Science Associates / Specialization:
Chemical Ecology
Ana L. Bravo-Cazar
Ana L. Bravo-Cazar
Affiliation
Universidad Regional Amazonica Ikiam
Location
Ecuador
Research Description
Microbial communities are key to plant health and sustainable agriculture. My research explores plant-microbe interactions, focusing on disease management, soil health, and crop resilience. By studying microbial biodiversity, I aim to support ecosystem restoration and sustainable cultivation through integrated microbial diversity research.
specializations
biomes
Anukool Vaishnav
Anukool Vaishnav
Affiliation
Laboratory of Fungal Biology, Institute of Microbiology, Czech Academy of Sciences
Location
Czechia
Research Description
His research focuses on utilizing arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) and other beneficial soil microbes to enhance plant growth under stress conditions. Currently, Dr. Vaishnav is dedicated to working on multi-kingdom interactions in soil for the recycling of organic nutrients, as well as how AMF may influence these interactions.
specializations
biomes
anukoolv7@gmail.com
Christopher Ngosong
Christopher Ngosong
Affiliation
University of Buea
Location
Buea Cameroon
Research Description
Understanding mycorrhizal ecology and it's implication in agro-ecosystem functioning. Inferring on the effect of farm management practices on mycorrhizal dynamics and productivity.
Re-engineering the rhizosphere microbiome with arbuscular mycorrhiza to improve crop performances. Overall, soil-plant-microbe-insect interactions.
specializations
biomes
David Johnson
David Johnson
Affiliation
The University of Manchester
Location
Manchester, UK
Research Description
Ecology of mycorrhizal fungi; Plant-soil interactions
specializations
biomes
Dr. Nandkumar M. Kamat
Dr. Nandkumar M. Kamat
Affiliation
Goa University
Location
Mapusa, Goa, India
Research Description
Exploration of microbial diversity of Goa with special focus on actinobacteria, yeasts, basidiomycetes and wild edible mushrooms specifically Termitophilic agaricales in the state of Goa, India and along the Western Ghats
specializations
biomes
Guillaume Delhaye
Guillaume Delhaye
Affiliation
Royal Botanic Gardens Kew
Location
London, UK
Research Description
Diversity and distribution of ectomycorrhizal fungi, functional traits, forest dynamics, community ecology, biogeography, response of fungal communities to environmental changes.
specializations
biomes
g.delhaye@kew.org
Jack Orebaugh
Jack Orebaugh
Affiliation
Oak Ridge National Lab
Location
United States
Research Description
Investigation of plant~fungal interactions centering around organic matter decomposition, stress response, and disturbance affects utilizing -Omics approaches, spectroscopy, and computational methods. The goal of my work is to understand how plant~fungal interactions impact ecosystem ecology and how we can scale up from lab to ecosystem scale.
specializations
biomes
Jess Rubin
Jess Rubin
Affiliation
MycoEvolve & University of Vermont
Location
United States
Research Description
We restore degraded riparian habitats via replacing nonnative monocultures with native polycultures, investigating the role of endemic mycorrhizae to mitigate phosphorus pollution and increase pollinator habitat while facilitating Abenaki land access and tracking succession through soil and plant surveys accompanied by eco-literacy fostering educational programs in the bioregional community.
specializations
biomes
yepeth@gmail.com
Marta Filipa Simões
Marta Filipa Simões
Affiliation
Macau University of Science and Technology (MUST)
Location
Macao
Research Description
Marta Filipa Simões works at the State Key Laboratory of Lunar and Planetary Sciences, MUST, doing research in Astrobiology, Astromycology, and Microbiology, with a focus on Applied Mycology. Her current projects include research on: fungal ecology and biodiversity in environmental analogues to outer-space conditions; fungal bioprospection, application, and growth containment.
specializations
biomes
Patricia Carina Fernandez
Patricia Carina Fernandez
Affiliation
CONICET - University of Buenos Aires
Location
Buenos Aires, Argentina
Research Description
Mycorrhizal symbiosis alters the host metabolome, impacting plant defense and nutrition, and influencing its resistance to herbivores. By considering soil mycorrhizal communities is possible to enhance comprehension of plant-herbivore interactions. Through field and lab experiments, we investigate mycorrhiza's impact on defense metabolite production in the South American willow, Salix humboldtiana.
specializations
biomes
Prayan Pokharel
Prayan Pokharel
Affiliation
Center for Environmental and Sustainable Agricultural Research (CESAR)
Location
Nepal
Research Description
Dr. Prayan Pokharel specializes in insect physiology, behavior, ecological interactions, and host associations. His research focuses on plant-insect interactions, including the roles of plants, soil, and fungi in insect ecology. He also actively contributes to science communication through popular science articles.
specializations
biomes
Rhayza Cortes Romay
Rhayza Cortes Romay
Affiliation
Instituto de Ecologia
Location
Bolivia
Research Description
My current research on fungi focuses primarily on the use of ectomycorrhizal fungi as nesting material for birds in Central America and their effect on the behavior of social insects. I aim to expand my knowledge and work on mycorrhizal and ectomycorrhizal fungi by studying their diversity in my country.
