Barbara Korbei

Dr. Barbara Korbei is a Professor and current Institute head of the Institute of Molecular Plant Biology at the University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna (BOKU), within the Department of Biotechnology and Food Science. She previously served as Vice Head of Department (2022-2024) and earned her venia docendi in molecular cell biology in 2020. Her research focuses on plant adaptation mechanisms to environmental stress, particularly through the study of endosomal trafficking and ubiquitin-mediated protein degradation pathways.

Her primary research interests include cell biology, genetics, and molecular biology with specific focus on plant adaptation to environmental stress, endosomal trafficking, ubiquitin modification, and membrane protein degradation. Dr. Korbei's work investigates how plants respond to changing environmental conditions through plasma membrane protein regulation, with particular attention to the TOM1-like (TOL) protein family as ubiquitin receptors in the endosomal degradation pathway.

Analysis of her recent publications reveals a consistent research trajectory focused on understanding the TOL protein family's role in plant cellular mechanisms. Her work spans molecular characterization of these proteins, their function in environmental stress response, and their regulatory mechanisms in protein trafficking and degradation pathways. The research demonstrates strong connections between fundamental cellular processes and plant adaptation strategies.

• BOKU Best Paper Award des Jubiläumsfonds der Stadt Wien (2014)

Dr. Korbei has been actively involved in science communication and public outreach, particularly through educational initiatives for school children including the Kinderuni program and Wiener Töchtertag. Her leadership roles as Institute head and former Vice Head of Department indicate significant institutional responsibilities alongside her research activities. The research conducted in her laboratory has implications for understanding plant resilience mechanisms in the context of climate change.