Peter Poczai | Plant Genetics | Best Researcher Award

Published on by Shen Awards

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Peter Poczai | Plant Genetics | Best Researcher Award

University of Helsinki | Finland

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Peter Poczai is a distinguished researcher and academic leader in the fields of plant systematics, museomics, phylogenomics, and evolutionary biology. He earned his Ph.D. in Agricultural Sciences (Plant Genetics) from Georgikon, Hungary, followed by habilitation in Biological Sciences and a docentship in Plant Systematics at the University of Helsinki, where he currently serves as Associate Professor and Scientific Authority (Plants) for CITES Finland. His professional experience includes leading international research projects funded by the EU and the Academy of Finland, with visiting fellowships at Radboud University, the Royal Botanical Garden Edinburgh, and the Institute of Advanced Studies, Hungary. His research interests focus on applying genomic tools and museum collections to study plant evolution, invasive species, and climate change impacts, while his skills extend to molecular biology, bioinformatics, conservation policy, and development of scientific software tools such as IRscope and Chloroplot. He has published over 150 peer-reviewed articles in top journals, authored textbooks and the widely acclaimed book Heredity Before Mendel, and serves as Associate Editor for Frontiers in Genetics and Ecology and Evolution. Recognized with fellowships and leadership roles, his awards and honors reflect global contributions to biodiversity science. In conclusion, Dr. Poczai exemplifies academic excellence, innovative research, and impactful conservation leadership, bridging science, policy, and public engagement.

Profile: Scopus

Featured Publications

  • Kantelinen, A., Printzen, C., Poczai, P., & Myllys, L. (2022). Lichen speciation is sparked by a substrate requirement shift and reproduction mode differentiation. Scientific Reports, 12(1), Article 11048. doi:10.1038/s41598-022-14970-9 (7)

  • Cseh, A., Poczai, P., Kiss, T., Balla, K., Berki, Z., Horváth, Á., Kúti, C., & Karsai, I. (2021). Exploring the legacy of Central European historical winter wheat landraces. Scientific Reports, 11, Article 23915. doi:10.1038/s41598-021-03261-4 (13)