Erika Kothe has been a member of the Ombuds Committee for Research Integrity in Germany since January 2026. She is currently the Director of the Institute for Microbiology and Professor for Microbial Communication at Friedrich Schiller University Jena. Moreover, she is speaker for the graduate school Jena School for Microbial Communication (JSMC), which is funded by the Carl Zeiss Foundation. In the past, Prof. Kothe has, amongst others, been Vice-Rector for Young Researchers and Diversity Management at her university, Executive Board Member and Co-Coordinator of an Excellence Graduate School and spokesperson of a Collaborative Research Centre. From 2013 to 2021 she has been Director of the German University Association of Advanced Graduate Training (UniWiND/GUAT).Vorstandsvorsitzende des Universitätsverbands zur Qualifizierung des wissenschaftlichen Nachwuchses in Deutschland (UniWiND).
Curriculum vitae
Research interests:
Microbial communication; Colonization strategies and host specificity of ectomycorrhizal fungi; Fungal genetics and reproduction; Bioremediation using soil microorganisms
Education, research and academic path:
since 2012 Full Professor (W3) for Microbial Communication, Friedrich Schiller University Jena
1997-2012 Associate Professor (C3) for Microbial Phytopathology, Friedrich Schiller University Jena
1997 Habilitation in Genetics and Mycology, Philipps University Marburg
1991-1997 Scientific Assistant, Philipps University Marburg
1990-1991 Postdoctoral Fellow, Rijksuniversiteit Groningen, Netherlands
1989-1990 Postdoctoral Fellow, University of Vermont, USA
1988-1989 Postdoctoral Fellow, Philipps-Universität Marburg
1988 Promotion in Genetics, Philipps-Universität Marburg
1984 Biologist Diploma, Philipps-Universität Marburg
Scientific activities:
seit 2025 Member of the Ombuds Committee for Research Integrity in Germany, appointed by the association OWID e.V., formed by the members of the Alliance of Science Organizations (Allianz der Wissenschaftsorganisationen)
seit 2025 Ombudsperson of the Graduate School of Friedrich Schiller University Jena
since 2019 Speaker for the graduate school Jena School for Microbial Communication (JSMC)
2015-2019 Spokesperson of the profile line Life of the Friedrich Schiller University Jena
2013-2019 Director: UniWiND/GUAT – German University Association of Advanced Graduate Training
2016-2024 Head of the Scientific Advisory Board, Doctoral Academy Graz, Austria
since 2011 Member: Scientific Advisory Board/Kuratorium, Helmholtz Center Dresden-Rossendorf
2011-2014 Director of the Graduate Academy Jena, FSU
2011-2014 Vice-Rector for Young Researchers and Diversity Management, FSU
seit 2010 Steering Committee Member at the IMPRS Global Biogeochemical Cycles, MPI-BGC
seit 2009 Vertrauensdozentin//Federführende für die Studienstiftung des Deutschen Volkes
2009-2012 Koordinatorin des EU-Projekts UMBRELLA, FP 7
since 2007 Executive Board Member/Co-Coordinator, Excellence Graduate School Jena School for Microbial Communication (JSMC)
2007-2021 Member: Committee for Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Accreditation Agency Acquin
2007-2019 Head: Study Committee MSc Microbiology, FSU
2006-2015 Coordinator: RTG 1257 Alteration and Element Mobility at Microbe-Mineral Interfaces, DFG
since 2014 DFG Liaison Officer, FSU
2003-2007 Head: Study Committee MSc Microbiology, FSU
2002-2006 Koordinatorin des EU-Projekts MIRACLE, FP 5
2001-2003 Gleichstellungsbeauftragte der Biologisch-Pharmazeutischen Fakultät
Titelfoto via Pixabay; Foto E. Kothe: Friedrich-Schiller-Universität