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CZECHGLOBE
Global Change Research Institute, CAS
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prof. Dr. Thomas Roitsch

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Position: scientist

Branch: Department of Adaptive Biotechnologies

Workplace: ÚVGZ AV ČR, v. v. i.Drásov 470Drásov664 24

Email: roitsch.t@czechglobe.cz

Phone:

Research Focus

Through my broad academic education and research activities at different universities and different countries, I have gained experiences in complementing topics and experimental approaches within the areas of molecular biology, physiology and biochemistry. 
The subject biology has been studied at the University of Bayreuth with specialisation in plant science, biochemistry, genetics and microbiology. A protein chemistry Diploma work on the production of key catabolic enzymes of methylotrophic bacteria has been carried out at the Department for Microbiology and a honour Diploma degree has been awarded. 
The theoretical and practical knowledge has been expanded through a PhD work at the Department of Botany of the University of Regensburg. Using molecular and biochemical approaches aspects of the glycosylation and secretion of proteins in yeast and oocyces have been addressed. Funding was provided by a high ranking fellowship from the “Studienstiftung des Deutschen Volkes” and a honour degree has been awarded (“summa cum laude”). 
Two years of postdoctoral experience has been obtained at the Department of Prof. E. Nester at the University of Washington, Seattle, USA, funded by a competitive fellowship from the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft. The signal transduction mechanisms leading to the activation of the virulence genes of Agrobacterium were studied. 
After returning to the Department of Cell Biology and Plant Physiology of the University of Regensburg in 1990 I have successfully initiated, as “Wissenschaftlicher Assistant” of Prof. Tanner, a new research project on the regulation of carbohydrate partitioning in higher plants. 
After completing my “Habilitation” I have obtained the position of an “Oberassistent”. 
In 2001 I have been appointed as Full Professor at the Plant Science Institute of the University of Würzburg, whereas the topic of carbohydrate partitioning has been extended by novel aspects such as biotechnological application in crop species and phytopharming. The range of experimental methods applied has been broadened by non-invasive, physiological phenotyping techniques and transformation of crop plants. 
Since 2009, as Full Professor for Plant Physiology at the University of Graz in Austria, experimental platforms for high throughput instrumental analytics of phytohormes and metabolites and high-throughput determination of enzymatic activity signatures have been established. Various applied topics including biomass and storage product yield, biotic and abiotic interactions, double haploid technologies, male sterility, nitrogen remobilisation and aspects of fructan metabolism including bioenergy and material uses within the crop species sugar beet, rapeseed and grasses were initiated in close collaboration with different breeding 
companies.

Education

WS1978 – SS 1984 Study of Biology (Diplom) at the Universität Bayreuth; final honour degree „passed with distinction “ (first class honours degree). Diploma work, Lehrstuhl für Mikrobiologie, Prof. H. Stolp, entitled „Production and regulation of dissimilatory enzymes of methylotrophic bacteria“ 

Degrees passed with distinction 

  • 1994, University of Bayreuth, first class honours Diploma degree: „with distinction “ 
  • 1990, University of Regensburg: first class honours PhD degree: „summa cum laude“ 

Personal training fellowships from competitive funding programs 

  • 1985 – 1988, PhD fellowship from the Studienstiftung des Deutschen Volkes, the most highly recognised PhD fellowship programme in Germany
  • 1988 – 1990, German Research Foundation (DFG); Postdoctoral training fellowship

Appointments

  • since 2015 Senior Scientist in Department of Adaptive Biotechnologies, CzechGlobe CAs, Czech Republic
  • 2013-2014 Head of Domain of Adaptive and Innovative Techniques, CzechGlobe CAS, Czech Republic
  • since 2013 Full Professor for Plant Phenomics and Head of the Research Group Molecular Plant Physiology and Plant Phenomics at the University of Copenhagen, Denmark
  • 2009-2012 Full Professor for Plant Physiology, University of Graz, Austria 
  • 2001-2009 Full Professor (C3) for Plant Sciences and Pharmaceutical Biology, University Würzburg, Germany 
  • 2000, 2003-2005 Guest professor, Université Pierre & Marie Curie, Paris, France (one month each year) 
  • Oct. 1999 Organisation of the first international workshop on: „Function of Invertases“ in Regensburg, Germany 
  • 1996 – 2000 „Wissenschaftlicher Oberassistent“ (Associate Professor), Universität Regensburg, Germany 
  • June 1996 „Habilitation“in Botany, degree „Dr. rer. nat. habil“ Title „Activation of the virulence genes in Agrobacterium tumefaciens and regulation of carbohydrate partitioning in Chenopodium rubrum“ 
  • 1990 – 1996 „Wissenschaftlicher Assistent“ (Assistant Professor), Lehrstuhl für Zellbiologie und Pflanzenphysiologie, Universität Regensburg, Prof. Dr. W. Tanner Topic: „Regulation of carbohydrate partitioning in higher plants“ 
  • 1988 –1990 Postdoctoral Fellow at the Department of Microbiology, University of Washington, Seattle, USA, Prof. Dr. E.W. Nester Topic: „Activation of virulence genes in Agrobacterium“ 
  • 1985 –1988 PhD theses, Institut für Botanik, Universität Regensburg, Prof. Dr. L. Lehle; entitled „N-Glycosylation and secretion of yeast glycoproteins“, honour degree „summa cum laude“

Awards

  • 2006, Thomson Scientific’s Essential Science Indicators: Publication no. 83 (Gonzalez and Roitsch, 2004) was identified as one of the most cited recent papers in the field of Plant & Animal Science and was awarded the designation „Fast Breaking Paper“
  • 2000, German Science Foundation (DFG): Project on male sterility was selected as one of the 10 best applied projects of the year 
  • 1990, University of Regensburg: „OBAG”-Prize for the most outstanding PhD works” 

Important research visits and fellowships

  • 1985 – 1988, PhD fellowship from the Studienstiftung des Deutschen Volkes, the most highly recognised PhD fellowship programme in Germany
  • 1988 – 1990, German Research Foundation (DFG); Postdoctoral training fellowship

Membership

  • Member of the national council of biology faculties of Germany (KBF): Representative of the University of Würzburg (2004-2009)
  • Member of the “Faculty of 1000 (F1000)”, Plant Biochemistry & Physiology (since 2005) 
  • Member of the Editorial Board of „International Journal of Botany” (since 2001) 
  • Member of the Editorial Board of “The Scientific World Journal” (since 2010) 
  • Associate Editor of „Biological Chemistry“ (2002- 2011) 
  • Reviewer for 27 scientific journals, 13 grant agencies and 10 universities. 
  • Person in charge of radiation safety, Julius-Sachs-Institute, Würzburg (2001-2009) 
  • Person in charge of biological safety, Julius-Sachs-Institute, Würzburg (2001-2009)

Brief scientometrics

  • 94 publications, cumulative impact factor of ISI publications (86): 325, mean 3,8 
  • Total number of 4204 citations, up to 308 citations per ISI publications, mean 48 
  • h-index of 32, g-index of 56 
  • 15 patent applications based on 6 inventions, 1 approved US patent 
  • 127 invited lectures in 13 countries including major international conferences