Prof. Dr. Susann Wicke, Dipl.-Biol.
Current affiliations
- Professorship of Evolution of Plant Biotic Interactions (Prof. Wicke)Hüfferstr. 1, 48149 Münster
Academic profiles
Further Profiles
Curriculum Vitae (CV)
Research Focus
- Evolution and functional adaptation of parasitic plantsThe central topics of my research are the genetic causes and consequences of alternative lifestyles in plants in general and of parasitism in particular. Parasitism represents the most extreme interaction between plants, where the parasite steals water and nutrients from another plant through a multi-functional organ, which allows the parasite to tap directly into the vascular tissue of its host. Abandoning the photoautotrophic lifestyle brings about numerous genetic changes and molecular novelties. My research aims to understand the molecular reconfigurations and functional adaptations associated with parasitism and the heterotrophic lifestyle, and the interaction and coevolution of parasitic plants with their hosts. This research involves an experimental evolutionary experiment with selection lines of myxotrophic green algae to study the responses and gradual adaptations to heterotrophic and zero-light conditions on the genome, transcriptome, and protein level. Besides this, I have a strong interest in the molecular pathways of carnivory in plants, the genetics underlying the nucleotide substitution process, and the development and improvement of barcoding and genotyping markers for the identification of parasite germplasm in environmental samples.
- Genetic causes and consequences of lifestyle changes in plants
- Comparative parasitic plant/host interactionsWe analyze the "molecular interactome" of several parasitic plant/host pairs to identify RNAs and proteins in the parasitic plant that mediate parasitic success, and, at the same time, pinpoint immune and resistance cascades in the host that are activated in response to a parasitic attack. To this end, we employ large-scale RNA sequencing and label-free mass spectrometric analysis.
- Land plant evolution (evolution and systematics of early diverging land plants, molecular evolution of early vascular plants, symbiotic relationships of early land plant lineages)
Academic Education | |
| 05/2007 - 03/2012 | Dissertation at the University of Vienna, Austria. Dissertation and defense with distinction (summa cum laude). |
| 10/2002 - 04/2007 | Studies of biology at the Technische Universität Dresden, Germany. Majors: Botany, genetics, and microbiology. |
Work Experience | |
| since 2019 | Professor (W1) for Plant Evolutionary Biology |
| since 2017 | Research Group Leader |
| 04/2020 - 04/2024 | Professor for Plant Evolution and Biodiversity, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Direktor - Späth-Arboretum |
| 2012 - 2016 | Postdoctoral scholar at the University of Muenster |
| 2007 - 2012 | Pre-doctoral researcher at the University of Vienna, Austria. |
| 2005 - 2007 | Student research assistent in the Plant Phylogenetics & Phylogenomics Research group at the Technische Universität Dresden, Germany. |
Functions and Memberships | |
| since 12/2017 | Scientific Advisory Board - "Renewed Strategies for Striga control", – International Alliance of African, European, Asian scientists for Striga research coordination and weed control |
| 2017 - 2019 | Deputy chair: “Rectorate’s Committee for Equal Opportunity Measures”, WWU Münster |
| 12/2013 - 12/2015 | Member of the Commission for research, young scientists, and structure at the WWU Muenster |
Appointments | |
| 2019 | Offer to a Professorship for Evolutionary Biology (W1) , University of Münster (accepted) |
| 2018 | Offer to a Professorship for Higher Plants, University of Graz (rejected) |
| 2017 | Offer to a Assistant-Professorship for Speciation Genomics, Uppsala University (rejected) |
| 2016 | Offer to a Assistant-Professorship for Evolutionary Biology, University of Wales (rejected) |
Publications
Kim, W; Jost, M; Nickrent, DL; Zhou, R; Acar, P; Langschied, F; Ebersberger, I; Wicke, S; Wanke, S
(2026) In: Plant and Cell Physiology, pcag009. doi:10.1093/pcp/pcag009 Review article (journal) | Peer reviewed | Published | |
Leman, JKL; Braun, ZE; Manley, C; Schröder, L; Nägele, T; Lehmann, D; Leister, D; Wicke S (2026) In: Plant and Cell Physiology, pcag017. doi:10.1093/pcp/pcag017 Research article (journal) | Peer reviewed | Published | |
Brun, G; Billard, E; Hýlová, A; Montiel, G; Plačková, L; Doležal, K; Puech-Pagès, V; Simier, P; Wicke, S; Spichal, L; Delavault, P; Pouvreau, J-B (2025) In: Plant and Cell Physiology, pcaf032. doi:10.1093/pcp/pcaf032 Research article (journal) | Peer reviewed | Published | |
Ruaud, S; Nötzold, SI; Waller, M; Galbier, F; Mousavi, SS; Charran, M; Zeeman, S; Bailly, A; Baroux, C; Hippler, M; Wicke, S; Szövényi, P (2025) In: New Phytologist, Early View. doi:10.1101/2024.06.24.596764 Research article (journal) | Peer reviewed | Published | |
Brun, G; Schindler, F; Bouyrakhen, A; Dayou, O; Weckwerth, W; Wicke, S (2025) In: Science advances, eaea1449. doi:10.1126/sciadv.aea1449 Research article (journal) | Peer reviewed | Published |
Projects
Duration: 01/06/2020 - 31/05/2023 | 1st Funding period Funded by: DFG - Priority Programme Type of project: Subproject in DFG-joint project hosted outside University of Münster | |
Duration: 01/04/2017 - 31/03/2020 Funded by: DFG Emmy Noether Programme Type of project: Individual project | |
Duration: 01/01/2017 - 31/12/2017 Funded by: German-Israeli Foundation for Scientific Research and Development Type of project: Individual project | |
Duration: 01/01/2016 - 31/12/2017 Funded by: German Academic Exchange Service Type of project: Individual project | |
Duration: 01/12/2015 - 30/11/2016 Funded by: DFG - Initiation of International Collaboration Type of project: Individual project |
Prizes
| Preis zur Förderung des wissenschaftlichen Nachwuchses 2019 Awarded by: Universitätsgesellschaft Münster e.V. Award given to: Wicke, Susann Announced at: 09/07/2019 | Date of awarding: 15/07/2019 Type of distinction: Research award or other distinction |