Karl-Josef Dietz

Prof. Dr. Karl-Josef Dietz holds a Professorial Chair (C4) in Biochemistry and Physiology of Plants at the Faculty of Biology, Bielefeld University since 1997. He is Head of the working group 'Biochemistry and Physiology of Plants' at the Center for Biotechnology (CeBiTec). His academic career spans prestigious institutions including Julius-Maximilians-Universität Würzburg (where he completed his PhD and Habilitation), Harvard University (postdoc position), and numerous international research stays in France, Japan, and the USA.

Prof. Dietz's research focuses on plant stress responses, redox regulation, and photosynthesis. His work explores how plants acclimate to multiple environmental stresses through molecular signal integration, with particular emphasis on reactive oxygen species (ROS) signaling, thiol peroxidases, and oxylipin pathways. His laboratory investigates the mechanisms of redox regulation in chloroplasts and mitochondria, stress sensing, and plant defense responses against pathogens and abiotic challenges.

His recent publications reveal a strong focus on redox biology, stress acclimatization mechanisms, and the role of peroxiredoxins in plant stress responses. His work spans both fundamental biochemical investigations and applied research in plant protection and stress tolerance.

Scientific Awards and Recognition:

• Science Prize of the University Foundation Würzburg (1985)
• Gay-Lussac-Humboldt Prize (2012)

Prof. Dietz has served in numerous leadership roles including Dean of the Faculty of Biology (2004-2006), President of the German Botanical Society (2012), and as a member of the Science Board of the German Research Foundation (DFG). He serves on the editorial boards of several prestigious journals including Journal of Experimental Botany, Physiologia Plantarum, and Plant Physiology. His professional activities demonstrate extensive involvement in national and international scientific communities, including the German Society of Botany, the American Society of Plant Biologists, and the Federation of European Societies of Plant Biology.