Hanno Schaefer

Prof. Dr. Hanno Schaefer is a Professor at the TUM School of Life Sciences, Technical University of Munich, specializing in plant biodiversity. His research integrates ecology, biogeography, molecular phylogenetics, and systematics to explore species evolution, extinction risks, and ecosystem dynamics, particularly on oceanic islands.

• Education: Biology with focus on geobotany (Universities of Würzburg and Regensburg)
• Doctorate: Flora of the Azores archipelago under Prof. Peter Schönfelder (2000-2003)

His work addresses critical questions about biodiversity, including the role of species richness in evolution and the impact of habitat specialization on extinction risks. He has contributed to foundational research in Cucurbitaceae phylogeny, legume tribe systematics, and C4 photosynthesis origins.

Recent publications highlight his expertise in phylogenetic analysis and biogeographic patterns, with studies on melon domestication (2018), grass evolution (2012), and Darwinian hypotheses validation (2011).

Scientific Recognition:

• Marie Curie Fellow (2008-2010)
• Honorary Fellow of the Indian Botanical Society (2024)
• Member of the Central Commission for Biological Safety (ZKBS)
• Chairman of the Regensburg Botanical Society (oldest botanical association globally)

Prof. Schaefer’s research bridges theoretical evolutionary biology with practical conservation strategies, emphasizing the importance of biodiversity origins in managing habitats under global change.