Dario Leister

Prof. Dr. Dario Leister is a Chair of Plant Molecular Biology/Botany at the Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich (LMU), where he leads research on photosynthesis regulation, retrograde signaling, and bio-hybrid systems for photovoltaics. His lab focuses on chloroplast functions, stress responses, and synthetic biology to enhance photosynthetic efficiency.

• Education: Diploma in Biochemistry (University of Tübingen, 1993); PhD in Genetics (Max-Planck-Institute, 1995); Habilitation in Genetics (University of Tübingen, 2003).

Recent research trends include optimizing photosynthesis under fluctuating light, engineering cyanobacterial systems for stress tolerance, and exploring chloroplast-mitochondria interactions. His work spans molecular genetics, RNA biology, and nanotechnology-based applications.

• Scientific Awards: Top Author Award (ASPB, 2015); Karl-Lohmann-Prize (2003); Heisenberg Scholarship (DFG, 2003-2005); EMBO Long-Term Fellowship (1997-1998).

He chairs the Transregio 175 consortium (The Green Hub) and serves on the Faculty Board of LMU's Faculty of Biology. His lab investigates chloroplast development, redox signaling, and adaptive evolution in plants.