Corné Pieterse is professor Plant-Microbe Interactions and scientific director of the Institute of Environmental Biology of the Faculty of Science at Utrecht University, the Netherlands. His research group investigates the molecular mechanisms of how PGPR-mediated induced systemic resistance (ISR) protects plants against microbial pathogens and insect herbivores and how this functions in a microbial community context in the rhizosphere. Current research is focused on the bi-directional communication along the microbiome-root-shoot axis in which we are interested in the plant-beneficial functions that are encoded by PGPR in the root microbiome and the role of plant genes and metabolites (coumarins) that aid in maximizing profitable functions from the root microbiome. With our research we aim to contribute to grand societal challenges, such as food security and sustainable agriculture.
Corné Pieterse is professor Plant-Microbe Interactions and scientific director of the Institute of Environmental Biology of the Faculty of Science at Utrecht University, the Netherlands. His research group investigates the molecular mechanisms of how PGPR-mediated induced systemic resistance (ISR) protects plants against microbial pathogens and insect herbivores and how this functions in a microbial community context in the rhizosphere. Current research is focused on the bi-directional communication along the microbiome-root-shoot axis in which we are interested in the plant-beneficial functions that are encoded by PGPR in the root microbiome and the role of plant genes and metabolites (coumarins) that aid in maximizing profitable functions from the root microbiome. With our research we aim to contribute to grand societal challenges, such as food security and sustainable agriculture.
Gabriele Berg studied biology, ecology and biotechnology at the universities in Rostock and Greifswald, and obtained her Ph.D. in microbiology from Rostock University (Germany). In 2005 she became a full professor in environmental biotechnology at Graz University of Technology (Austria), and in 2021 an additional professorship in Potsdam (Germany). Her research focus on understanding the plant microbiome across systems, and translation of the results into microbiome management concepts and biotechnology solutions for health issues. From 2018 - 2020, she belongs to the most influential researchers world-wide (top 1, Clarivate). For her research achievements she received numerous awards, e.g. Science2Business Award Austria and the Styrian Knight`s Cross for Science and Art.
Gabriele Berg studied biology, ecology and biotechnology at the universities in Rostock and Greifswald, and obtained her Ph.D. in microbiology from Rostock University (Germany). In 2005 she became a full professor in environmental biotechnology at Graz University of Technology (Austria), and in 2021 an additional professorship in Potsdam (Germany). Her research focus on understanding the plant microbiome across systems, and translation of the results into microbiome management concepts and biotechnology solutions for health issues. From 2018 - 2020, she belongs to the most influential researchers world-wide (top 1, Clarivate). For her research achievements she received numerous awards, e.g. Science2Business Award Austria and the Styrian Knight`s Cross for Science and Art.
Prof. Luz Estela Bashan was born in Bogotá, Colombia. She is a biologist from Javeriana University in Bogota; she obtained her master's degree from the National University of Colombia; she has a doctorate from the University of Laval, Quebec, Canada, and a postdoctoral fellowship from the University of Arizona. From 2000 to 2022, she was a Senior Researcher and leader of the Environmental Microbiology Group at the Center for Biological Research of the Northwest (CIBNOR) in Mexico. Currently, Prof. Bashan is the President of the Bashan Foundation, based in Oregon, and the Director of the Bashan Institute of Science, in Alabama. She is also Affiliate Faculty with the Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology of Auburn University, Alabama.
Prof. Bashan's main fields of research during the last 20 years are the interaction between plant growth-promoting bacteria and microalgae for biotechnological applications, the restoration of degraded soils using plant growth-promoting bacteria and native plants, and the development of bacterial inoculants.
Prof. Bashan has published 122 peer-review articles, a book, chapters in books, and popular scientific publications. In addition, she published four comprehensive websites. Prof. Bashan serves as part of the Editorial Board of Biology and Fertility of Soils (since 2019), Section Editor of Plant and Soil (since 2019), Associate Editor of Stresses (since 2020), and Guest Editor Special Issue Agronomy (2021). Additionally, she is a reviewer of 49 additional scientific journals from 12 countries and five funding agencies.
The international standards indicators of the scientific quality of Prof. Bashan are (January 2023, Google scholar): 16800 citations; H-index: 53; i-index: 93.
Prof. Luz Estela Bashan was born in Bogotá, Colombia. She is a biologist from Javeriana University in Bogota; she obtained her master's degree from the National University of Colombia; she has a doctorate from the University of Laval, Quebec, Canada, and a postdoctoral fellowship from the University of Arizona. From 2000 to 2022, she was a Senior Researcher and leader of the Environmental Microbiology Group at the Center for Biological Research of the Northwest (CIBNOR) in Mexico. Currently, Prof. Bashan is the President of the Bashan Foundation, based in Oregon, and the Director of the Bashan Institute of Science, in Alabama. She is also Affiliate Faculty with the Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology of Auburn University, Alabama.
Prof. Bashan's main fields of research during the last 20 years are the interaction between plant growth-promoting bacteria and microalgae for biotechnological applications, the restoration of degraded soils using plant growth-promoting bacteria and native plants, and the development of bacterial inoculants.
Prof. Bashan has published 122 peer-review articles, a book, chapters in books, and popular scientific publications. In addition, she published four comprehensive websites. Prof. Bashan serves as part of the Editorial Board of Biology and Fertility of Soils (since 2019), Section Editor of Plant and Soil (since 2019), Associate Editor of Stresses (since 2020), and Guest Editor Special Issue Agronomy (2021). Additionally, she is a reviewer of 49 additional scientific journals from 12 countries and five funding agencies.
The international standards indicators of the scientific quality of Prof. Bashan are (January 2023, Google scholar): 16800 citations; H-index: 53; i-index: 93.
Prof. Mark Liles is a microbiologist and Professor in the Department of Biological Sciences, Auburn University, and serves as the Acting Associate Dean for Research and Graduate Studies in the College of Sciences and Mathematics. Originally from the South of the United States, he has had 36 different homes (due largely to his father being in the US military), his wife is Prof. Mary Sandage (Department of Speech, Language and Hearing Sciences, Auburn University) and his son Max will be an Auburn University undergraduate student starting in 2022. Prof. Liles has a B.S. in Biology from Tulane University, a Ph.D. in Microbiology from Northwestern University (1998) and conducted postdoctoral research at the University of Wisconsin-Madison in the labs of Prof. Jo Handelsman and Prof. Bob Goodman. Over the past 30+ years in science, he has developed methods for community genomic (“metagenomic”) analysis of complex microbial communities and developed treatments for the control of disease in agriculture, aquaculture and human medicine. He has published over 130 peer-reviewed journal articles, over 150 published abstracts and is an inventor on six awarded patents with other patents pending.
Prof. Mark Liles is a microbiologist and Professor in the Department of Biological Sciences, Auburn University, and serves as the Acting Associate Dean for Research and Graduate Studies in the College of Sciences and Mathematics. Originally from the South of the United States, he has had 36 different homes (due largely to his father being in the US military), his wife is Prof. Mary Sandage (Department of Speech, Language and Hearing Sciences, Auburn University) and his son Max will be an Auburn University undergraduate student starting in 2022. Prof. Liles has a B.S. in Biology from Tulane University, a Ph.D. in Microbiology from Northwestern University (1998) and conducted postdoctoral research at the University of Wisconsin-Madison in the labs of Prof. Jo Handelsman and Prof. Bob Goodman. Over the past 30+ years in science, he has developed methods for community genomic (“metagenomic”) analysis of complex microbial communities and developed treatments for the control of disease in agriculture, aquaculture and human medicine. He has published over 130 peer-reviewed journal articles, over 150 published abstracts and is an inventor on six awarded patents with other patents pending.
Professor Babalola (Pr.Sci.Nat, MASSAF, FASLP, FTWAS, FAS, FAAS) is the Vice-President of The World Academy of Sciences (TWAS, Africa region) and the Vice-President of the Organisation for Women in Science for the Developing World (OWSD, Africa region). Olubukola is an NRF-rated scientist, an MBA graduate, a Research Director and a Principal investigator at North-West University, South Africa. After a PhD with a Research Fellowship from IITA and PhD Fellowships from OWSD, she had postdoctoral experiences at the Weizmann Institute of Science, Israel, and the University of the Western Cape, South Africa. She has over 20 years of experience focusing on rhizosphere metagenomics. She is a member of several editorial boards and an International Advisor to a few others. In 2018, she delivered her professorial inaugural lecture. She is an AAAS-TWAS Science diplomacy alumnus, impacting the world after the eye-opening awareness of policymaking, diplomacy, and diplomatic engagement. She is acting using the gender lens and forging collaborations with diplomats. Olubukola holds over 56 professional certificates in her area of interest from the University of California, Berkeley, USA, University of Mauritius, Reduit, Bradford University, the UK, and Nelson Mandela University, South Africa, to mention a few. Her effort has received many awards, including being the finalist, GenderInSite 2020. Olubukola is passionate about capacity building and has completed the supervision of 31 doctoral fellows, 24 masters, and numerous Honors students. Prof Babalola is a prolific author with ~ 350 publications. Her international experience spans the Americas, Asia, Europe, and Oceania. She enjoys research grants and international partnerships across the globe. Olubukola has an H-index of 53, with over 13,200 citations. Her recent Springer book is “Food Security and Safety: Africa’s Perspective.” Olubukola is #1 in Africa for Soil Science and Plant Nutrition (https://www.adscientificindex.com/scientist.php?id=96341)
Professor Babalola (Pr.Sci.Nat, MASSAF, FASLP, FTWAS, FAS, FAAS) is the Vice-President of The World Academy of Sciences (TWAS, Africa region) and the Vice-President of the Organisation for Women in Science for the Developing World (OWSD, Africa region). Olubukola is an NRF-rated scientist, an MBA graduate, a Research Director and a Principal investigator at North-West University, South Africa. After a PhD with a Research Fellowship from IITA and PhD Fellowships from OWSD, she had postdoctoral experiences at the Weizmann Institute of Science, Israel, and the University of the Western Cape, South Africa. She has over 20 years of experience focusing on rhizosphere metagenomics. She is a member of several editorial boards and an International Advisor to a few others. In 2018, she delivered her professorial inaugural lecture. She is an AAAS-TWAS Science diplomacy alumnus, impacting the world after the eye-opening awareness of policymaking, diplomacy, and diplomatic engagement. She is acting using the gender lens and forging collaborations with diplomats. Olubukola holds over 56 professional certificates in her area of interest from the University of California, Berkeley, USA, University of Mauritius, Reduit, Bradford University, the UK, and Nelson Mandela University, South Africa, to mention a few. Her effort has received many awards, including being the finalist, GenderInSite 2020. Olubukola is passionate about capacity building and has completed the supervision of 31 doctoral fellows, 24 masters, and numerous Honors students. Prof Babalola is a prolific author with ~ 350 publications. Her international experience spans the Americas, Asia, Europe, and Oceania. She enjoys research grants and international partnerships across the globe. Olubukola has an H-index of 53, with over 13,200 citations. Her recent Springer book is “Food Security and Safety: Africa’s Perspective.” Olubukola is #1 in Africa for Soil Science and Plant Nutrition (https://www.adscientificindex.com/scientist.php?id=96341)
Dr. Tony Adesemoye is a plant pathologist and soil microbiologist and currently works for the USDA-ARS National Soil Dynamics Laboratory, Auburn AL. His pioneering research in utilizing plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) for enhanced use efficiency of nutrients in crop production produced publications that became major reference materials for workers in the research area. Two of the manuscripts published in 2009 have garnered 1045 and 945 citations as of February 2023. After a Ph.D in Plant Pathology at Auburn University under Prof. Joe Kloepper, he conducted postdoctoral research at Michigan State University and University of California Riverside. Subsequently, he has developed methods to utilize Bacillus PGPR for the management of soilborne diseases based on many years of experience studying the diversity, virulence, and spread of soilborne pathogens and his research has advanced techniques in microbiome and metabolomics. Also, working in extension directly with farmers for years and as lead scientist in industry, he acquired vast practical experiences in product development and sustainable crop production. Previously, he worked as a faculty at the University of Nebraska Lincoln, lead plant pathologist or consultant for multiple companies, and as a scientist at Texas A&M University, United States.
Dr. Tony Adesemoye is a plant pathologist and soil microbiologist and currently works for the USDA-ARS National Soil Dynamics Laboratory, Auburn AL. His pioneering research in utilizing plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) for enhanced use efficiency of nutrients in crop production produced publications that became major reference materials for workers in the research area. Two of the manuscripts published in 2009 have garnered 1045 and 945 citations as of February 2023. After a Ph.D in Plant Pathology at Auburn University under Prof. Joe Kloepper, he conducted postdoctoral research at Michigan State University and University of California Riverside. Subsequently, he has developed methods to utilize Bacillus PGPR for the management of soilborne diseases based on many years of experience studying the diversity, virulence, and spread of soilborne pathogens and his research has advanced techniques in microbiome and metabolomics. Also, working in extension directly with farmers for years and as lead scientist in industry, he acquired vast practical experiences in product development and sustainable crop production. Previously, he worked as a faculty at the University of Nebraska Lincoln, lead plant pathologist or consultant for multiple companies, and as a scientist at Texas A&M University, United States.
Choong-Min Ryu is the head of the Infectious Disease Research Center in Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology (KRIBB), South Korea and serve a Specialty Chief Editor of Plant-Pathogen Interaction Section on Frontiers in Plant Science. He graduated Auburn University under Joseph W. Kloepper who is a god-farther of plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR). He discovered bacterial volatile compound-mediated plant growth promotion and induced systemic resistance for the first time. Since Ph.D in Auburn, he had post-doc experience in The S. R. Noble Foundation, USA. In 2004, he came back to Korea and joined KRIBB. Recently, Choong-Min is also interested in the role of microbiome on plant and animal health such as disease control, reduction of methane production, and antimicrobial resistance. He is an internationally recognized expert, organized many sessions for international conferences, and gave many plenary and invited talks in the host-microbe interaction field. He published 200 scientific papers, book chapters, and reviews. His H-index is 60 as well as his publication was cited more than 20,000 (Google Scholar).
Choong-Min Ryu is the head of the Infectious Disease Research Center in Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology (KRIBB), South Korea and serve a Specialty Chief Editor of Plant-Pathogen Interaction Section on Frontiers in Plant Science. He graduated Auburn University under Joseph W. Kloepper who is a god-farther of plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR). He discovered bacterial volatile compound-mediated plant growth promotion and induced systemic resistance for the first time. Since Ph.D in Auburn, he had post-doc experience in The S. R. Noble Foundation, USA. In 2004, he came back to Korea and joined KRIBB. Recently, Choong-Min is also interested in the role of microbiome on plant and animal health such as disease control, reduction of methane production, and antimicrobial resistance. He is an internationally recognized expert, organized many sessions for international conferences, and gave many plenary and invited talks in the host-microbe interaction field. He published 200 scientific papers, book chapters, and reviews. His H-index is 60 as well as his publication was cited more than 20,000 (Google Scholar).
David Mead is CEO and Co-Founder of Terra Bioforge, the Natural Products by Design Company. Terra Bioforge has developed a new generation of synthetic biology tools that accelerate natural product metabolite discovery and production tenfold, enabling the production of “unnatural” compounds from nature. Dr. Mead also founded and built Lucigen before its sale in 2018 to LGC. Dr. Mead has developed dozens of molecular products, is the inventor of TA cloning (a billion-dollar product) and has 65 peer-reviewed publications and 11 issued patents.
David Mead is CEO and Co-Founder of Terra Bioforge, the Natural Products by Design Company. Terra Bioforge has developed a new generation of synthetic biology tools that accelerate natural product metabolite discovery and production tenfold, enabling the production of “unnatural” compounds from nature. Dr. Mead also founded and built Lucigen before its sale in 2018 to LGC. Dr. Mead has developed dozens of molecular products, is the inventor of TA cloning (a billion-dollar product) and has 65 peer-reviewed publications and 11 issued patents.