I did my Master thesis at the 'Functional Interactomics' group in 2019-2020. During this year, I explored the approach of mining the TOR-SnRK1 nutrient signalling network towards higher yielding and stress resilient plants via  combinatorial CRISPR screens. Intrigued by the research and encouraged by the warm atmosphere in the group, I decided to apply for an FWO-SB mandate in order to continue this quest and contribute to a more sustainable and climate robust agricultural system.
When I am not in the lab, I am always eager to jump on my bike for a trip, enjoying nature and being inspired and ready for new challenges!

Predoctoral fellow

Emma obtained her Master’s degree in Biochemistry-Biotechnology at Ghent University in 2022. For her Master thesis, she did an Erasmus exchange to Bremen University (Germany), where she worked on the interaction between rice and the endophyte Azoarcus olearius. After her studies, she started a PhD (FWO fellowship) in the research group of Prof. Dr. Sofie Goormachtig, under supervision of Dr. Sylwia Struk, at the VIB-UGent Center for Plant Systems Biology. Her PhD research concerns the interaction between soybean and nitrogen-fixing rhizobia, a symbiotic interaction which is called nodulation. In particular, she focuses on the regulation of nodulation and the receptor kinase NARK in this signalling pathway.