Researcher biography

I work to understand the overwhelming complexity of the biological world and to assess ways to use it to solve problems of our time. I find especially intriguing all the invisible interactions between plant and microbes. I investigate the drivers of these interactions and aim to address major societal challenges. My purpose is to make use of nature’s arsenal to tackle problems that threaten environmental conservation and food security. I have worked with a range of beneficial and pathogenic microbes across model, forestry, grain, and horticultural plant species, grown in managed and natural habitats in many different countries, including Brazil, Germany, Australia, USA, Costa Rica, and Papua New Guinea. My expertise lies within plant pathology, molecular biology, plant nutrition, microbial ecology, biological indicators of soil health, bio-prospection of natural products produced by microbes, plant biotechnology, molecular diagnostics.