Holger Puchta

Holger Puchta is Full Professor of Plant Molecular Biology and Director of the Joseph Gottlieb Kölreuter Institute for Plant Sciences at Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Germany, positions he has held since 2002 and 2004 respectively. Previously, he served as Group Leader at the Leibniz Institute of Plant Genetics (IPK) in Gatersleben (1995-2002) and Research Fellow at the Friedrich Miescher Institute in Basel (1989-1995).

Education:

• Biochemistry studies at University of Tübingen
• PhD at Max-Planck Institute for Biochemistry, Munich (1986-1989) on viroids
• Habilitation in Genetics at University of Halle (2000)

Research Focus: Professor Puchta pioneered plant genome engineering by first demonstrating site-specific nucleases for controlled genomic modifications. His laboratory elucidated fundamental DNA repair pathways in Arabidopsis and led the adoption of CRISPR/Cas technology for plants, recently achieving the world's first CRISPR-mediated plant chromosome engineering. His work bridges molecular biology and agricultural innovation through precision genome editing.

Scientific Recognition:

• German National Academy of Sciences Leopoldina membership (2024)
• Consecutive Web of Science Highly Cited Researcher (2020-2023)
• Falling Walls Breakthrough of the Year in Life Sciences (2020)
• Two ERC Advanced Grants (RECBREED 2011-2016, CRISBREED 2017-2022)
• Reinhard Kosseleck Excellence Grant (2023-2028)
• "Pioneer of Plant Biotechnology" award (2016)

Public Engagement: Following the EU court ruling classifying gene-edited plants as GMOs, Puchta actively advocates for novel breeding technologies through media interviews, public lectures, and direct engagement with EU policymakers, ministers, and legislators to promote evidence-based agricultural regulations.