Sotirios Fragkostefanakis

Dr. Sotirios Fragkostefanakis is the Head of the HeatStress-Lab at Goethe University Frankfurt's Faculty of Biological Sciences, Department of Molecular Cell Biology. His research focuses on plant stress biology, particularly heat stress responses and epigenetic regulation in crop resilience. As part of the RECROP COST Action, he leads efforts to enhance crop adaptation to climate change.

His group investigates molecular mechanisms underlying cellular homeostasis and surveillance, leveraging plant models like tomato and Arabidopsis. Key topics include heat stress transcription factors, RNA splicing regulation, and epigenetic control of genome organization. Collaborations with international networks aim to translate fundamental discoveries into strategies for climate-smart agriculture.

Dr. Fragkostefanakis chairs the RECROP initiative, fostering global research to improve crop resilience. His team's work has been recognized through awards, such as Zahide Aslan's Best Plant Science Master's Thesis prize for heat stress research. Labs under his leadership include the HeatStress-Lab and contributions to the RiboBio-Lab, DynaMem-Lab, and Cyano-Lab consortia.