural characterization of peroxidases , enzyme mechanism studies , and inhibitor design . Her research spans fundamental enzymology to potential therapeutic applications, particularly in understanding autoimmune disorders related to peroxidase function. The consistent use of X-ray crystallography alongside biochemical and spectroscopic methods demonstrates her commitment to obtaining atomic-level understanding of these enzymes. Principal Investigator for FWF project 'biochemistry and structure of thyroid peroxidase' (2024-2027) Project Staff for FWF project 'SPIN – a novel scaffold for the design of inhibitors for human peroxidases' (2020-2025) Reviewer for Journal of Biological Chemistry (2024) and Journal of Molecular Recognition (2021) Member of organization committee for 11th Human Peroxidase Meeting (2019) Dr. Pfanzagl has successfully supervised six Master's theses on related topics, demonstrating her commitment to research mentoring. Her students have investigated areas including unnatural amino acid integration, peroxidase inhibition mechanisms, and heme reconstitution in thyroid peroxidase. Her research program is supported by competitive funding from the Austrian Science Fund (FWF), indicating the high quality and significance of her work in the field of peroxidase biochemistry.
University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences ViennaAustria
Klaus Katzensteiner is an Associate Professor at the Institute of Forest Ecology (iWOEK) at the University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences Vienna (BOKU). His research focuses on forest-soil interactions, sustainable silviculture, and ecosystem responses to disturbances such as logging and climate change. His recent work investigates: Soil hydrology and carbon dynamics under different timber harvesting methods Climate-growth relationships in silver fir (Abies alba) across elevational gradients Long-term soil restoration techniques in Norway spruce stands Impacts of logging-induced compaction on root-mycorrhizal systems Scaling dendroecological studies for regional climate analysis Notable methodological contributions include the TerrHum iOS application for humus form classification and integration of ERA5-Land data for soil moisture modeling. His research combines field measurements with predictive models to inform multi-functional forest management strategies in Europe.
University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences ViennaAustria
Ines Fritz is an Assistant Professor at the Institute of Environmental Biotechnology , University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna (BOKU). She contributes to academic governance as a Member of the Senate and serves on the Staff Council for Scientific Staff . Her research focuses on environmental biotechnology, cyanobacterial bioplastic production, biodegradation processes, and sustainable materials. Research Interests Dr. Fritz's work spans Cyanobacteria , Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA) , and Soil Ecology . She investigates stress resilience in cyanobacteria, optimizes phototrophic bioplastic production, and explores biodegradable polymer applications for sustainable food packaging. Her studies also address environmental impacts of bioprocesses and soil humus systems. Recent Publications Her 2025 articles on CO2-release quantification and cyanobacterial stress resilience demonstrate advancements in biodegradation testing and cellular viability analysis. Recent 2024 work compares PHB production under varying light regimes, evaluates climate change mitigation on Albarella Island, and explores nanofillers for biodegradable packaging. Earlier studies focus on photobioreactor design, waste stream utilization, and humus ecosystem classification. Contact Email: ines.fritz@boku.ac.at
University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences ViennaAustria
Markus Bacher is a researcher at the Institute of Chemistry of Renewable Resources, Department of Natural Sciences and Sustainable Resources, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna (BOKU). His research spans renewable resources chemistry, cellulose and lignin valorization, natural product isolation, and bioactive compound discovery from fungi and plants. His scientific interests include: Cellulose chemistry and modification Lignin analysis and functionalization Green solvents and ionic liquids Phytochemical profiling of medicinal plants Bioactive metabolites from fungal endophytes and filamentous fungi Material properties of biopolymers and biomass-derived compounds The recent publications reveal a strong focus on analytical methodologies (HPLC, NMR, FTIR), reaction mechanisms in polysaccharide chemistry, and the development of sustainable materials from renewable feedstocks. Key themes include cellulose dissolution and cross-linking, lignin characterization, and the discovery of novel bioactive natural products. Markus Bacher has not received any explicitly mentioned scientific awards in the provided text. He has not supervised any theses or led externally funded research projects listed in the profile. However, he has been a project employee in several significant research initiatives, including the Christian Doppler Laboratory for Modern Cellulose Chemistry and Analytics and projects on lignocellulose recycling and fungal metabolites. His work is conducted within collaborative research environments at BOKU, particularly within the Institute of Chemistry of Renewable Resources and in cooperation with the Institute of Microbial Genetics, focusing on interdisciplinary approaches to renewable materials and bioactive compounds.
University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences ViennaAustria
Harald Berger is a researcher at the Institute of Microbial Genetics within the Department of Agricultural Sciences at the University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna (BOKU). His work centers on fungal genetics, epigenetics, and secondary metabolism, with a focus on chromatin dynamics and gene regulation in species such as Aspergillus nidulans and Fusarium . He has been actively involved in multiple long-term research projects funded by the Austrian Science Fund (FWF) and regional agencies, primarily as a project staff member under Prof. Joseph Strauss. His research interests include: Fungal epigenetics and chromatin remodeling Regulation of secondary metabolite and mycotoxin production Gene expression dynamics in response to environmental cues Plant-pathogen and microbial interspecies interactions Histone modifications (e.g., H2A.Z, H3K27me3) Berger's recent publications (2020–2025) reveal a strong trend in understanding how chromatin structure governs fungal development and metabolism. His work combines molecular biology, genomics, and systems biology to dissect regulatory networks in filamentous fungi. A recurring theme is the interplay between histone variants and methylation marks in silencing or activating biosynthetic gene clusters. He has contributed to significant findings, including the role of H2A.Z in counteracting H3K27me3-mediated silencing, the function of the KdmB-EcoA-RpdA-SntB chromatin complex, and the identification of signaling molecules like Polaramycin B in microbial crosstalk. ORCID: 0000-0001-7974-3058 Berger has collaborated extensively on projects related to fungal virulence, soil microbial communities, and environmental stress responses. He has also engaged in science communication, notably through the Sparkling Science project "Das Internet der Pilze" (2019). While he does not appear to supervise theses, his collaborative network is broad and impactful. He is based at Konrad Lorenz-Straße 24, 3430 Tulln an der Donau, Austria.
University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences ViennaAustria
Thomas Svoboda is a researcher at the Institute of Microbial Genetics, Department of Agricultural Sciences, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna (BOKU). His work focuses on fungal genetics, plant-pathogen interactions, and molecular mechanisms of virulence in Fusarium graminearum . He is based in Tulln an der Donau and has been active in research since completing his PhD in 2019. His research interests include: Fungal genetics and epigenetics Plant-pathogen interactions Mycotoxin biosynthesis and contamination Phytohormone manipulation by fungi (auxin, ethylene) Metabolomics and bioinformatics Gene editing in filamentous fungi His recent publications (2014–2023) reveal a consistent focus on how Fusarium species interfere with plant hormone signaling and defense mechanisms, particularly through auxin and ethylene pathways. He employs molecular biology, genetic engineering, and metabolomic approaches to dissect fungal virulence and host responses. His work contributes to strategies for reducing mycotoxin contamination in crops. Thomas Svoboda has presented his research at major international conferences including the European Conference on Fungal Genetics, Mycotoxin Workshops, and the International Symposium on Plant Hormone Ethylene. His ORCID is 0000-0003-0502-301X. He has not received any publicly listed scientific awards. There is no information available about students he may have supervised. He is actively involved in collaborative research but no formal grants are listed in the provided text. He is part of a research team investigating fungal virulence, epigenetic regulation, and plant resistance mechanisms at BOKU’s Tulln campus, contributing to the 'Bioresources and Technologies' initiative.
University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences ViennaAustria
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Regine Schönlechner is a faculty member at the Department of Food Technology, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna (BOKU), Austria. Her research and teaching focus on cereal science, food processing, gluten-free technologies, and sustainable food systems. She has held visiting professorships in Peru and Thailand and is actively engaged in national and international scientific communities. Research Interests: Food Technology and Cereal Science Gluten-Free and Pseudocereal-Based Products Ohmic Heating and Novel Baking Technologies Functionalization of Cereal Byproducts (e.g., oat husks, arabinoxylans) Nutritional Enhancement of Alternative Grains (e.g., sorghum, quinoa) Sourdough Fermentation and Starter Cultures Sustainable and Climate-Resilient Food Systems Publication Trends: Her recent work centers on the technological and nutritional optimization of sorghum and other climate-smart cereals for bakery applications, the use of arabinoxylan-protein networks for gluten-free stabilization, and valorization of agricultural byproducts. Her interdisciplinary approach combines food chemistry, processing engineering, and sustainability principles. Scientific Awards: Ehrendoktorat (Doctor honoris causa), Budapest University of Technology and Economics (2025) Postdoctoral Fellowship, Prince of Songkla University (2022) Fellow, ICC Academy (2020) Agrana Forschungsförderungspreis (2014) Wirtschaftskammerpreis (2007) Advising and Community Engagement: She supervises student research, as evidenced by student-led conference posters. She is frequently invited to speak at industry and scientific events on topics such as alternative proteins, clean label trends, and sustainable food processing. She has contributed to public outreach through media appearances and talks on food additives, palm oil, and future food trends. Labs and Teams: She collaborates with researchers across Europe on cereal science, particularly within the ICC (International Association for Cereal Science and Technology) network. Her work involves interdisciplinary teams focusing on gluten analysis, sourdough microbiology, and novel food processing technologies like ohmic heating.
University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences ViennaAustria
Gorji Marzban is a faculty member at the University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna (BOKU), affiliated with the Department of Biotechnology and Food Sciences and associated with the Institute of Molecular Biotechnology. He holds the academic rank of Lecturer (Privatdozent), with expertise in proteomics, bioprocess engineering, and functional genomics. His research spans fungal stress responses, fruit allergen characterization, and molecular biotechnology. Research Interests: Proteomics and 2D electrophoresis Stress resistance in black yeasts and microcolonial fungi Fruit allergen analysis in Rosaceae and other species Functional genomics in plant and fungal systems Bioprocess engineering and systems biology His recent work focuses on proteome-level adaptations in extremophilic fungi and allergen profiling in fruits, contributing to food safety and biotechnological innovation. He has presented extensively at international conferences, reflecting sustained scholarly activity. Scientific Awards: Waldzell Scholarship (2004) Dr. Marzban has supervised university theses and contributed to collaborative research projects, particularly in allergen detection and fungal biotechnology. He led the Proteomics and 2D Electrophoresis Laboratory at BOKU from 1995 to 2012 and completed his habilitation in protein analysis, establishing a long-standing academic and research career.
University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences ViennaAustria
Juliane Dohm is an Associate Professor at the Institute of Computational Biology, Department of Biotechnology and Food Science, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna (BOKU). Her research focuses on computational genomics, particularly in plant species such as beet, spinach, and quinoa, using high-throughput sequencing and bioinformatics tools to understand genome evolution, structural variation, and crop domestication. Education: Habilitation in Bioinformatics (Venia Docendi), University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, 2020 Doctorate in Bioinformatics (Dr. rer. nat.), University of Potsdam and Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics Berlin, 2008 Diploma in Biochemistry (Dipl.-Biochem.), Ruhr University Bochum and Max Planck Institute for Molecular Physiology Dortmund, 2002 Her research interests span computational biology, plant genomics, structural variation, phylogenetics, population genomics, and machine learning applications in genomic data analysis . She employs long-read sequencing, k-mer analysis, and comparative genomics to unravel evolutionary relationships and identify candidate genes for agronomic traits in crops of the Amaranthaceae family. Her work bridges bioinformatics with plant breeding and conservation genetics. The recent publications highlight a strong trend in plant genome analysis , particularly focusing on beet and spinach. Key themes include genome assembly, structural variation, domestication history, and gene discovery using machine learning. Several studies employ k-mer-based phylogenetics and haplotype analysis to explore evolutionary dynamics and flowering time regulation. Additional work extends into microbial genomics and metatranscriptomics, particularly in livestock and industrial yeast systems. Juliane Dohm has supervised numerous Master’s and PhD theses in bioinformatics and genomics, mentoring students in areas such as quinoa subgenome separation, beet structural variation, and spinach genomics. She is involved in multiple externally funded research projects, including FWF- and EU-supported initiatives on beet genomics and crop wild relative conservation. She also contributes to the scientific community through conference organization and presentations at major bioinformatics events. She leads research within the Institute of Computational Biology , collaborating closely with Heinz Himmelbauer and contributing to the development of genomic resources for key crops. Her lab utilizes advanced sequencing technologies and computational pipelines to generate high-quality genome assemblies and functional annotations.
University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences ViennaAustria
Matthias Schlögl is a Researcher at the Institute for Alpine Natural Hazards (Department of Landscape, Water and Infrastructure) within the University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna (BOKU) . With a doctoral degree in technical sciences (Dr. nat. techn.) from BOKU (2015), he specializes in statistical analysis and geospatial modeling of natural hazards. Research Focus : Statistical modeling of extreme weather events Machine learning applications for hazard assessment Climate change impact on Alpine geohazards Exposure analysis for infrastructure Multi-hazard spatiotemporal risk assessment Recent publications (2023-2025) span landslide susceptibility modeling, wildfire vulnerability indices, debris flow analysis, and climate change impacts on Alpine hazards. He contributes to projects funded by the European Union , Austrian Research Promotion Agency (FFG) , and national ministries. Community engagement includes peer-review activities for journals like Natural Hazards and Earth System Sciences , Journal of Hydrology , and Remote Sensing .
University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences ViennaAustria
Claudia Gusenbauer (Dipl.-Ing.Dr.) is a Senior Scientist and University Assistant at the Institut für Holztechnologie und Nachwachsende Rohstoffe of the University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences (BOKU), Vienna. Her research focuses on biobased material design , particularly through nanostructural analysis of wood components using atomic force microscopy (AFM) and chemical force microscopy . She has held research positions at the University of Cambridge (2022) and Lehigh University (2019). Research Highlights: Biobased wood coatings using cellulose nanocrystals High-resolution nanoscale characterization of wood surfaces Surface chemistry of lignocellulosic materials Applications of AFM in renewable resource analysis Scientific Recognition: Danubius Young Scientist Award (2021) Knowledge creates the future Prize (2021) BOKU Best Talent Award (2018) Academic Contributions: She has published extensively on wood nanotechnology, presented at international conferences (e.g., EPNOE, ISWFPC), and supervised master's theses on topics like reaction wood characterization and chemical force titration methods.
University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences ViennaAustria
Andrea Lamprecht is a researcher at the Institute of Botany , University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences Vienna (BOKU). She has been a key member of the GLORIA (Global Observation Research Initiative in Alpine Environments) coordination office in Vienna since 2011, focusing on alpine plant biodiversity responses to anthropogenic global changes across European biomes. Her work bridges field ecology, climate change analysis, and conservation biology, with active participation in international projects since 2015. Education: Diploma in Cultural and Social Anthropology (2005-2012), University of Vienna Diploma in Conservation Biology/Vegetation Ecology (2005-2012), University of Vienna PhD in 2021 (BOKU) on Responses of Alpine Plant Species to Anthropogenic Global Changes Research Interests include: Alpine plant community assembly Climate change impacts on high-mountain biodiversity Functional trait analysis in vegetation dynamics Global change effects on Mediterranean vs. temperate mountains Scientific Contributions span climate-driven vegetation transformation studies, soil temperature threshold analyses, and methodological advances in photogrammetric vegetation mapping. She has contributed to 15+ peer-reviewed publications since 2014, with recent work (2021-2024) focusing on: Microclimatic drivers of alpine flora Functional diversity shifts in contrasting climate regimes Soil-vegetation interactions under warming Professional Activities include: Organizational roles in GLORIA field campaigns (Sierra Nevada, Hochschwab, Kyrgyzstan, etc.) International conference presentations in 10+ countries (USA, China, Ecuador, etc.) Methodological training workshops in mountain research
