Our programme committee carefully selects the speakers for the scientific programme. They operate at the heart of the Dutch Life sciences and make sure to cover all programme tracks. In the run-up to the conference, we ask them to elaborate on their choice of speakers and what they look forward to at NWO Life 2024.
Caroline Gutjahr
Caroline Gutjahr is a director of the Max Planck Institute of Molecular Plant Physiology in Potsdam-Golm, Germany, where she heads the Department of Root Biology and Symbiosis. Previously she was Professor of Plant Genetics at the Technical University of Munich. Her research group aims at understanding the development and function of arbuscular mycorrhiza, a symbiosis between land plants and beneficial fungi. The research of her team focuses in particular on the role of plant hormones and transcriptional networks in physiological, molecular and plant cell developmental changes required to accommodate arbuscular mycorrhiza fungi inside the root and to adjust symbiosis development with environmental conditions and the resulting physiological needs of the plant.
During NWO Life2024 Caroline will speak about fungi: Form and function of a wide-spread plant-fungal symbiosis.
Her research is cutting edge, she has discovered new hormone signals in symbiosis and works on translation of het knowledge to enhance crop performance without fertilizer input.
Behind the speaker
We asked programme committee member Saskia van Wees who she invited to speak at NWO Life2024 and why. We also asked her about NWO Life in general.
Who is Saskia van Wees? 'I am a professor of plant-microbe interactions at Utrecht University, where my group uses a gene expression-based systems biological approach to investigate how plant hormones steer plant immune responses to (i) ward off harmful pathogens and insects, and (ii) accommodate beneficial microbes to improve plant health. '
Why did you invite Caroline Gutjahr?
‘I have invited Caroline Gutjahr who is the director at the Max Planck Institute of Molecular Plant Physiology in Potsdam in Germany. Caroline leads a research group on the symbiosis between plant roots and mycorrhizal fungi. These fungi form arbuscular (small tree-like) structures in plant roots by which they exchange scarce nutrients like phosphate for lipids and photosynthetically fixed carbon. Caroline’s group uses genetic, molecular, cell biological and biochemical methods to unravel the molecular mechanisms from both the plant and the fungus that are required for shaping and functioning of arbuscular mycorrhizae.'
Why should participants come to NWO Life2024? 'NWO Life informs and connects scientists from different research fields. You may be surprised that someone studying a different organism is actually using the same methods and encounters the same problems as you. At Life you can find each other, learn from each other, and start collaborations, opening up new avenues in your research. Moreover, for (MSc) students it offers a unique insight into different disciplines, and may spark interests that can change their future career.’
What are you most looking forward to? 'Getting inspired by scientific presentations and having discussions with colleagues who I don’t know yet. Also the creative workshop and the social evening program should be fun!'
