Marc Gottschling

Prof. Marc Gottschling is a Professor and Academic Director at the Systematics, Biodiversity & Evolution of Plants Department, Faculty of Biology, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München. His research focuses on evolutionary systematics of angiosperms (Boraginales) and unicellular dinoflagellates, alongside papillomavirus evolution and dermatological implications. He leads a research group investigating taxonomic and phylogenetic questions across plant and protist systems, with notable contributions to resolving dinophyte taxonomy and viral evolution.

Research interests include molecular phylogenetics, morphological anatomy, and integrative taxonomy. Recent work emphasizes clarifying dinophyte systematics (e.g., Amphidoma, Heterocapsa), viral-host coevolution, and environmental microbial diversity. Collaborations span international teams in Germany, Spain, China, and the US, addressing topics like dinoflagellate symbiosis, fossil calibration, and biodiversity informatics.

Publications highlight interdisciplinary approaches combining fieldwork, molecular data, and morphological analysis. Projects include the 'eintauchen' initiative and contributions to the Taxon-Omics Summer School. His work bridges classical taxonomy with modern omics technologies, addressing challenges in species delimitation and biodiversity documentation.