As a passionate and aspiring scientist in the field of plant genetics and physiology, my academic journey began at Ghent University, where I pursued a Bachelor’s and Master’s in Biology, specializing in Functional Biology. My fascination with plant genetics was further enriched during an exchange program at Yonsei University in South Korea, where I delved into biotechnology and honed my communication and self-management skills. Throughout my education, I have developed a robust foundation in plant physiology, development, biotechnology, and genetics. I’ve acquired practical laboratory skills, including PCR, gel electrophoresis, in situ hybridization, and Sanger sequencing preparation. Additionally, I’ve gained proficiency in Python programming, statistics, and academic writing. The pursuit of a PhD is the natural progression of my academic and research aspirations. It presents an opportunity to build upon my master’s dissertation and delve into the complexities of GRFs and TCPs. I am particularly excited about the potential applications of AI in plant genetics and am eager to learn and apply these cutting-edge techniques. My ultimate goal is to bridge the gap between molecular knowledge and crop trait improvement. With the world facing the challenges of climate change and a growing population, I am motivated to contribute to the development of crops that are resilient and sustainable. I am grateful for the opportunities that have shaped my academic path and am committed to using my skills for the betterment of agriculture and society.

Akshay earned his bachelor's degree in Agricultural Sciences from the University of Agricultural Sciences (UAS) in Bangalore, India. Subsequently, he pursued his master's degree in Genetics and Molecular Plant Sciences in Sweden through a collaborative program involving Uppsala University, Stockholm University, and the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences. He joined the group of Prof Annelie Carlsbecker to conduct his master's thesis, studying the impact of abiotic stress on the root primary xylem development. Continuing in the same line of research, Akshay joined as a PhD student in the group of Prof Bert De Rybel in March 2022. Currently, Akshay's project aims to identify the novel transcriptional regulators controlling primary xylem development.

My research career has focused on the central biological question: How do growth processes determine final plant organ size? Initially, I approached this using molecular biology studying Arabidopsis leaf development. As my interest shifted towards applied research, I redirected my focus to maize. What started as translational research to bring knowledge from Arabidopsis to crops and from the lab to the field, gradually developed into a research line with the goal to decipher the instructor networks that govern leaf size, organ growth and ultimately yield in maize. Because plant organ size control is an important yield component that is also severely impacted by climate change, our ultimate goal is to deepen our understanding of the growth-regulatory networks to enhance our success rate to achieve climate-resilient crops.
 
As lecturer of ‘Plant Research Technologies’ and ‘Plant Yield’ within the Advanced Master in Plant Biotechnology, I get the opportunity to enthuse Master students about the possibilities of plant biotechnology to change agriculture.
 
My team and I set out to create an inclusive atmosphere that stimulates critical thinking, creativity, team work, personal development, job satisfaction, personal fulfillment, mutual respect, scientific transparency and research ethics.
 
 
 
 

Annelore Natran started her studies at HoGent campus Vesalius in 2013. She studied Biomedical Laboratory Technology. In her last year, she did her internship in the lab of Dirk Inzé, where she also wrote her bachelor's thesis.
In 2016, Annelore graduated and she also gained her first work experience in the Systems Biology of Yield lab. She mainly works on phenotypic and genotypic techniques with Arabidopsis but also has some experience with maize plants.
In 2020, she joined the group of Yves Van de Peer to work on Spirodela.

Geert De Jaeger is full professor in Plant Biotechnology at Ghent University and Group leader at the VIB-UGent Center for Plant Systems Biology where he leads a research group on Functional Interactomics. De Jaeger's technology driven research team obtained high visibility in the plant research field with their state of the art AP-MS/PL-MS platform that maps protein interaction networks in plants. He recently started the exploration of nutrient (C/N) signaling around the central metabolic regulators TOR and SnRK1, with the aim to generate new approaches that contributes towards a more sustainable agriculture.

Originally from Kyiv, Ukraine, Nataliia has completed her Bachelor and Master studies at Queen Mary University and Imperial University London, respectively, with a focus on plant molecular and synthetic biology. For her PhD, she has moved to the University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, Austria to the group of Professor Luschnig to decipher the mechanisms controlling protein polarity in the root. Driven by the interest of understanding mechanisms guiding polarity, currently Nataliia is focused on studying the process of oriented cell divisions in Professor De Rybel's group.