Thomas Altmann

Prof. Dr. Thomas Altmann is a Professor of Molecular Plant Genetics at Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg and Head of the Department of Molecular Genetics at the Leibniz Institute of Plant Genetics and Crop Plant Research (IPK), Gatersleben, Germany. His research integrates molecular genetics, genomics, and high-throughput phenotyping to study plant growth, heterosis, and stress responses in crops like barley, maize, and canola. He leads the development of advanced phenotyping platforms (e.g., IPK PhenoSphere) for simulating dynamic environments.

His research focuses on Plant Molecular Genetics, Heterosis, and Abiotic Stress Adaptation. Key areas include epigenetic regulation of growth, QTL mapping under fluctuating light/nutrient conditions, and multi-omics approaches for hybrid performance prediction. His work leverages deep learning for automated image analysis of roots, shoots, and spikes under controlled and field-like conditions.

Recent publications emphasize high-throughput phenotyping, epigenetic mechanisms in hybrid vigor, and dynamic QTL analysis. Articles consistently feature advanced computational methods (deep learning, multi-omics integration) applied to crop improvement, with a strong trend toward resolving genotype-environment interactions.

He advises PhD and Master’s students on topics spanning molecular biology, phenomics, and bioinformatics. His group collaborates internationally on projects involving drought tolerance, nutrient use efficiency, and genomic selection.