Prof. Dr. Jörg-Peter Schnitzler
Head of Research Unit Environmental Simulation at the Institute of Biochemical Plant Pathology“I am fascinated by the interactions of so-called 'volatile organic compounds' which serve as a kind of 'nature's volatile alphabet' of communication between living things. A driving force for this research direction is also the importance of these compounds for biosphere-atmosphere exchange, climate as well as human health. To be able to investigate these - for our society important - topics in the unique environmental simulation facilities at HMGU together with partners from all over the world is a great incentive for me.”
“I am fascinated by the interactions of so-called 'volatile organic compounds' which serve as a kind of 'nature's volatile alphabet' of communication between living things. A driving force for this research direction is also the importance of these compounds for biosphere-atmosphere exchange, climate as well as human health. To be able to investigate these - for our society important - topics in the unique environmental simulation facilities at HMGU together with partners from all over the world is a great incentive for me.”
Academic Pathway & Research Area
Jörg-Peter studied biology in Tübingen, Germany (PhD in 1992) with a focus on plant physiology and plant biochemistry. The time as a young postdoc fellow in Munich awoke his interests in tree stress physiology and environmental simulation. At the Fraunhofer Institute for Atmospheric Environmental Research (now Karlsruhe Institute of Technology), he became interested in biosphere-atmosphere exchange and discovered the fascinating world of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and their significance for the chemistry of our atmosphere and climate and for the communication (the “chemical alphabet”) between living organisms. Since his return to Munich, he has been supervising one of the most advanced phytotron facilities and building new phenotyping platforms for the study of plant genotype-environment-microbe (G x E x M) interactions. Currently, his lab investigates volatile and non-volatile metabolomic networks in plants and microbes under stress and the biological and ecosystemic functions of VOCs under global change.
Fields of Work and Expertise
Plant Stress PhysiologyBiochemistryEnvironmental SimulationMetabolomicsBiosynthesis and Emission of VOCs
Professional Background
Head of Research Unit Environmental Simulation at HMGU
Adjunct Associated Professor at Albert-Ludwigs-University
Group Leader at Fraunhofer Institute of Atmospheric Environmental Research (now KIT IMK-IFU)
Postdoc at Institute of Biochemical Pathology GSF (now HMGU)
PhD in Plant Physiology at University of Tübingen
Recent Publications
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