Juliane

Quint Rusman, currently postdoc at the University of Zurich/Switzerland, and Michael Schon, postdoc at Molecular Biology, Wageningen University, received the NWO Veni-grant. This grant (maximum budget 280.000€) supports researchers that recently graduate as a PhD student to further develop their own research ideas for a period of three years. Further information about their proposal [NWO] Hidden players in flower evolution: herbivores alter natural selection by disrupting plant interactions with flower visitors Dr. QS Rusman (M), Laboratory of Entomology, Wageningen University & Research Flower-visiting insects are believed to be the driving force behind the extraordinary diversity in flowers. Recently it has become clear [...]

Melissa Leeggangers, postdoc at the plant stress resilience group of Prof. Rashmi Sasidharan, receives the ENW-XS grant for her research proposal. This grant is intended to support promising ideas and to facilitate innovative and more speculative initiatives. The proposed research is ground-breaking and high-risk . More about the proposal of Leeggangers: It’s all in the genes: Seed dormancy depth as a predictive indicator for abiotic stress resilience in plants. With climate change threatening food security, there is a high demand for developing climate-resilient plants. To accelerate this elaborate breeding process, the development of predictive indicators for stress resilience is essential. [...]

Ruy Kortbeek , former PhD candidate at the Plant Physiology department of the UvA, receives the Rubicon. He defended his thesis in October 2022 and started recently his postdoc at the Biochemistry department of Purdue, in the lab of prof. Natalia Dudareva. With the rubicon he will will be working on the regulation of precursor availability during terpene biosynthesis in plants. More information about his topic: Defense compounds for crop protection In nature, plants produce compounds that help them protect themselves against pest insects, fungi and harmful bacteria. The researcher is investigating how plants regulate the production of these compounds. [...]