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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

2012

Head of Research Unit Environmental Simulation at HMGU

2007

Adjunct Associated Professor at Albert-Ludwigs-University

1994 - 2011

Group Leader at Fraunhofer Institute of Atmospheric Environmental Research (now KIT IMK-IFU)

1992 - 1994

Postdoc at Institute of Biochemical Pathology GSF (now HMGU)

1992

PhD in Plant Physiology at University of Tübingen

Recent Publications

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