Chris-Carolin Schön

Prof. Chris-Carolin Schön is a full Professor of Plant Breeding at the Technical University of Munich (TUM), holding her position since 2007. She is affiliated with the TUM School of Life Sciences and leads research on molecular biology integration in agricultural processes, focusing on molecular markers in crop breeding, biodiversity characterization, and optimized breeding strategies for complex traits. Her academic journey includes studies in agricultural sciences at Hohenheim University and Oregon State University, followed by postdoctoral work at Hohenheim University and a leadership role at the State Plant Breeding Institute there.

Prof. Schön’s research emphasizes enhancing crop resilience through genomic tools, particularly in maize, with studies on drought tolerance, cold adaptation, and genetic diversity utilization. She pioneered Synbreed, an interdisciplinary network for genome-based breeding research in plants and animals. Her awards include the Bavarian State Medal (2024), an Honorary Doctorate from Heinrich-Heine-University (2024), and the Bavarian Order of Merit (2018).

Her work spans genomic prediction models, haplotype analysis, and improving imputation quality in genomic data. Key projects include exploiting European maize landraces for resistance traits and developing libraries of doubled-haploid lines to safeguard genetic resources. She collaborates on initiatives like AgroClustEr for synergistic plant and animal breeding, and her lab focuses on traits like photosynthetic efficiency, root system adaptation, and protein networks in crops.