Associates
The SPUN Science Associates are an international group of mycorrhizal and soil scientists and local experts who are unearthing the mysteries of underground ecosystems.
Looking for an internship or research collaborator in your region? Need some expertise about a specific biome? Are you a journalist looking for a scientist to talk to about mycorrhizal networks? Discover our global network of 300+ science associates from more than 30 countries here.
To join our network, fill out the application here:
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Tanner Hoffman
Tanner Hoffman
Affiliation
Location
Research Description
Bacterial and fungal community and functional responses to natural and anthropogenic disturbances.
specializations
biomes

Taylor Bright

Taylor Bright
Affiliation
Location
Research Description
I am interested in characterizing fungal biodiversity and function along axes of disturbance using metatranscriptomic approaches, and leveraging my research to inform restoration/conservation initiatives. I am specifically interested in forests and fens of the Sierra Nevada (California) that are in peril due to rapid climactic and hydrological shifts.
specializations
biomes

Thapelo Raseepho

Thapelo Raseepho
Affiliation
Location
Research Description
specializations
biomes

Tijana Martinović

Tijana Martinović
Affiliation
Location
Research Description
specializations
biomes

Tom May

Tom May
Affiliation
Location
Research Description
specializations
biomes

Tonjock Rosemary Kinge

Tonjock Rosemary Kinge
Affiliation
Location
Research Description
specializations
biomes
Trupti Sharma
Trupti Sharma
Affiliation
Location
Research Description
specializations
biomes
Udaya Prakash Nyayiru Kannaian
Udaya Prakash Nyayiru Kannaian
Affiliation
Location
Research Description
28 Years of Research in Mycology, speciality on Aerobiology published 140 publications exceeding 250 presentations.
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Umpawa Pinruan
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Umpawa Pinruan
Affiliation
Location
Research Description
specializations
biomes

Urmila Mallick

Urmila Mallick
Affiliation
Location
Research Description
specializations
biomes

Urooj Ashraf

Urooj Ashraf
Affiliation
Location
Research Description
Mycorrhizal fungi play a crucial role in maintaining soil health, plant diversity, and ecosystem stability, yet vast underground fungal networks remain unexplored. Through the mapping these hidden fungal networks, the study will fill biodiversity knowledge gaps, assess ecosystem resilience to climate change and human pressures, and propose mycorrhizal-based restoration strategies.
specializations
biomes

Valérie Tchung

Valérie Tchung
Affiliation
Location
Research Description
The overarching objective of this study is to survey and characterize soil fungal communities in the tropical rainforests of Mo'orea Island in the context of biological plant invasion and forthcoming climate change
specializations
biomes

Vatsala Koul

Vatsala Koul
Affiliation
Location
Research Description
specializations
biomes
Vineet Vishal
Vineet Vishal
Affiliation
Location
Research Description
specializations
biomes

Vivek Kumar Awon

Vivek Kumar Awon
Affiliation
Location
Research Description
Plant-mycorrhizal fungi-microbes tri-partite interaction in organic phosphate mineralization
specializations
biomes

Walter Huaraca Huasco

Walter Huaraca Huasco
Affiliation
Location
Research Description
Horizontal and vertical precipitation effect on above-belowground carbon cycle and microbial community in upper montane forests
specializations
biomes

Wei Fu

Wei Fu
Affiliation
Location
Research Description
specializations
biomes

William Watson Guido

William Watson Guido
Affiliation
Location
Research Description
Estudio de la intercomunicación entre plantas mediada por redes micorrícicas comúnes
specializations
biomes

Wilmar Alexander Wilches Ortiz

Wilmar Alexander Wilches Ortiz
Affiliation
Location
Research Description
Researcher in charge of custody, curatorship and scaling of HFMA accessions of the Collection of microorganisms with biofertilizer interest (CMIB) of the Microorganisms Germplasm Bank of Agrosavia. Additionally, research on the use of HFMA and its diversity applied in agriculture.
specializations
biomes
Yamunasri Palanisamy
Yamunasri Palanisamy
Affiliation
Location
Research Description
specializations
biomes

Yazhini Gunasekaran

Yazhini Gunasekaran
Affiliation
Location
Research Description
specializations
biomes

Zoirjon Islomiddinov

Zoirjon Islomiddinov
Affiliation
Location
Research Description
specializations
biomes

Ñawi K. Flores

Ñawi K. Flores
Affiliation
Location
Research Description
My research weaves Indigenous Knowledge Systems with Western scientific methods to evaluate Indigenous-led climate/culture innovative conservation, adaptation, and mitigation, as well as the ethical approach to nature-based solutions and nature-positive practices. The kinship-based regenerative landscape restoration of the Global South food systems (farmlands & forestlands) links the intersections between the kallamp ecosystem (mycorrhizal network), soil health stewardship systems, and Indigenous People (IP) and Local Communities (LCs) symbiotic-indigeneity cultural philosophy on “commonning" the rhizosphere health.
Lab-to-Land Experimental Farm, kinship-based Chichupampa Clan, Tawantinsuyu, Ecuador.
Regenerative Collaborations, Turtle Island, USA.
specializations
biomes

Anukool Vaishnav
Laboratory of Fungal Biology, Institute of Microbiology, Czech Academy of Sciences

Dorji Tamang
Royal University of Bhutan, College of Natural Resources

Sadhana Shukla
Manav Rachna International Institute of Research & Studies

Osarode Stephen Odemwingie
RODELENZ INDUSTRIES/UNIVERSITY OF BENIN

Nelly Sélem Mojica
Center of Mathematical Sciences UNAM

Alija Bajro Mujic
California State University, Fresno
Diogo Henrique Costa de Rezende
Universidade Federal do Ceará / Federal University of Ceará

Paola Torres-Andrade
University of Cauca

Maria Cristina Lopez Roberts
Universidad Mayor Real y Pontificia de San Francisco Xavier de Chuquisaca

Jack Orebaugh
Oak Ridge National Lab

Fernando Casanova Lugo
Tecnológico Nacional de México

Anna Fijarczyk
Natural Resources Canada

Prayan Pokharel
Center for Environmental and Sustainable Agricultural Research (CESAR)
FAGNIBO Adélaïde Hinhami
PhD at National University of Agriculture and affiliated with the laboratory of Microbiology, Microbial Ecology, Water and Soil Conservation

Manuela Giovannetti
University of Pisa

Rafaela Araujo Ferreira Gurgel
National Institute for Amazonian Research

Evan Iverson
Telluride Environmental Science and Engineering Laboratory

Ramona Marasco
King Abdullah University of Science and Technology
Belén Itahi Bautista Quiroz
Ruta de hongos Mixteca
Alex Mauricio Mopán Chilito
Universidad Autónoma de Tlaxcala, México

Shaylan Kolodney
University of Maryland

Dr. Alfred CHIOZA
Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources (LUANAR)
Marta Filipa Simões
Macau University of Science and Technology (MUST)

Nsah Francoline Sama
The University of Bamenda, Cameroon
Facundo Fioroni
Instituto de Investigaciones en Recursos Naturales, Agroecología y Desarrollo Rural
Flavia Pinzari
Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche

Moses Ngugi
Eberhard Karl University of Tübingen

Louise Rütting
Brandenburg University of Technology Cottbus-Senftenberg
HOUNWANOU Basile Gbètondji
Tropical Mycology and plant-soil fungi interactions (University of Parakou)
Reyna Patricia Hipólito Piedras
Universidad Autónoma de San Luis Potosí

Moma Theresa Akinimbom
The University of Bamenda, Bamenda Cameroon

Kennedy Ododa
Hungarian University of Agriculture and Life Sciences

Alan Wanke
Sainsbury Laboratory, University of Cambridge

Mohamed Hij
University Mohammed VI Polytechnic (UM6P)

Cristiane Figueiredo
Federal University of Lavras and Westerdijk fungal biodiversity

Catalina Alicia Guerra León
Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile

Martin Hassan Polo Marcial
Tecnológico Nacional de México campus Instituto Tecnológico de la Zona Maya
Solomon Maerowitz-McMahan
Western Sydney University- Hawkesbury Institute for the Environment

TCHAN ISSIFOU Kassim
NGO AVENIR ALAFIA, Parakou, Benin

Amy Honan
Oregon State University

Amina Badmos
Federal University of Agriculture Abeokuta Ogun State Nigeria