Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nuremberg | Germany
PD Dr. Sophia Sonnewald is an accomplished plant biochemist specializing in molecular physiology, stress adaptation, and crop improvement, with a strong focus on potato biology. She currently serves as Akademische Oberrätin (Academic Senior Adviser) and permanent Group Leader at the Department of Biology, Division of Biochemistry, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), Germany. Dr. Sonnewald earned her diploma in Biology from Humboldt University Berlin, followed by a doctorate under the supervision of Prof. Dr. E.M. Wiedenroth. Her doctoral work was supported by prestigious scholarships from the State of Berlin (NaFöG) and Humboldt University. She later completed her Habilitation in Biochemistry at FAU, further solidifying her expertise and academic leadership. Her postdoctoral research and early group leadership at the IPK Gatersleben laid the foundation for her later advancements in plant molecular biology. She led the “Molecular Physiology and Transcriptomics” group at FAU. Since 2016, she has held a senior scientific leadership role at FAU, mentoring young researchers and leading innovative studies on plant resilience under climate stress. Dr. Sonnewald’s research has produced significant insights into source–sink relationships, abiotic stress responses, and plant metabolic regulation. She has published 50 scientific articles, amassing over 3,526 citations with an h-index of 28 (Scopus, 2025), reflecting the depth and influence of her work. Her publications appear in leading journals such as Nature Plants, PNAS, Plant Physiology, and Current Biology. Her collaborative work on heat stress, tuberization, and multi-omics approaches in potato has positioned her as a prominent figure in applied plant science, contributing both to basic knowledge and agricultural sustainability.
Featured Publications
-
Yeo, D. S. G., Eydam, J., Koch, L., Lackus, N., Reinert, S., Kauder, F., Bruckmueller, J., Luebeck, J., Sonnewald, S., & Sonnewald, U. (2025). SELF-PRUNING 6A promotes tuberization and heat tolerance but lowers immunity of potato (Solanum tuberosum L.). Journal of Experimental Botany, eraf393.
-
Zrimec, J., Correa, S., Zagorščak, M., Petek, M., Bleker, C., Stare, K., Schuy, C., Sonnewald, S., Gruden, K., & Nikoloski, Z. (2025). Evaluating plant growth–defense trade-offs by modeling the interaction between primary and secondary metabolism. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 122(32), e2502160122.
-
Zagorščak, M., Schuy, C., Petek, M., Correa, S., Zrimec, J., Sonnewald, S., & Gruden, K. (2025). Integration of multi-omics data and deep phenotyping provides insights into responses to single and combined abiotic stress in potato. Plant Physiology, 197, kiaf126.
-
Kaier, A., Beck, S., Ingold, M., Corral Garcia, J. M., Reinert, S., Sonnewald, U., & Sonnewald, S. (2024). Identification of heat-stress-related regions by genome-wide association study in Solanum tuberosum L. Genomics, 116(6), 110954.
-
Koch, L., Lehretz, G. G., Sonnewald, U., & Sonnewald, S. (2024). Yield reduction caused by elevated temperatures and high nitrogen fertilization is mitigated by SP6A overexpression in potato (Solanum tuberosum L.). The Plant Journal, 117, 1702–1715.