Symposium: The Plant Microverse

Bridging phyllosphere and rhizosphere research

General Information

Join us on 25 April 2023 for a one-day symposium on plant-microbial research, bringing together experts from doctoral researchers to esteemed professors. A unique opportunity to share novel ideas and findings, we have assembled a prestigious panel of guest speakers with expertise in various facets of plant-microbe interactions. From exploring the phyllosphere to analyzing the rhizosphere, from investigating crop plants to delving into model plants, from ecological to molecular methods, our guest speakers cover it all.

The symposium will kick off with the guest speakers sharing their pioneering research, offering invaluable insights into their areas of expertise. This will be followed by a stimulating roundtable discussion, giving both the speakers and the audience a platform to exchange ideas and perspectives on plant-microbial research.

Join us in this dynamic and intellectually stimulating symposium, where we seek to broaden our understanding of plant-microbial research and the impact it has on our world.

Invited Speakers

Silke Ruppel

Dr. Silke Ruppel research expertise lies in investigating beneficial plant-microbe interactions in horticultural systems. She aims to improve application of microbes in sustainable crop production which includes a understanding of effects between rhizosphere microbes and soil properties. Her group is located at Leibniz Institute of Vegetable and Ornamental Crops in Großbeeren.

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Roeland Berendsen

Dr. Roeland Berendsen's research at University of Utrecht focuses on the role of microbes in the health of plant roots. His areas of interest include sustainable pesticides, crop protection, the immune response of plants, and the rhizosphere.

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Mitja Remus-Emsermann

Prof. Dr. Mitja Remus-Emsermann specializes in phyllosphere microbiology, single-cell microbiology, and plant-microbe interactions. He is particularly interested in using bacterial bioreporters to better understand microbial communities and their functions on leaves and other plant surfaces. His group is located at Freie Universität Berlin.

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Eric Kemen

Prof. Dr. Eric Kemen from University of Tübingen is an expert in microbial interactions in plant ecosystems. His research focuses on understanding the fundamental mechanisms that shape microbial communities, with a particular emphasis on the transition from stochastic inputs to well-defined, often host-associated microbial communities of the phyllosphere.

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Philipp Franken

Prof. Dr. Philip Franken's research includes plant-microorganism interactions in sustainable cultivation, epigenetic processes in plant reproduction, molecular genetic principles of plant breeding, and the control of development and growth of horticultural crops. He is a professor at University of Jena and his group is located at the Research Center for Horticultural Crops in Erfurt.

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Anna Liisa Laine

Prof. Dr. Anna-Liisa Laine is an expert in host-pathogen coevolution, evolutionary epidemiology, and trophic interactions at University of Zürich. Her research focuses on understanding the complex relationships between host and parasite populations, and the implications of these relationships for the wider ecosystem.

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Date and Venue

Rosensäle of the University of Jena at Fürstengraben Image: Anne Günther (University of Jena)

When?

The symposium will take place on 25 April 2023

Where?

We will meet at the Rosensäle of the University of Jena (Fürstengraben 27, 07743 Jena)

Preliminary Program

Time	Speaker	Topic
8.45-9.15	Organizing Committee	Opening + Registration of Participants
9.15-9.30	Organizing Committee	Welcome
9.30-10.30	Silke Ruppel Roeland Berendsen	TBA TBA
10.30-10.45		COFFEE BREAK
10.45-11.45	Eric Kemen Mitja Remus-Emsermann	TBA TBA
11.45-13.00		LUNCH BREAK + Poster Session
13.00-14.00	Philipp Franken Anna Liisa Laine	TBA TBA
14.00-14.15		COFFEE BREAK
14.15-15.45	All Speakers	Roundtable Discussion with all speakers moderated by the Organizing Committee
15.45-16.00	Organizing Committee	Closing

Registration

You would like to listen to great talks? Maybe you would even like to present your own work on a poster?

If so, we welcome your registration or abstract submission until 3 April 2023.

Be sure to act fast, as registration is limited to a select group of 40 participants, allowing for an intimate and interactive event.

Organizing Committee

This symposium is planned and organized by a team of doctoral researchers and Postdocs of the Viral Ecology and Omics group and the Plant Microbiosis group at FSU Jena.

You can contact us anytime