The Scientific Advisory Board advises the Board of Trustees and the Board of Directors on scientific and technical issues. It is responsible for the independent evaluation of scientific and technical results. The Scientific Advisory Board also promotes cooperation with adequate research institutions in Germany and abroad.

The members of the Scientific Advisory Board are appointed by the Board of Trustees in agreement with the Management for four years at a time. A one-time reappointment in succession is possible.

The detailed tasks of the Scientific Advisory Board can be found in the Institute's statutes (§12).

The current members of the Scientific Advisory Board are:

• Prof. Dr. Andreas Weber, Heinrich-Heine-Universität Düsseldorf (Chair)
• Prof. Dr. Steffen Abel, Leibniz-Institut für Pflanzenbiochemie, Halle
• Dr. Alison Bentley, Australian National University, Canberra, Australia
• Prof. Dr. Dr. Kirsten Bomblies, ETH Zürich,Schweiz
• Prof. Dr. Svend Christensen, University of Copenhagen,Dänemark
• Dr. Janine Felden, Alfred-Wegener-Institut, Bremerhaven
• Dr. Karin Herbers, BASF Vegetable Seeds, Davis, USA
• Prof. Dr. Maria von Korff Schmising, Universität Düsseldorf
• Prof. Dr. Klaus Mayer, Helmholtz Zentrum München, Pflanzengenome und Systembiologie
• Dr. Ortrun Mittelsten Scheid, Gregor Mendel Institut für Molekulare Pflanzenbiologie GmbH, Wien
• Prof. Dr. Cristobal Uauy, John Innes Centre, Norwich, Großbritannien