Martin Kaltenpoth

Martin Kaltenpoth serves as Director at the Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology in Jena since 2020 and Professor for Evolutionary Ecology at Johannes Gutenberg University of Mainz since 2015. Previously, he led the Research Group Insect Symbiosis at the MPI for Chemical Ecology from 2009 to 2015.

Education:

• PhD in Biology (summa cum laude), University of Würzburg, 2006
• Diploma in Biology (with honors), University of Würzburg, 2003

His research centers on insect-bacterial symbioses, investigating evolutionary, ecological, and chemical dimensions of host-microbe interactions. Key foci include nutritional and defensive symbiosis in beetles, genomic adaptations of symbiotic bacteria, and chemical mediation of symbiotic relationships. His work bridges entomology, microbiology, and chemical ecology to unravel coevolutionary mechanisms.

Analysis of recent publications reveals dominant trends in beetle-microbe systems, emphasizing symbiont roles in cuticle synthesis, antifungal defense, and host-plant adaptation. His studies frequently employ genomic, biochemical, and experimental approaches across diverse insect lineages.

No scientific awards were documented in the source material.

While specific advisees and grants remain unlisted, his leadership of research groups and dual academic appointments indicate active supervision of graduate researchers and externally funded projects in symbiosis evolution.

Currently directing research at the Max Planck Institute, Kaltenpoth advances understanding of symbiotic systems with implications for evolutionary theory and sustainable pest management strategies.