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. Muhammad Amjad Bashir
Dr. Muhammad Amjad Bashir
Affiliation
Ghazi University, Dera Ghazi Khan, Punjab, Pakistan
Location
Pakistan
Research Description
Exploring the hidden world beneath our feet, my research uncovers the diversity of mycorrhizal fungi supporting pollinator-friendly plants in the arid ecosystems of Dera Ghazi Khan near the Sulaiman Mountains and Indus River, revealing how underground fungal networks sustain biodiversity, ecosystem resilience, and sustainable agriculture.
specializations
biomes
link
www.gudgk.edu.pk
abashir@gudgk.edu.pk
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
Emilio José Mariscal Flores
Emilio José Mariscal Flores
Affiliation
University of Panamá
Location
Panamá; Coclé Province; Penonomé district
Research Description
Working with undergraduate students at the University of Panamá in the Agronomy Faculty in Agroforestry Engineering, one of our objectives is to strengthen their capabilities in understanding how the soil and its microorganisms work. Under this focus, we will try to evaluate the total fungal and mycorrhizal community richness and composition that will vary with elevation due to changes in climatic influences, in addition to soil characteristics and the influence of vegetation. For that, we will be establishing plots to collect data at several sites across the Comarca Ngäbe-Buglé in partnership with the GCBC-STRI project. In addition, our students will be using STRI labs for molecular (DNA) analysis and sequencing of fungal and mycorrhizal communities, working with Dr. Kristin Saltonstall.
specializations
biomes
Francisco Javier Zavala Mazariegos
Francisco Javier Zavala Mazariegos
Affiliation
EL COLEGIO DE LA FRONTERA SUR
Location
TAPACHULA, CHIAPAS
Research Description
Mi línea de investigación se centra en las interacciones planta–herbívoro–enemigo natural–microorganismos de la rizósfera. Analizo cómo los microorganismos rizosféricos modulan la fisiología vegetal mediante la emisión de compuestos orgánicos volátiles y cómo estos influyen en el comportamiento y desempeño de herbívoros y sus enemigos naturales.
specializations
biomes
Gabriel Gustavo Tavates Nunes Monteiro
Gabriel Gustavo Tavates Nunes Monteiro
Affiliation
Max-Planck Institute for Biogeochemistry
Location
Jena-DE
Research Description
I am a soil microbial and chemical ecologist fascinated by plant-soil-microbe interactions. My goal as a researcher is to explore the complex interactions between aboveground plants and the soil and microbes belowground in tropical ecosystems in the context of climate change.
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
Manish Kumar Sharma
Manish Kumar Sharma
Affiliation
Institute of Botany of the Czech Academy of Sciences
Location
India
Research Description
I am a plant ecologist working in the Western Himalaya (NW Himalaya), focusing on climate change impacts on alpine ecosystems. My research examines how shifts in climate might influence plant communities, biodiversity, and functional traits, using field experiments and trait-based approaches to understand ecosystem responses.
specializations
biomes
Marina Semchenko
Marina Semchenko
Affiliation
University of Tartu
Location
Tartu, Estonia
Research Description
Evolutionary ecology of plant-soil interactions
specializations
biomes
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
Nick Garcia
Nick Garcia
Affiliation
University of Cambridge
Location
United Kingdom
Research Description
specializations
biomes
ng560@cam.ac.uk
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.
specializations
biomes
Ruoyu Hu
Ruoyu Hu
Affiliation
University of Lausanne
Location
Lausanne
Research Description
I am a soil microbiologist with a chemical background, studying how AMF adapt to diverse environmental conditions and interact with other soil microorganisms. My research integrates soil chemistry and microbial ecology to uncover mechanisms shaping belowground networks, nutrient cycling, and ecosystem resilience, supporting SPUN’s mission to map and protect underground biodiversity.
specializations
biomes
ruoyu.hu@unil.ch
Susan Ziegler
Susan Ziegler
Affiliation
Memorial University of Newfoundland
Location
St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada
Research Description
Climate change impacts and feedbacks operating in boreal and subarctic landscapes. This includes how soil fauna are changing in response to shifting hydrology, temperature and vegetation changes, and in turn impacting soil carbon and nutrient cycling and stores.
