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Prof. Dr. Klaus Mayer serves as Director of the Plant Genome and Systems Biology (PGSB) research group at Helmholtz Zentrum München and holds an Honorary Professorship at the Technical University of Munich (TUM) School of Life Sciences since 2015. His work bridges environmental health research and academic instruction, focusing on genomic solutions for global food systems under climate stress. His academic foundation includes: PhD in Plant Developmental Biology from Eberhard-Karls-Universität Tübingen (1994-1997) Postdoctoral research at Max Planck Institute for Biochemistry (1997-1999) Mayer's research decodes genomes of staple crops (wheat, rye, barley, sorghum) to develop climate-resilient varieties, enhance food security, and investigate plant allergen-human health interactions. His team employs advanced bioinformatics and big data analytics to study genetic diversity in orphan crops and plant-microbe ecosystems, prioritizing translational applications for sustainable agriculture under extreme environmental conditions. Scientific Recognition: IWGSC Outstanding Leadership Award (2015) for wheat genome sequencing leadership Leading the PGSB group, Mayer coordinates international consortia including the International Wheat Genome Sequencing Consortium. His current DFG-funded projects explore plant-microbe interaction genomics and virtual research data infrastructure, demonstrating commitment to interdisciplinary collaboration for planetary health solutions.

• Plant Genomics
• Bioinformatics
• Crop Science
• +3 more

Adam Runions is a researcher in the Department of Computer Science at the University of Calgary, leading the MPG Partner Group in computational analysis of leaf development through collaborative work with Miltos Tsiantis. His group is embedded in the Graphics Cluster, focusing on interdisciplinary problems at the intersection of computer science and developmental biology. University of Calgary - Department of Computer Science MPG Partner Group (2022) Graphics Cluster affiliation His research explores computational modeling and analysis of plant form and development across multiple scales, integrating geometric modeling, physically-based simulation, and computer-aided design. Key themes include plant morphogenesis, self-organization of natural forms, and cross-disciplinary applications in computer graphics and animation. Recent publications emphasize plant development (leaf shape, bark patterning), mathematical modeling (auxin-driven patterning), and geometric techniques (subdivision surfaces, PUPs). Collaborations span institutions like the Max Planck Institute for Plant Breeding Research. Scientific Awards Marie Sklodowska-Curie Fellowship Best Paper Award (International Conference on Cyberworlds 2015) Best Student Paper Award (Computer Graphics International 2011) The group actively recruits BSc, MSc, and PhD students with backgrounds in computer science and mathematics for projects on plant form simulation and digital content creation. Research integrates evolutionary biology, biomechanical modeling, and computational techniques.

• Computational Modeling
• Developmental Biology
• Computer Science
• +4 more

Prof. Karen Alim is a Professor of Biological Physics and Morphogenesis at the Department of Physics, Technische Universität München (TUM), affiliated with the TUM School of Natural Sciences. She holds a PhD from the Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München (2010) and conducted postdoctoral research at Harvard University (2010–2015) before leading a Max Planck Research Group in Göttingen. Her research focuses on non-neuronal information processing in living systems, particularly using Physarum polycephalum to study physical principles of network adaptation, fluid dynamics, and morphogenesis. Education: PhD in Physics, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München (2010) Studies at Universität Karlsruhe, LMU München, and University of Manchester Research Interests: Prof. Alim explores how biological systems process information without neurons, emphasizing adaptive flow networks, mechanical signaling in plants, and collective behavior in active matter. Her work combines theoretical modeling with experimental systems like slime molds and plant tissues. Awards: ERC Starting Grant (2020) Elisabeth-Schiemann-Kolleg Fellowship (2013–2018) DAAD Stipendium (2011–2014) John Birks Award (2004) Advising & Grants: While specific grant details beyond the ERC award are not listed, her research has been supported by major funding bodies. No student advisees are explicitly listed in the provided materials. Labs/Teams: Leads the Biological Physics and Morphogenesis group at TUM, focusing on interdisciplinary studies of living systems' physical principles.

• Biological Physics
• Morphogenesis
• Non-neuronal Information Processing
• +4 more

Martin Kaltenpoth serves as Director at the Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology in Jena since 2020 and Professor for Evolutionary Ecology at Johannes Gutenberg University of Mainz since 2015. Previously, he led the Research Group Insect Symbiosis at the MPI for Chemical Ecology from 2009 to 2015. Education: PhD in Biology (summa cum laude), University of Würzburg, 2006 Diploma in Biology (with honors), University of Würzburg, 2003 His research centers on insect-bacterial symbioses , investigating evolutionary, ecological, and chemical dimensions of host-microbe interactions. Key foci include nutritional and defensive symbiosis in beetles, genomic adaptations of symbiotic bacteria, and chemical mediation of symbiotic relationships. His work bridges entomology, microbiology, and chemical ecology to unravel coevolutionary mechanisms. Analysis of recent publications reveals dominant trends in beetle-microbe systems, emphasizing symbiont roles in cuticle synthesis, antifungal defense, and host-plant adaptation. His studies frequently employ genomic, biochemical, and experimental approaches across diverse insect lineages. No scientific awards were documented in the source material. While specific advisees and grants remain unlisted, his leadership of research groups and dual academic appointments indicate active supervision of graduate researchers and externally funded projects in symbiosis evolution. Currently directing research at the Max Planck Institute, Kaltenpoth advances understanding of symbiotic systems with implications for evolutionary theory and sustainable pest management strategies.

• Insect Symbiosis
• Evolutionary Ecology
• Chemical Ecology
• +2 more

Prof. Dr. Jörg Schultz serves as a Professor for Bioinformatics at the Faculty of Biology, University of Würzburg, a position he has held since 2003. He is also a Group Leader at the Center for Computational and Theoretical Biology (CCTB) and was a member of the CCTB Managing Board from 2015-2019. His academic journey includes significant roles as Group Leader at the Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics in Berlin (2002-2003) and at cellzome in Heidelberg (2000-2002). He completed his PhD studies at EMBL Heidelberg (1996-2000) after conducting his diploma thesis there in 1995-1996, following biology studies at the University of Konstanz (1991-1996). Prof. Schultz's research spans bioinformatics, computational biology, and evolutionary genomics, with notable contributions to protein domain analysis, phylogenetics, and structural bioinformatics. His recent work has focused extensively on plant genomics, particularly studying carnivorous plants like the Venus flytrap to uncover the evolutionary roots of plant carnivory. His research integrates computational methods with biological questions to address fundamental evolutionary patterns and molecular mechanisms across diverse organisms. Prof. Schultz has maintained a prolific publication record since the late 1990s, with his most recent work demonstrating continued innovation in computational approaches to biological questions. His publications reveal a consistent trajectory from foundational work on protein domain evolution (including the development of the SMART database) to current research on plant genomics, molecular evolution, and bioinformatics tool development. His work shows particular strength in bridging computational methodology with biological insight across multiple domains. Among his significant contributions is the development of the ITS2 Database, a widely used resource for phylogenetic analyses, along with various computational tools including ALVIS for sequence alignment visualization, reper for repetitive element analysis, and BCdatabaser for DNA barcoding. These resources have advanced methodological capabilities in the bioinformatics community. As an academic mentor, Prof. Schultz has guided numerous students and researchers through his laboratory at the University of Würzburg, contributing significantly to the education and training of the next generation of bioinformaticians. His leadership roles demonstrate his commitment to advancing computational and theoretical biology as academic disciplines while maintaining strong connections between computational approaches and biological discovery.

• Bioinformatics
• Computational Biology
• Evolutionary Genomics
• +5 more

Prof. Dr. Karin Schumacher is a Professor of Plant Developmental Biology at Heidelberg University and currently serves as Vice-Rector for Quality Development and Sustainability. Her research focuses on plant cell biology, particularly vacuole dynamics, ion homeostasis, and membrane trafficking in Arabidopsis. She leads the Cell Biology Research Group at the Centre for Organismal Studies (COS) and has held leadership roles such as Dean of the Faculty of Biosciences. Her work integrates computational modeling with experimental approaches to study plant growth and stress responses. Dr. Schumacher's academic career includes a Doctorate from the University of Cologne and a Habilitation from the University of Tübingen. She has held professorial positions since 2007 and contributed to advancements in understanding plant membrane systems, including V-ATPase function and calcium signaling. Her research publications emphasize vacuolar ion transport, autophagy mechanisms, and plant stress physiology. Her administrative roles include enhancing early career researcher support and promoting sustainability in university operations. She is an active member of scientific societies like the German Botanical Society and serves on editorial boards such as Plant Cell . Her interdisciplinary work bridges cell biology, molecular genetics, and systems-level plant physiology.

• Cell Biology
• Plant Developmental Biology
• Plant Cell Biology
• +3 more

Dr. Thomas Spallek is a Junior Group Leader leading the Plant Biotic Interactions Group at Georg-August University Göttingen, Germany. His research focuses on functional genetics of parasitic plants, interspecific signaling, and haustoria formation mechanisms. Previously, he held roles as Project Leader (2019–2022) and Postdoc (2018–2019) at the University of Hohenheim, with postdoctoral experience at RIKEN (Japan) and The Sainsbury Laboratory (UK). Education: PhD in Plant Biology (Max Planck Institute, Cologne, 2011), Diploma in Biology (University of Konstanz, 2008). Research Interests: Parasitic plant genetics and host interactions Cytokinin signaling in plant-pathogen relationships Cellular and molecular mechanisms of haustorium development Publications span plant-parasite signaling, hormonal regulation, and genomic studies of parasitic weeds. Notable collaborations include work on Striga asiatica genome analysis and cytokinin-driven virulence factors. He is affiliated with the International Research Training Group 2172 - PRoTECT and coordinates the Plant Biotic Interactions research group. His work integrates molecular genetics, bioimaging, and computational tools to dissect plant defense and parasitic strategies.

• Plant Biology
• Parasitic Plant Genetics
• Plant-Microbe Interactions
• +4 more

Dr. Joanna Malukiewicz is a Postdoctoral Researcher at the University of Hamburg, affiliated with the Faculty of Mathematics, Informatics and Natural Sciences and the Department of Biology. She works within the Institute of Animal Cell and Systems Biology, focusing on Evolutionary Immunogenomics. Her research emphasizes genomic studies of primates, particularly marmosets (Callithrix species), hybridization dynamics, microbiome analysis, and conservation genomics. Dr. Malukiewicz's work spans evolutionary biology, genomics, and biodiversity conservation. She investigates topics such as morphological variation in marmosets, genomic mechanisms driving dwarfism, and the impact of captivity on animal health. Her studies often combine genomic data with ecological observations to understand species adaptation and survival. Her recent publications highlight advancements in sequencing technologies, applications of genomics to conservation, and insights into zoonotic diseases in urban primate populations. She collaborates internationally, addressing challenges in endangered species management and sustainable biodiversity strategies. Dr. Malukiewicz holds no listed scientific awards but contributes actively to peer-reviewed literature and conservation initiatives. She is based at the Institute of Animal Cell and Systems Biology, Room 459, in Hamburg.

• Evolutionary Biology
• Genomics
• Conservation Biology
• +4 more

Prof. Volker Lipka is a Professor of Plant Cell Biology at the University of Göttingen, leading research on plant innate immunity mechanisms. His work focuses on molecular dissection of basal defense activation in Arabidopsis thaliana , plant defense against fungal pathogens, and fungal effector molecules. He combines genetics, cell biology, and biochemistry to study complex plant-pathogen interactions. Education and Career: Dr. rer.nat., Technical University Aachen (1999) Postdoctoral Fellow, Sainsbury Laboratory (1999-2000) Postdoctoral Fellow, Max Planck Institute for Plant Breeding Research (2000-2004) Independent Research Group Leader, University of Tübingen (2004-2007) Independent Research Group Leader, John Innes Centre (2007-2009) Professor at University of Göttingen since 2009 Research Interests: Molecular mechanisms of plant immunity, pathogen entry control, effector molecule interference, and subcellular defense dynamics. His lab investigates chitin receptor signaling, mitochondrial roles in pathogen defense, and fungal-induced stress adaptations. Labs/Teams: Heads the Plant Cell Biology department within the Schwann-Schleiden Research Center, affiliated with the GGNB's Molecular Biology of Cells group and the International Research Training Group 2172 (PRoTECT).

• Plant Innate Immunity
• Molecular Biology
• Plant-Fungal Interactions
• +3 more

Dr. Caroline Schuppli is a Max Planck Research Group Leader at the Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior in Konstanz and a Freigeist Fellow by the Volkswagen Foundation. She serves as IMPRS QBEE faculty , Adjunct Researcher at the University of Zürich, and Director of the SUAQ Orangutan Research Project in Indonesia since 2017. Her work bridges evolutionary biology and cognitive ecology through longitudinal studies of Sumatran orangutans. Education: PhD in Evolutionary Biology (2012-2016), University of Zürich MSc in Anthropology (2010-2012), University of Zürich BSc in Biology (2007-2010), University of Zürich Her research investigates how social learning , environmental complexity , and maternal behavior shape cognitive evolution in great apes. Key themes include: Comparative analyses of wild vs. captive orangutan cognition Development of ecological skills and cultural repertoires Role of curiosity and innovation in cognitive evolution Interplay between life history and brain size trade-offs Recent publications emphasize nested skill acquisition , maternal behavior plasticity , and cross-taxa comparisons of social learning mechanisms. She has mentored PhD candidates like Nora Slania , Adriana Luna , and Emma Lokuciejewski . Scientific Awards: Freigeist Fellowship (2021) Swiss National Science Foundation Postdoc Funding (2019-2020) As President of the SUAQ Foundation and collaborator with institutions across Switzerland and Germany, she integrates fieldwork at Suaq Balimbing with global comparative frameworks.

• Evolutionary Biology
• Cognitive Development
• Social Learning
• +5 more

Dr. Jennifer Gerke is a Researcher at the Institute of Organic Chemistry within the Faculty of Natural Sciences at Leibniz University Hannover. Her work focuses on microbial secondary metabolism, fungal development, and synthetic biology. She leads research in the Synthetic Biology Group and contributes to interdisciplinary projects in organic chemistry and molecular biology. Her research explores mechanisms of fungal adaptation, including secondary metabolite regulation, transcription factor networks, and plant-microbe interactions. Recent studies highlight novel biosynthetic pathways, pathogen virulence mechanisms, and applications in biotechnology such as fragrance production in yeast. Key contributions include discoveries in tropolone biosynthesis, velvet domain protein functions, and the role of Hülle cells in fungal survival. Her work bridges fundamental research with applied biotechnology, addressing topics from antibiotic discovery to metabolic engineering.

• Organic Chemistry
• Microbial Secondary Metabolism
• Fungal Development
• +3 more

Gesa Hoffmann is a Postdoctoral Fellow at the Max Planck Institute of Molecular Plant Physiology in Golm, Germany. She holds a PhD in Biology from the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (2023) and a Master of Science in Biology from the University of Vienna (2018). 2023: PhD, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences 2018: MSc, University of Vienna 2015: BSc, University of Cologne Her research focuses on molecular barriers preventing plant virus vertical transmission through sexual reproduction. Key areas include viral protein interactions with RNA granules, stress response modulation by plant viruses, and thermoresponsive transcriptional regulation in immunity. She investigates how Cauliflower mosaic virus exploits RNA processing machinery and how autophagy regulates cucumber mosaic virus infection. Her work involves collaborations with institutions in Austria, Sweden, and Germany. She has published in journals such as New Phytologist , The Plant Cell , and Autophagy , with research themes spanning RNA biology, effector protein networks, and plant-pathogen co-evolution. Scientific Awards: Marie Skłodowska-Curie Postdoctoral Fellowship (2025–2027) EMBO Postdoctoral Fellowship (2023–2025) Scandinavian Plant Physiology Society Outstanding PhD Award (2023) Lars-Henning Award for Best PhD Thesis in Uppsala (2023) Nilsson-Ehle Endowment (2019) Currently, she leads research projects within the Max Planck Research Group Plant Germline Antiviral Immunity, supported by Twitter/X via @gesahoffmann . Her work combines molecular virology with plant developmental biology to address fundamental questions about antiviral immunity in plant stem cells.

• Plant Virology
• Molecular Plant Physiology
• Antiviral Immunity
• +3 more

Karl Forchhammer is a full Professor at the University of Tübingen , chairing the Department of Microbiology/Organismic Interactions within the Interfaculty Institute of Microbiology and Infection Medicine Tübingen (IMIT) . He received his education at Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, earning a Doctorate in Microbiology with a thesis on selenocysteine biosynthesis in Escherichia coli , for which he received the VAAM Promotionspreis in 1992. His academic career includes a postdoctoral fellowship at the Institut Pasteur and associate professorship at the Justus-Liebig-Universität Giessen (1999-2007). Current Roles: Chair of Microbiology/Organismic Interactions, University of Tübingen Editor for FEBS Journal Scientific Advisory Board member, Max Planck Institute for Terrestrial Microbiology DFG panel member (Microbiology, Virology, Immunology) His research focuses on: PII Signal Transduction Proteins : Molecular mechanisms of 2-oxoglutarate sensing, ATP/ADP binding dynamics, and regulatory roles in carbon-nitrogen balance across bacteria, archaea, and chloroplasts. Nitrogen Starvation Response : Molecular basis of chlorosis in Synechocystis and Synechococcus species, including nblA gene regulation and sodium bioenergetics during dormancy. Metabolic Engineering Applications : Development of FRET sensors for metabolite detection and optimization of polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB) production in cyanobacteria. Carbon Regulation Systems : Structural analysis of SbtB redox-sensitive loops, c-di-AMP signaling in diurnal metabolism, and PirC-mediated phosphoglycerate mutase inhibition. Technological Innovations : Creation of SCAGE method for cyanobacterial transport and development of magnetic bead immunoassays for SARS-CoV-2 detection. Scientific contributions include: Discovery of plant kingdom's first glutamine sensory mechanism through PII evolution Elucidation of PII-NAGK functional conservation over 1.2 billion years Identification of 2-oxoglutarate binding site in PII proteins Demonstration of sodium bioenergetics' critical role in cyanobacterial developmental transitions Development of metabolite FRET sensors for real-time metabolic monitoring Establishment of PHB production platforms without nitrogen starvation His lab has trained 15+ PhD students and 3+ PostDocs, with collaborations spanning microbial biotechnology, structural biology, and environmental systems. Recent publications highlight: 2025 work on natural microbial community-enhanced bioplastic production 2024 structural studies of PII-regulated enzymes 2023-2024 investigations into glycogen metabolism and redox regulation 2022-2023 studies on c-di-AMP signaling and toxin-antitoxin systems

• Nitrogen regulation in bacteria
• PII signal transduction proteins
• Cyanobacterial metabolism
• +5 more

Dr. Birgit Kemmerling is a research group leader at the Center for Plant Molecular Biology (ZMBP) within the Faculty of Science at the University of Tübingen, Germany. Her research focuses on molecular mechanisms of plant innate immunity, particularly the role of leucine-rich repeat receptor-like kinases (LRR-RLKs) in pathogen recognition and defense signaling. Key projects include studying BAK1 and BIR3 kinases involved in immune receptor complex formation and regulation. She collaborates with institutions worldwide and has secured funding from DFG and EU programs such as AFGN, Bravissimo, and SFB1101. Teaching responsibilities include lectures and seminars on comparative immunity in plants and animals, practical courses in molecular mechanisms of innate immunity, and supervision of bachelor/master theses. Her group actively engages in interdisciplinary projects, integrating nanotechnology studies to assess immune responses to nanoparticles across species. Notable collaborators include Prof. Thomas Boller (Basel), Cyril Zipfel (Norwich), and Frans Tax (Tucson). Research highlights include discovering BAK1's dual role in brassinosteroid signaling and immune response regulation, as well as identifying novel LRR-RLK genes activated by pathogen infection. Current work explores nanomaterial biocompatibility and immune system interactions, leveraging advanced microscopy techniques like super-resolution imaging (OneFlowTraX software development).

• Plant Molecular Biology
• Plant Pathology
• Immunology
• +5 more

Stefan Irniger serves as a faculty member at a German-speaking academic institution, where he has supervised numerous doctoral candidates between 2004 and 2014. His academic position as a Privatdozent (PD) indicates he has completed the habilitation process, the highest academic qualification in the German system. Dr. Irniger's research spans multiple areas of molecular and cellular biology, with particular emphasis on: Microbial pathogenesis and host-pathogen interactions Fungal and yeast molecular genetics Protein regulation and post-translational modifications Enzyme structure and function Cellular metabolism and signaling pathways His doctoral students have published work examining diverse biological systems including Toxoplasma gondii, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Aspergillus nidulans, and various plant-pathogen interactions. The publications demonstrate a consistent focus on molecular mechanisms underlying cellular processes, with particular attention to protein regulation, metabolic pathways, and host-microbe interactions. His students' work appears across multiple subdisciplines including parasitology, fungal genetics, enzymology, and membrane biology. Dr. Irniger has guided 18 doctoral students to completion, with dissertation topics spanning from 2004-2014. His students have investigated fundamental biological questions with implications for infectious disease, agricultural pathology, and basic cellular mechanisms. While specific awards are not documented in the available records, the breadth and quality of supervised research indicates significant scholarly contribution to his fields of expertise.

• Molecular Biology
• Microbiology
• Biochemistry
• +4 more