Ruben Vanholme is a staff scientist in the Bio-Energy and Bio-Aromatics group of Wout Boerjan.
Ruben graduated in 2004 as Master of Chemistry at Ghent University. He made a master dissertation in the Ghent Quantum Chemistry Group, under supervision of Patrick Bultinck. In 2005, he obtained an IWT grant to start his PhD in the Bio-Energy and Bio-Aromatics lab of Wout Boerjan. His research included the study of systems-wide consequences of lignin perturbations in Arabidopsis. For this, transcriptome and metabolome approaches were used. After obtaining his PhD degree in Biotechnology, he got two consecutive FWO post-doc grants to further investigate the lignin biosynthesis and engineering in Arabidopsis, poplar and maize. Meanwhile, he is staff scientist in the Bio-Energy and Bio-Aromatics lab as an expert in MS-based phenolic metabolite profiling and identification.
Ruben is actively involved in communicating science-based information about genetic engineering of crops. In addition, he is a climate warrior with a mission: to inform people on climate change and the dramatic loss in biodiversity it causes. He also informs what can be done to avoid further dramatic scenarios.
 

In 2014, Sandrien graduated as a Master of Science in Biochemical Engineering Technology at Ghent University. During her master’s thesis, she worked on the optimization and validation of the toxicological screening of drugs in blood samples on HPLC-PDA. Following her master’s thesis and after obtaining an FWO PhD scholarship, she started working in the Bio-Energy and Bio-Aromatics group of Prof. Wout Boerjan to study the aromatic metabolism of poplar and maize. During her PhD, she developed a combination of dry and wet lab tools for the structural characterization of specialized metabolites, and in 2020 she graduated as a Doctor of Sciences in Biochemistry and Biotechnology. She currently works as a metabolomics expert in the VIB Metabolomics Core Ghent, which is embedded in the VIB-UGent Center for Plant Systems Biology

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.