Confirmed Speakers
We are proud to present a world-class lineup of confirmed speakers for SeedCon 2026. These leading voices in seed microbiome and microbial inheritance research will shape the conversation, share groundbreaking insights, and inspire the future of this rapidly evolving field. More distinguished speakers will be announced soon, so stay tuned as the program continues to grow.
Confirmed Speakers
We are proud to present a world-class lineup of confirmed speakers for SeedCon 2026. These leading voices in seed microbiome and microbial inheritance research will shape the conversation, share groundbreaking insights, and inspire the future of this rapidly evolving field. More distinguished speakers will be announced soon, so stay tuned as the program continues to grow.
Confirmed Speakers
We are proud to present a world-class lineup of confirmed speakers for SeedCon 2026. These leading voices in seed microbiome and microbial inheritance research will shape the conversation, share groundbreaking insights, and inspire the future of this rapidly evolving field. More distinguished speakers will be announced soon, so stay tuned as the program continues to grow.
Ashley Shade
Ashley Shade is a Director of Research with the French National Center for Scientific Research (CNRS). Her research aims to understand how environmental microbial communities adapt and achieve resilience to climate change. Her lab employs quantitative and 'omics technologies, along with field and laboratory experiments, to gain a systems-level understanding of microbiome responses to environmental stress. Her current Horizon Europe Consolidator award, "MicroRescue," focuses on understanding which soil and rhizosphere bacteria awaken from an inactive state in response to warming and drought, and the consequences of these awakenings for maintaining critical microbial functions within ecosystems. Dr. Shade is a 2025 recipient of the United States Presidential Early Career Award in Science and Engineering, presented by President Biden, the highest U.S. honor bestowed upon young researchers. She serves as the editor-in-chief of the American Society for Microbiology's journal mSystems.
Ashley Shade
Ashley Shade is a Director of Research with the French National Center for Scientific Research (CNRS). Her research aims to understand how environmental microbial communities adapt and achieve resilience to climate change. Her lab employs quantitative and 'omics technologies, along with field and laboratory experiments, to gain a systems-level understanding of microbiome responses to environmental stress. Her current Horizon Europe Consolidator award, "MicroRescue," focuses on understanding which soil and rhizosphere bacteria awaken from an inactive state in response to warming and drought, and the consequences of these awakenings for maintaining critical microbial functions within ecosystems. Dr. Shade is a 2025 recipient of the United States Presidential Early Career Award in Science and Engineering, presented by President Biden, the highest U.S. honor bestowed upon young researchers. She serves as the editor-in-chief of the American Society for Microbiology's journal mSystems.
Ashley Shade
Ashley Shade is a Director of Research with the French National Center for Scientific Research (CNRS). Her research aims to understand how environmental microbial communities adapt and achieve resilience to climate change. Her lab employs quantitative and 'omics technologies, along with field and laboratory experiments, to gain a systems-level understanding of microbiome responses to environmental stress. Her current Horizon Europe Consolidator award, "MicroRescue," focuses on understanding which soil and rhizosphere bacteria awaken from an inactive state in response to warming and drought, and the consequences of these awakenings for maintaining critical microbial functions within ecosystems. Dr. Shade is a 2025 recipient of the United States Presidential Early Career Award in Science and Engineering, presented by President Biden, the highest U.S. honor bestowed upon young researchers. She serves as the editor-in-chief of the American Society for Microbiology's journal mSystems.
Gabriele Berg
Gabriele Berg studied biology, ecology and biotechnology at the universities in Rostock and Greifswald (Germany), and obtained her Ph.D. in 1995 in microbiology from Rostock University. In 2005 she became a full professor in environmental biotechnology at Graz University of Technology (Austria), and in 2021 an additional professorship in Potsdam together with leading the department Microbiome Biotechnology at Leibniz ATB (Germany). Since 2025 she has been a Max Planck fellow at the Max Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces in Potsdam. Her interests are focused on microbiome research and translation of the results into new biotechnological concepts for health issues. In addition, she is one of the international drivers of the interdisciplinary field of microbiome biotechnology. She belongs to the most cited researchers worldwide (highly cited researcher 2019-21, 2024), and received several high-ranking awards. She is vice president of the International Society for Microbial Ecology (ISME).
Gabriele Berg
Gabriele Berg studied biology, ecology and biotechnology at the universities in Rostock and Greifswald (Germany), and obtained her Ph.D. in 1995 in microbiology from Rostock University. In 2005 she became a full professor in environmental biotechnology at Graz University of Technology (Austria), and in 2021 an additional professorship in Potsdam together with leading the department Microbiome Biotechnology at Leibniz ATB (Germany). Since 2025 she has been a Max Planck fellow at the Max Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces in Potsdam. Her interests are focused on microbiome research and translation of the results into new biotechnological concepts for health issues. In addition, she is one of the international drivers of the interdisciplinary field of microbiome biotechnology. She belongs to the most cited researchers worldwide (highly cited researcher 2019-21, 2024), and received several high-ranking awards. She is vice president of the International Society for Microbial Ecology (ISME).
Gabriele Berg
Gabriele Berg studied biology, ecology and biotechnology at the universities in Rostock and Greifswald (Germany), and obtained her Ph.D. in 1995 in microbiology from Rostock University. In 2005 she became a full professor in environmental biotechnology at Graz University of Technology (Austria), and in 2021 an additional professorship in Potsdam together with leading the department Microbiome Biotechnology at Leibniz ATB (Germany). Since 2025 she has been a Max Planck fellow at the Max Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces in Potsdam. Her interests are focused on microbiome research and translation of the results into new biotechnological concepts for health issues. In addition, she is one of the international drivers of the interdisciplinary field of microbiome biotechnology. She belongs to the most cited researchers worldwide (highly cited researcher 2019-21, 2024), and received several high-ranking awards. She is vice president of the International Society for Microbial Ecology (ISME).
Seth Bordenstein
Dr. Seth Bordenstein is a leading microbiome scientist and Director of the One Health Microbiome Center at Penn State University, uniting over 550 members across agriculture, environment, and human health. For 25 years, his research has revealed the central role of microbes in host biology, from harnessing bacteria to control mosquito-borne diseases to uncovering microbiome diversity across humans and the animal kingdom. He is also Professor of Biology and Entomology and the founding Director of Discover the Microbes Within! The Wolbachia Project, a global science education program. His contributions have been recognized with numerous awards, including the Genetics Society of America Award for Excellence in Education (2020), the Dorothy Foehr Huck and J. Lloyd Huck Endowed Chair (2022), and recognition as a Clarivate Highly Cited Researcher (since 2023).
Seth Bordenstein
Dr. Seth Bordenstein is a leading microbiome scientist and Director of the One Health Microbiome Center at Penn State University, uniting over 550 members across agriculture, environment, and human health. For 25 years, his research has revealed the central role of microbes in host biology, from harnessing bacteria to control mosquito-borne diseases to uncovering microbiome diversity across humans and the animal kingdom. He is also Professor of Biology and Entomology and the founding Director of Discover the Microbes Within! The Wolbachia Project, a global science education program. His contributions have been recognized with numerous awards, including the Genetics Society of America Award for Excellence in Education (2020), the Dorothy Foehr Huck and J. Lloyd Huck Endowed Chair (2022), and recognition as a Clarivate Highly Cited Researcher (since 2023).
Seth Bordenstein
Dr. Seth Bordenstein is a leading microbiome scientist and Director of the One Health Microbiome Center at Penn State University, uniting over 550 members across agriculture, environment, and human health. For 25 years, his research has revealed the central role of microbes in host biology, from harnessing bacteria to control mosquito-borne diseases to uncovering microbiome diversity across humans and the animal kingdom. He is also Professor of Biology and Entomology and the founding Director of Discover the Microbes Within! The Wolbachia Project, a global science education program. His contributions have been recognized with numerous awards, including the Genetics Society of America Award for Excellence in Education (2020), the Dorothy Foehr Huck and J. Lloyd Huck Endowed Chair (2022), and recognition as a Clarivate Highly Cited Researcher (since 2023).
Angela Sessitsch
Dr. Angela Sessitsch is Head of the Center for Health & Bioresources at the AIT Austrian Institute of Technology. She studied biochemistry at the University of Technology in Graz, holds a PhD in Microbiology from the Wageningen University, the Netherlands, and is habilitated at the Vienna University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences. She has pioneered plant-associated microbiomes and is interested in understanding the interactions between plants, microbiomes and the environment as well as to develop applications. Her team explores the diversity and functioning of plant microbiota by applying a range of molecular approaches, interaction modes between plants and model bacteria, colonization behaviour of endophytes as well as various application technologies for biocontrol and crop enhancement applications. Together with her group A. Sessitsch published more than 250 peer-reviewed publications and is co-inventor of several patents.
Angela Sessitsch
Dr. Angela Sessitsch is Head of the Center for Health & Bioresources at the AIT Austrian Institute of Technology. She studied biochemistry at the University of Technology in Graz, holds a PhD in Microbiology from the Wageningen University, the Netherlands, and is habilitated at the Vienna University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences. She has pioneered plant-associated microbiomes and is interested in understanding the interactions between plants, microbiomes and the environment as well as to develop applications. Her team explores the diversity and functioning of plant microbiota by applying a range of molecular approaches, interaction modes between plants and model bacteria, colonization behaviour of endophytes as well as various application technologies for biocontrol and crop enhancement applications. Together with her group A. Sessitsch published more than 250 peer-reviewed publications and is co-inventor of several patents.
Angela Sessitsch
Dr. Angela Sessitsch is Head of the Center for Health & Bioresources at the AIT Austrian Institute of Technology. She studied biochemistry at the University of Technology in Graz, holds a PhD in Microbiology from the Wageningen University, the Netherlands, and is habilitated at the Vienna University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences. She has pioneered plant-associated microbiomes and is interested in understanding the interactions between plants, microbiomes and the environment as well as to develop applications. Her team explores the diversity and functioning of plant microbiota by applying a range of molecular approaches, interaction modes between plants and model bacteria, colonization behaviour of endophytes as well as various application technologies for biocontrol and crop enhancement applications. Together with her group A. Sessitsch published more than 250 peer-reviewed publications and is co-inventor of several patents.
Manuel Delgado Baquerizo
Manuel Delgado Baquerizo is a senior researcher at the Institute of Natural Resources and Agrobiology of Seville (IRNAS), which is part of the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC). He leads the Biodiversity and Ecosystem Functioning Laboratory (BioFunLab) at IRNAS-CSIC. He also holds a PhD from the Pablo de Olavide University, where he defended his thesis on the effects of climate change on nitrogen dynamics in arid zones.
His research focuses on biodiversity and the functioning of ecosystems, with a particular interest in soil biodiversity, ecosystem services, and microbiomes. He is the leader of global networks, including, for example, the Global Crop Microbiome Survey. He has received multiple awards for his work, including the National Young Researchers Award "Ángeles Alvariño" and the "Premio Fundación Banco Sabadell a las Ciencias y la Ingeniería."
Manuel Delgado Baquerizo
Manuel Delgado Baquerizo is a senior researcher at the Institute of Natural Resources and Agrobiology of Seville (IRNAS), which is part of the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC). He leads the Biodiversity and Ecosystem Functioning Laboratory (BioFunLab) at IRNAS-CSIC. He also holds a PhD from the Pablo de Olavide University, where he defended his thesis on the effects of climate change on nitrogen dynamics in arid zones.
His research focuses on biodiversity and the functioning of ecosystems, with a particular interest in soil biodiversity, ecosystem services, and microbiomes. He is the leader of global networks, including, for example, the Global Crop Microbiome Survey. He has received multiple awards for his work, including the National Young Researchers Award "Ángeles Alvariño" and the "Premio Fundación Banco Sabadell a las Ciencias y la Ingeniería."
Manuel Delgado Baquerizo
Manuel Delgado Baquerizo is a senior researcher at the Institute of Natural Resources and Agrobiology of Seville (IRNAS), which is part of the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC). He leads the Biodiversity and Ecosystem Functioning Laboratory (BioFunLab) at IRNAS-CSIC. He also holds a PhD from the Pablo de Olavide University, where he defended his thesis on the effects of climate change on nitrogen dynamics in arid zones.
His research focuses on biodiversity and the functioning of ecosystems, with a particular interest in soil biodiversity, ecosystem services, and microbiomes. He is the leader of global networks, including, for example, the Global Crop Microbiome Survey. He has received multiple awards for his work, including the National Young Researchers Award "Ángeles Alvariño" and the "Premio Fundación Banco Sabadell a las Ciencias y la Ingeniería."
Marie Simonin
Marie Simonin is an INRAE researcher (IRHS, Angers, France) whose work centers on seed microbiota and microbial community ecology, exploring how microbes interact with seeds and influence plant health from the earliest life stages. Her team uses synthetic communities inoculations to investigate the mechanisms of microbial inheritance across plant generations. By assembling defined microbial consortia and inoculating plants, she explores how specific microbial members are transmitted from parent plants to offspring, shaping the initial microbiota of the next generation. This work provides insights into the processes by which beneficial microbes can be maintained and propagated through plants, informing strategies for enhanced crop health and sustainable agriculture.
Marie Simonin
Marie Simonin is an INRAE researcher (IRHS, Angers, France) whose work centers on seed microbiota and microbial community ecology, exploring how microbes interact with seeds and influence plant health from the earliest life stages. Her team uses synthetic communities inoculations to investigate the mechanisms of microbial inheritance across plant generations. By assembling defined microbial consortia and inoculating plants, she explores how specific microbial members are transmitted from parent plants to offspring, shaping the initial microbiota of the next generation. This work provides insights into the processes by which beneficial microbes can be maintained and propagated through plants, informing strategies for enhanced crop health and sustainable agriculture.
Marie Simonin
Marie Simonin is an INRAE researcher (IRHS, Angers, France) whose work centers on seed microbiota and microbial community ecology, exploring how microbes interact with seeds and influence plant health from the earliest life stages. Her team uses synthetic communities inoculations to investigate the mechanisms of microbial inheritance across plant generations. By assembling defined microbial consortia and inoculating plants, she explores how specific microbial members are transmitted from parent plants to offspring, shaping the initial microbiota of the next generation. This work provides insights into the processes by which beneficial microbes can be maintained and propagated through plants, informing strategies for enhanced crop health and sustainable agriculture.
Matthieu Barret
Matthieu Barret is microbiologist by training. He received his Ph.D (Agrocampus Ouest Rennes, France) in 2009 working on the functioning of mixed bacterial-fungal communities in the rhizosphere. After a post-doctoral work at the BIOMERIT Research Centre (University College Cork, Ireland) on bacterial secretion systems, he was hired as INRAE research scientist in 2012 (IRHS, Angers, France). Since 2022, M. Barret heads the EmerSys group (@emersys-irhs.bsky.social), working on the processes involved in the assembly of the seed microbiota. He is the coordinator of the SUCSEED project, which aims to identify and develop novel solutions adapted to seed protection.
Matthieu Barret
Matthieu Barret is microbiologist by training. He received his Ph.D (Agrocampus Ouest Rennes, France) in 2009 working on the functioning of mixed bacterial-fungal communities in the rhizosphere. After a post-doctoral work at the BIOMERIT Research Centre (University College Cork, Ireland) on bacterial secretion systems, he was hired as INRAE research scientist in 2012 (IRHS, Angers, France). Since 2022, M. Barret heads the EmerSys group (@emersys-irhs.bsky.social), working on the processes involved in the assembly of the seed microbiota. He is the coordinator of the SUCSEED project, which aims to identify and develop novel solutions adapted to seed protection.
Matthieu Barret
Matthieu Barret is microbiologist by training. He received his Ph.D (Agrocampus Ouest Rennes, France) in 2009 working on the functioning of mixed bacterial-fungal communities in the rhizosphere. After a post-doctoral work at the BIOMERIT Research Centre (University College Cork, Ireland) on bacterial secretion systems, he was hired as INRAE research scientist in 2012 (IRHS, Angers, France). Since 2022, M. Barret heads the EmerSys group (@emersys-irhs.bsky.social), working on the processes involved in the assembly of the seed microbiota. He is the coordinator of the SUCSEED project, which aims to identify and develop novel solutions adapted to seed protection.
Birgit Wassermann
Birgit Wassermann studied Plant Sciences and Molecular Biomedical Sciences and Biotechnology and obtained her PhD in Environmental Biotechnology from Graz University of Technology (Austria). As Senior Researcher at the Austrian Institute for Industrial Biotechnology (acib) she conducted industry-relevant research in cooperation with plant breeding and crop protection companies including BASF, AKREMI, NPZ, San Agrow. Currently, she holds a Tenure Track position at the Institute of Environmental Biotechnology at Graz University of Technology. Her research focuses on microbiome analyses and biotechnology. She primarily aims to investigate plant-microbiome interactions in the context of climate change and to develop innovative microbiome-based strategies for sustainable agriculture. Her work involves studying natural ecosystems, with particular emphasis on plant seeds, to elucidate fundamental functions of the plant holobiont.
Birgit Wassermann
Birgit Wassermann studied Plant Sciences and Molecular Biomedical Sciences and Biotechnology and obtained her PhD in Environmental Biotechnology from Graz University of Technology (Austria). As Senior Researcher at the Austrian Institute for Industrial Biotechnology (acib) she conducted industry-relevant research in cooperation with plant breeding and crop protection companies including BASF, AKREMI, NPZ, San Agrow. Currently, she holds a Tenure Track position at the Institute of Environmental Biotechnology at Graz University of Technology. Her research focuses on microbiome analyses and biotechnology. She primarily aims to investigate plant-microbiome interactions in the context of climate change and to develop innovative microbiome-based strategies for sustainable agriculture. Her work involves studying natural ecosystems, with particular emphasis on plant seeds, to elucidate fundamental functions of the plant holobiont.
Birgit Wassermann
Birgit Wassermann studied Plant Sciences and Molecular Biomedical Sciences and Biotechnology and obtained her PhD in Environmental Biotechnology from Graz University of Technology (Austria). As Senior Researcher at the Austrian Institute for Industrial Biotechnology (acib) she conducted industry-relevant research in cooperation with plant breeding and crop protection companies including BASF, AKREMI, NPZ, San Agrow. Currently, she holds a Tenure Track position at the Institute of Environmental Biotechnology at Graz University of Technology. Her research focuses on microbiome analyses and biotechnology. She primarily aims to investigate plant-microbiome interactions in the context of climate change and to develop innovative microbiome-based strategies for sustainable agriculture. Her work involves studying natural ecosystems, with particular emphasis on plant seeds, to elucidate fundamental functions of the plant holobiont.
Tomislav Cernava
Tomislav Cernava is an associate professor at the University of Southampton. His research is primarily focussed on obtaining mechanistic insights into microbiome functioning. Several of his previous studies specifically addressed the seed microbiome and its role in plant health as well as identifying factors that influence seed microbiome composition. Tomislav is currently involved as a PI in several research projects, including such that are funded by Horizon Europe and different national funding bodies. He is also a Working Group (Biological and Integrated Control of Plant Pathogens) convenor for the International Organization of Biological Control (IOBC).
Tomislav Cernava
Tomislav Cernava is an associate professor at the University of Southampton. His research is primarily focussed on obtaining mechanistic insights into microbiome functioning. Several of his previous studies specifically addressed the seed microbiome and its role in plant health as well as identifying factors that influence seed microbiome composition. Tomislav is currently involved as a PI in several research projects, including such that are funded by Horizon Europe and different national funding bodies. He is also a Working Group (Biological and Integrated Control of Plant Pathogens) convenor for the International Organization of Biological Control (IOBC).
Tomislav Cernava
Tomislav Cernava is an associate professor at the University of Southampton. His research is primarily focussed on obtaining mechanistic insights into microbiome functioning. Several of his previous studies specifically addressed the seed microbiome and its role in plant health as well as identifying factors that influence seed microbiome composition. Tomislav is currently involved as a PI in several research projects, including such that are funded by Horizon Europe and different national funding bodies. He is also a Working Group (Biological and Integrated Control of Plant Pathogens) convenor for the International Organization of Biological Control (IOBC).
Irene Sanz Puente
Dr. Sanz Puente Postdoctoral Researcher at the Leibniz Institute for Agricultural Engineering and Bioeconomy (Germany). Her research focuses on the seed microbiome and the vertical transmission of endophytic microorganisms, aiming to enhance crop health, resilience, and sustainability.
Irene Sanz Puente
Dr. Sanz Puente Postdoctoral Researcher at the Leibniz Institute for Agricultural Engineering and Bioeconomy (Germany). Her research focuses on the seed microbiome and the vertical transmission of endophytic microorganisms, aiming to enhance crop health, resilience, and sustainability.
Irene Sanz Puente
Dr. Sanz Puente Postdoctoral Researcher at the Leibniz Institute for Agricultural Engineering and Bioeconomy (Germany). Her research focuses on the seed microbiome and the vertical transmission of endophytic microorganisms, aiming to enhance crop health, resilience, and sustainability.
Gillian E Bergmann
Gillian E Bergmann is a Postdoctoral Researcher in Seed Microbiomes and Bioinformatics with Dr. Ahmed Abdelfattah’s group at the Leibniz Institute for Agricultural Engineering and Bioeconomy. As an NSF Graduate Research Fellow at the University of California-Davis, she studied the contribution of floral transmission to seed microbiome assembly and some ecological processes affecting transmission success. She is broadly interested in processes affecting seed microbiome assembly and persistence, monitoring microbial biodiversity in plant seeds, and using seed microbiomes for sustainable agriculture and plant conservation. She is a member of the Seed Microbiome Working Group and the Microbes and Social Equity Working Group.
Gillian E Bergmann
Gillian E Bergmann is a Postdoctoral Researcher in Seed Microbiomes and Bioinformatics with Dr. Ahmed Abdelfattah’s group at the Leibniz Institute for Agricultural Engineering and Bioeconomy. As an NSF Graduate Research Fellow at the University of California-Davis, she studied the contribution of floral transmission to seed microbiome assembly and some ecological processes affecting transmission success. She is broadly interested in processes affecting seed microbiome assembly and persistence, monitoring microbial biodiversity in plant seeds, and using seed microbiomes for sustainable agriculture and plant conservation. She is a member of the Seed Microbiome Working Group and the Microbes and Social Equity Working Group.
Gillian E Bergmann
Gillian E Bergmann is a Postdoctoral Researcher in Seed Microbiomes and Bioinformatics with Dr. Ahmed Abdelfattah’s group at the Leibniz Institute for Agricultural Engineering and Bioeconomy. As an NSF Graduate Research Fellow at the University of California-Davis, she studied the contribution of floral transmission to seed microbiome assembly and some ecological processes affecting transmission success. She is broadly interested in processes affecting seed microbiome assembly and persistence, monitoring microbial biodiversity in plant seeds, and using seed microbiomes for sustainable agriculture and plant conservation. She is a member of the Seed Microbiome Working Group and the Microbes and Social Equity Working Group.
Daniel Garrido-Sanz
Daniel Garrido-Sanz is a lecturer and principal investigator at the Universidad Autónoma de Madrid (Spain), where he earned his PhD in Microbiology in 2020, with doctoral work on simplified bacterial consortia for the bioremediation of organic pollutants. From 2021 to 2025, he was a postdoctoral fellow at the University of Lausanne (Switzerland), investigating rhizosphere microbiome assembly, the integration of plant-beneficial inoculants, and microbiome functioning. His group (launched May 2025) studies how seed-borne and soil bacteria interact to assemble rhizosphere microbiomes of crops and how ecological principles—priority effects, niche partitioning, facilitation, and competition—govern early community dynamics and function. Combining cultivation, synthetic communities, and multi-omics, the group investigates the ecological dynamics of inherited bacteria to rationally steer plant microbiomes for crop health and resilience.
Daniel Garrido-Sanz
Daniel Garrido-Sanz is a lecturer and principal investigator at the Universidad Autónoma de Madrid (Spain), where he earned his PhD in Microbiology in 2020, with doctoral work on simplified bacterial consortia for the bioremediation of organic pollutants. From 2021 to 2025, he was a postdoctoral fellow at the University of Lausanne (Switzerland), investigating rhizosphere microbiome assembly, the integration of plant-beneficial inoculants, and microbiome functioning. His group (launched May 2025) studies how seed-borne and soil bacteria interact to assemble rhizosphere microbiomes of crops and how ecological principles—priority effects, niche partitioning, facilitation, and competition—govern early community dynamics and function. Combining cultivation, synthetic communities, and multi-omics, the group investigates the ecological dynamics of inherited bacteria to rationally steer plant microbiomes for crop health and resilience.
Daniel Garrido-Sanz
Daniel Garrido-Sanz is a lecturer and principal investigator at the Universidad Autónoma de Madrid (Spain), where he earned his PhD in Microbiology in 2020, with doctoral work on simplified bacterial consortia for the bioremediation of organic pollutants. From 2021 to 2025, he was a postdoctoral fellow at the University of Lausanne (Switzerland), investigating rhizosphere microbiome assembly, the integration of plant-beneficial inoculants, and microbiome functioning. His group (launched May 2025) studies how seed-borne and soil bacteria interact to assemble rhizosphere microbiomes of crops and how ecological principles—priority effects, niche partitioning, facilitation, and competition—govern early community dynamics and function. Combining cultivation, synthetic communities, and multi-omics, the group investigates the ecological dynamics of inherited bacteria to rationally steer plant microbiomes for crop health and resilience.
Makrina Diakaki
Makrina Diakaki is a phytopathologist and microbial ecologist specialising in sustainable cropping systems. She recently obtained her PhD at Wageningen University and Research, the Netherlands where she explored the involvement of seed microbiota in the suppression of plant diseases. Her academic interests include the seed, plant and soil microbiome, phytopathology, disease suppression, microbial ecology and sustainable approaches in agriculture, especially in relation to plant health. She holds a Biological Sciences BSc from the University of Edinburgh, Scotland as well as a Crop Protection MSc from the University of Göttingen, Germany and a Plant Health and Sustainable Cropping Systems MSc from the Polytechnic University of Valencia, Spain. Together with Carolina Lobato, she founded the Seed Microbiome Working Group in October 2022 with the aim of collaboratively advancing science in this field and establishing a network of early career researchers working with seed microbiomes.
Makrina Diakaki
Makrina Diakaki is a phytopathologist and microbial ecologist specialising in sustainable cropping systems. She recently obtained her PhD at Wageningen University and Research, the Netherlands where she explored the involvement of seed microbiota in the suppression of plant diseases. Her academic interests include the seed, plant and soil microbiome, phytopathology, disease suppression, microbial ecology and sustainable approaches in agriculture, especially in relation to plant health. She holds a Biological Sciences BSc from the University of Edinburgh, Scotland as well as a Crop Protection MSc from the University of Göttingen, Germany and a Plant Health and Sustainable Cropping Systems MSc from the Polytechnic University of Valencia, Spain. Together with Carolina Lobato, she founded the Seed Microbiome Working Group in October 2022 with the aim of collaboratively advancing science in this field and establishing a network of early career researchers working with seed microbiomes.
Makrina Diakaki
Makrina Diakaki is a phytopathologist and microbial ecologist specialising in sustainable cropping systems. She recently obtained her PhD at Wageningen University and Research, the Netherlands where she explored the involvement of seed microbiota in the suppression of plant diseases. Her academic interests include the seed, plant and soil microbiome, phytopathology, disease suppression, microbial ecology and sustainable approaches in agriculture, especially in relation to plant health. She holds a Biological Sciences BSc from the University of Edinburgh, Scotland as well as a Crop Protection MSc from the University of Göttingen, Germany and a Plant Health and Sustainable Cropping Systems MSc from the Polytechnic University of Valencia, Spain. Together with Carolina Lobato, she founded the Seed Microbiome Working Group in October 2022 with the aim of collaboratively advancing science in this field and establishing a network of early career researchers working with seed microbiomes.
Carolina Lobato
Carolina Lobato is currently working at the Institute for Biological Data Science in the Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf as a postdoctoral researcher. She is a microbial ecologist with a strong interest in plant-microbe interactions and the role of seed-associated microbial communities in plant health. She completed her PhD at Graz University of Technology, Austria, where she investigated how domestication shapes seed microbiomes and their functional contributions to plant fitness. She organizes and chairs the Seed Microbiome Working Group for early-career researchers together with Makrina Diakaki.
Carolina Lobato
Carolina Lobato is currently working at the Institute for Biological Data Science in the Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf as a postdoctoral researcher. She is a microbial ecologist with a strong interest in plant-microbe interactions and the role of seed-associated microbial communities in plant health. She completed her PhD at Graz University of Technology, Austria, where she investigated how domestication shapes seed microbiomes and their functional contributions to plant fitness. She organizes and chairs the Seed Microbiome Working Group for early-career researchers together with Makrina Diakaki.
Carolina Lobato
Carolina Lobato is currently working at the Institute for Biological Data Science in the Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf as a postdoctoral researcher. She is a microbial ecologist with a strong interest in plant-microbe interactions and the role of seed-associated microbial communities in plant health. She completed her PhD at Graz University of Technology, Austria, where she investigated how domestication shapes seed microbiomes and their functional contributions to plant fitness. She organizes and chairs the Seed Microbiome Working Group for early-career researchers together with Makrina Diakaki.
Massimiliano Cardinale
Massimiliano Cardinale obtained the Master degree in Natural Sciences at the University of Palermo (Italy) in 2000 and obtained his Ph.D. in Environmental Remediation from University of Palermo in 2005. He worked as Researcher at the University of Graz (Austria) from 2006 to 2008, at the Graz University Technology (Austria) from 2008 to 2013, and at the Justus-Liebig-University Giessen (Germany) from 2013 to 2018. From 2018 to 2021 has been tenure track professor at the University of Salento (Italy) and, since 2021, was confirmed as Associate Professor. His research mainly focuses on microbial ecology, plant-soil-microbe interactions, and application of beneficial microbes for sustainable agriculture. He was ranked among the Stanford's Top 2% Scientists for the years 2024 and 2025.
Massimiliano Cardinale
Massimiliano Cardinale obtained the Master degree in Natural Sciences at the University of Palermo (Italy) in 2000 and obtained his Ph.D. in Environmental Remediation from University of Palermo in 2005. He worked as Researcher at the University of Graz (Austria) from 2006 to 2008, at the Graz University of Technology (Austria) from 2008 to 2013, and at the Justus-Liebig-University Giessen (Germany) from 2013 to 2018. From 2018 to 2021 has been tenure track professor at the University of Salento (Italy) and, since 2021, was confirmed as Associate Professor. His research mainly focuses on microbial ecology, plant-soil-microbe interactions, and application of beneficial microbes for sustainable agriculture. He was ranked among the Stanford's Top 2% Scientists for the years 2024 and 2025.
