Coordination of the complete workflow in a high-volume PCR lab. Responsible for quality control of all processes and the analysis and authorisation of the results.

How do seaweed extracts improve salt stress resilience in crops? I have performed and prepared physiological, metabolic and genomic experiments to unravel the underlying mechanisms in tomato. I also focussed on the composition of the seaweed extract to understand what compounds could cause the bioactivity in plants.

Two important hormones that regulate the plant's immune response are salicylic acid (SA) and jasmonic acid (JA). Interaction between the pathways that are regulated by both hormones enable the plant to fine-tune its defense according to the attackers at hand. This hormonal crosstalk between SA and JA is well established over the years, but how it works on a molecular level remains unclear.A previous study proposed transcription factors as important for the negative effect of SA on the… Show more Two important hormones that regulate the plant's immune response are salicylic acid (SA) and jasmonic acid (JA). Interaction between the pathways that are regulated by both hormones enable the plant to fine-tune its defense according to the attackers at hand. This hormonal crosstalk between SA and JA is well established over the years, but how it works on a molecular level remains unclear.A previous study proposed transcription factors as important for the negative effect of SA on the JAresponse. We were able to link one of them to this effect after a large gene expression experiments in living plant cells. In addition, we narrowed down where this effect occurs in the molecular pathwaythat controls the JA defense response and proposed a possible mechanism of how this works. I mastered a lot of different molecular techniques during this internship. My results will be published in a later stage as part of a larger study. This project was awarded with an A. Show less

From bar tending at pop concerts to facilitating conferences of large companies.

During this research project I did an extensive literature study named ´From Systemic Signaling to Expression of PR Genes: The Early Steps in SA mediated Import of NPR1´. Plants are constantly attacked by various microbes and insects. To withstand these attacks, plantshave developed a complicated immune system that is made of various types of defense responsesthat are effective against different microbes and/or insects. At the base of these responses are plant hormones such as… Show more During this research project I did an extensive literature study named ´From Systemic Signaling to Expression of PR Genes: The Early Steps in SA mediated Import of NPR1´. Plants are constantly attacked by various microbes and insects. To withstand these attacks, plantshave developed a complicated immune system that is made of various types of defense responsesthat are effective against different microbes and/or insects. At the base of these responses are plant hormones such as Salicylic acid (SA). My review focused on the events in the plant after recognition of an attacker (and accumulation of SA) up onto transcriptional reprogramming leading to a variety of defense responses. The final grade of this study was rewarded with an A. In addition, I obtained 3 months of lab experience working on the characterization of 5 target genes with a possible role in the early SA-response. Despite the lack of any substantial results I did develop many important skills for working in a lab. Show less