Christoph-Martin Geilfus studied Agricultural Science and Environmental Management (B.Sc.) and Agrobiotechnology (M.Sc.) at Justus-Liebig-Universität Gießen. He also holds a doctoral degree in Plant Nutrition earned at Christian Albrechts University in Kiel. In his doctoral thesis he studied the influence of toxic chlorine and sodium concentrations on crop plants using maize and field beans as sample crops with a focus on cell wall rheological properties. After his doctoral degree Christoph-Martin Geilfus stayed in Kiel to complete his habilitation on root-to-shoot signals, which are important, for example, in regulating transpiration. During this time he also expanded his research portfolio to address plant nutritional questions as well.

After working at the Katholieke Universiteit Leuven (Belgium) and at the University of Hohenheim, he was appointed Professor of Controlled Environment Horticulture at the Humboldt University in Berlin. His studies focused on circular systems for the production of vegetables as well as projects to stabilize the yields and qualities of food crops. In September 2021 he joined the Department of Soil Science and Plant Nutrition at Hochschule Geisenheim University where he wants to expand his focus to include grapevines, although vegetables will continue to play an important role in his research. The role of soil as a highly complex nutrient, carbon and water exchanger will be an additional area he aims to address in Geisenheim.

In February 2022, the renowned plant-science journal New Phytologists featured a portrait of Prof. Dr. Christoph-Martin Geilfus. Please click here to read the article.