PD Dr. Veronica G. Maurino, Heisenberg-Fellow
Plant Molecular Physiology and Biotechnology
Cluster of Excellence in Plant Sciences
Heinrich-Heine-University
Universitätsstr. 1, 40225 Düsseldorf
Tel.: +49-211-81-12368
[email protected]
http://www.pmpb.hhu.de
Curriculum Vitae
PERSONAL INFORMATION
Nationality: German
Date of birth: 17.07.1969
Place of birth: Rosario, Argentina
Children: Elena Rocio Lercher, born 02.10.2015
CURRENT POSITION
- Interim Professor in Botany (Vertretungsprofessorin), University of Cologne, Germany.
- Research Group Leader, Heisenberg fellow, Plant Molecular Physiology and Biotechnology
Group, Institute for Plant Development and Molecular Biology & CEPLAS Cluster of Excellence in
Plant Sciences, Heinrich-Heine-University, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany.
EDUCATION AND ACADEMIC DEGREES
2009
Habilitation and venia legendi in Botany, University of Cologne, Germany.
Habilitation thesis: “Hydrogen peroxide and malate degradation as bottlenecks of a
biotechnological approach to enhance carbon assimilation in C3-plants: Short-circuiting
photorespiration“.
Reviewers: Prof. Dr. Wolf B. Frommer and Prof. Dr. Norbert Sauer.
1997
Doctoral degree (PhD), Faculty of Biochemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences,
University of Rosario, Argentina. Doctoral thesis: “NADP-Malic Enzyme Isoforms. Study
of the expression in photosynthetic and non photosynthetic tissues of C3 and C4 plants".
1992
Diploma in Biochemistry, Faculty of Biochemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences,
University of Rosario, Argentina.
PROFESSIONAL BACKGROUND
since 2016 Interim Professor in Botany (Vertretungsprofessorin), University of Cologne, Germany.
2015-16
Maternity leave: October 2015-September 2016
since 2011 Heisenberg Fellow and Independent Research Group Leader, Heinrich-Heine-University
Düsseldorf & CEPLAS Cluster of Excellence in Plant Sciences, Germany. Break due to
maternity leave: October 2015-September 2016.
2007-11
Independent Research Group Leader. Department of Botany, University of Cologne,
Germany.
2005-06
Two months stint each year at the Department of Biochemistry, University of Rosario,
Argentina. DAAD-PPP Argentine-PROALAR cooperation.
2001
One month stint at the Microbiology Laboratory, Department of Biology, University of
Athens, Greece. Mentor: Prof. Dr. George Diallinas.
2000-06
Research Associate. Department of Botany, University of Cologne, Germany.
1998-00
Alexander von Humboldt Research Fellow. Department of Botany, University of Cologne,
Germany. Mentor: Prof. Dr. Ulf-Ingo Flügge.
1997-98
Postdoctoral Fellow. Department of Biochemistry, University of Rosario, Argentina.
Mentor: Prof. Dr. Carlos Andreo.
1995-97
Three and two months stint, respectively, at the Department of Biophysics, University of
Osnabrück, Germany. Financed by VolksWagen-Stiftung. Mentor: Prof. Dr. Richard
Wagner.
1993-96
Doctoral Fellow. Department of Biochemistry, University of Rosario, Argentina. Mentor:
Prof. Dr. Carlos Andreo.
PERSONAL HONORS, FELLOWSHIPS, AND AWARDS
2011
Heisenberg Fellowship from the DFG (MA2379/9-1 and -2).
2011
Appointed as “Exzellente Wissenschaftlerin“ by AcademiaNet (Robert-Bosch-Stiftung).
2009
American Society of Plant Biologists Top Author (2004-2008).
2006
Lise-Meitner Fellowship from the “Ministerium für Innovation, Wissenschaft und
Forschung des Landes NRW”.
2003-05
Own position (“Eigene Stelle”; MA2379/2-1, 2-2) from the DFG.
2001-03
Research Fellowship from the DFG (MA2379/1-1).
1998-00
Research Fellowship from the Alexander von Humboldt-Foundation.
1997-98
Postdoctoral Fellowship from the National Research Council of Argentina (CONICET).
1993-97
Doctoral Fellowship from the CONICET.
1998
Certificate of Merit, Amersham Pharmacia Biotech and Science price for young scientist.
1992
First Prize of the Biology Society of Rosario for the best work in biomedicine.
1992
Pre-Graduate Scholarship to initiate a research program, University of Rosario, Argentina.
EXTERNAL FUNDING
Current funding
2016-19
2015-18
2015-17
2015-17
2014-16
2014-16
DFG (MA2379/13-1) Regulation of mitochondrial function upon dark-light transitions by
physiological dynamics and post-translational protein modifications in plants. Volume
35,000 EUR.
Cooperative research grant from “Agencia de Promoción de actividades Científicas y
Tecnológicas PICT RAICES Nº 2014-2470”, Argentina: Modification of stomata dynamic
and phloem photoassimilates loading in Nicotiana tabacum and Solanum lycopersicum:
impact on the photosynthetic efficiency and water usage. Volume: 30.000 EUR.
DFG (MA2379/11-2) Deciphering the role of H2O2-signalling originating from different
cellular compartments and cell types. Volume 208,800 EUR.
CEPLAS-DFG: Transforming Arabidopsis plants towards C4 metabolism. Volume
170,000 EUR.
CEPLAS-DFG: Alterations to the regulation of C4 enzymes. Volume 180,000 EUR.
7th Framework Programme Cooperation (FP7-289582) 3to4: Converting C3 to C4
photosynthesis for sustainable agriculture. European Commission. Voume 222,000 EUR.
Previous funding
2013-15
2013-15
2013-14
DFG (FOR 1186, MA2379/7-2) The impact of short-cutting photorespiration on carbon
and nitrogen metabolism. Volume 180,000 EUR.
DFG (MA2379/8-2) Plant dicarboxylic acid homeostasis: on the specific physiological role
of enzymes involved in malate decarboxylation. Volume 210,000 EUR.
Cooperative research grant DAAD-PROALAR (Argentina): Studies on the link of
methylglyoxal degradation to the tricarboxylic acid cycle and the electron transport chain
through mitochondrial D-Lactate dehydrogenase. Two visiting students per year. Volume
10,600 EUR.
2011-14
DFG (MA2379/11-1) Deciphering the role of H2O2-signalling originating from different
cellular compartments and cell types. Volume 285,000 EUR.
2009-12
DFG (FOR 1186, MA2379/7-1) The impact of short-cutting photorespiration on carbon
and nitrogen metabolism. Volume 150,000 EUR.
2009-12
DFG (MA2379/8-1) Plant dicarboxylic acid homeostasis: on the specific physiological role
of enzymes involved in malate decarboxylation. Volume 250,000 EUR.
2009-11
BASF Plant Science. Optimierung von
Photorespiration. Volume 110,000 EUR.
2007-09
DFG (MA2379/4-1) A genetic engineering approach to improve the carbon fixation in C3
plants by reducing the flux through the photorespiratory pathway. Consequences of the
expression of novel activities in chloroplasts of A. thaliana. Volume 100,000 EUR.
2006-07
DFG (MA2379/3-1) A biotechnological approach to increase carbon assimilation in C3plants. Volume 53,000 EUR.
2003-05
DFG (MA2379/2-1 and 2-2) Re-cycling of glycolate in C3-chloroplast: Biochemical and
physiological effects on plant metabolism. Volume 135,000 EUR.
Nutzpflanzen
durch Verringerung
von
PATENTS GRANTED
1.
Maurino VG and Flügge U-I (2008) Means for improving agrobiological traits in a plant by
providing a plant cell comprising in its chloroplasts enzymatic activities for converting glycolate
into malate. EP08151759.1-1212
2.
Flügge U-I and Maurino VG (2008) Improving salt tolerance. A plant cell comprising enzymatic
activities for converting glyoxylate to glycerate. EP08160030.6-2405
SELECTED INVITED TALKS
− 05.07.2016 Invited speaker at the 3rd meeting of the study group redox biology of the German
Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Düsseldorf. Titel: H2O2 signalling in plants“.
− 11.04.2016 Invited speaker at the C4 Photosynthesis Conference 2016, Canberra, Australia. Titel:
“C4-Malate decarboxylases“.
− 03.07.2015 Invited speaker at Instituto de Tecnologia Química e Biológica (ITQB) António
Xavier, Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, Portugal.Titel: “Identification of molecular alterations
during the recruitment of NADP-malic enzyme from hausekeeping roles to its function in C4
photosynthesis”.
− 21.06.2015 Invited speaker at the 9th International Conference for Plant Mitochondrial Biology,
Wrocław, Poland. Titel: “Plants possess a mitochondrial metabolic repair mechanism involving
malate dehydrogenase and L-2-hydroxyglutarate dehydrogenase“.
− 10.02.2015 Invited speaker at the Annual Theme Meeting of the Graduate School Experimental
Plant Sciences, Wageningen UR, Netherlnads. Titel: “Recruitment of C4-NADP-malic enzyme
from housekeeping roles: on the identification of molecular alterations“.
− 28.11.2014 Invited speaker at the MPI for Plant Breeding Research in Cologne, Germany. Titel:
“Molecular alterations during the evolution of C4-NADP-malic enzyme“.
− 05.08.2014 Invited speaker at the Institute of Bio- and Geosciences, Research Center Jülich,
Germany. Titel: “H2O2-signalling originating from different cellular compartments“.
− 20.11.2013 Invited speaker at the MPI for Plant Breeding Research in Cologne, Germany. Titel:
“H2O2-signalling originating from different cellular compartments”.
− 30.09.2013 Invited speaker at the Redox Research Rheinlad, Heinrich-Heine-University. Titel:
“Reactive oxygen species in plants“.
− 15.08.2013 Plenary lecturer at the 16th International Congress of Photosynthesis, St Louis, USA.
Titel: “Photorespiration: evolution, links and metabolic engineering“.
− 13.05.2013 Keynote speaker at the International Conference on Plant Mitochondrial Biology.
Rosario, Argentina. Titel: “Mitochondrial metabolism of 2-hydroxyglutarate“.
− 15.10.2012 Invited speaker at the International workshop Photosynthesis: from Science to
Industry. Noordwijkerhout, The Netherlands. Titel: “Photorespiration: Current status and
approaches for metabolic engineering”
− 21.09.2012 Speaker at the round table discussion "€žErhöhung der Flächenproduktivität bei
gleichzeitigem Schutz natürlicher Ressourcen sowie dem Erhalt von Ökosystemdienstleistungen",
DFG, Bonn.
− 05.06.2012 Speaker at the International Conference Photorespiration - Key to Better Crops.
Warnemünde, Germany. Titel: “Cross talk of photorespiration with processes involving 2hydroxyglutarate”
− 12.06.2012 Visiting speaker at the Helmholtz Zentrum München, Deutsches Forschungszentrum
für Gesundheit und Umwelt (GmbH), Neuherberg. Titel: Metabolism of 2-hydroxyacids.
ENGAGEMENTS FOR THE SCIENTIFC COMMUNITY
− Research Topic Editor "On the diversity of roles of organic acids " in Frontiers in Plant
Physiology.
− Editorial Board member of Frontiers in Plant Physiology.
− Reviewer for the scientific journals: PLoS Biology, FEBS Letters, Plant Cell, Plant Physiology,
Plant Journal, Journal of Experimental Botany, Plant Cell & Environment, Frontiers in Plant
Sciences, Journal of Biological Chemistry, International Journal of Biological Macromolecules.
− Reviewer of projects of “Raices, Ministerio de Ciencia, Tecnología e Innovación Productiva”,
Argentina.
− Reviewer of projects for the DFG, Germany.
− Member of the Plant Biology Network and the Redox Research Rheinlad Network.
− Associate Member of CEPLAS, Cluster of Excellence on Plant Sciences and of the iGRAD
Program, HHU.
− Member of the “German Plant Mitochondrium Initiative”.
− Editor of the research topic "On the diversity of roles of organic acids", Frontiers in Plant sciences,
section Plant Physiology.
PD Dr. Veronica G. Maurino