Robigalia Roundup #23

Hello Robigalia Reader and welcome to another week of Robigalia! If you’re new here, Robigalia is your weekly roundup of the latest research, researchers, scholarships, and opportunities in plant pathology globally.

This week, we dive into biocontrol, including introducing a PhD student from the Utrecht University researching beneficial fungi for plant defence. As always, Robigalia subscribers can access my online database with summaries of Robigalia featured articles.

Keep reading for the latest updates!

Weekly Plant Pathology Highlights

• Identification of a biocontrol agent Bacillus velezensis XJ20 and assessment of the antifungal efficacy against Stagonosporopsis caricae causing pumpkin fruit rot
  

• The composition of root exudates between resistant and susceptible konjac species against soft rot disease
  

• Exploring fern pathosystems and immune receptors to bridge gaps in plant immunity
  

• New insights in metabolism modelling to decipher plant–microbe interactions

Research Student of the Week

⭐ Meet Robin Cowper⭐

This week's student of the week is Robin Cowper, a PhD student at Utrecht University. Robin’s PhD work focuses on the communication between plants and fungi, with a focus on the beneficial roles fungi can play. His work explores how fungi can promote plant growth and bolster resistance to pathogens.

Robin's current project centres on developing innovative vegetable seed coatings enriched with plant-friendly fungal materials. These coatings are composed of freeze-dried fungal cell walls, which are rich in immunostimulatory compounds such as chitin and glucans. Robin is testing these coatings on tomatoes and Arabidopsis thaliana. The goal is to determine whether these fungal-derived coatings can effectively enhance plant growth and disease resistance or if live microbial applications offer superior benefits.

Robin's passion for horticulture was inspired by his grandmother, who taught people in the UK how to grow vegetables during World War II. This early influence, combined with his fascination with the dynamic interplay between plants and their pathogens, led him to pursue a career in plant pathology.

A highlight of Robin’s academic journey has been receiving an award for science communication, a field he is deeply passionate about. He believes that scientists have a responsibility to share their work with the public, particularly since much research is funded by taxpayers. Robin emphasises that building trust in science is essential and that clear communication plays a vital role in maintaining this trust.

In the short term, Robin aims to complete his PhD thesis and publish his findings. Looking ahead, he aspires to contribute to evidence-based agricultural projects that promote environmentally sustainable farming practices.

Outside of his research, Robin enjoys working with microbes recreationally by brewing beer, ginger beer, wine, and cider. He finds joy in observing microbiology at work in everyday life, reflecting his enthusiasm for the unseen processes that shape our world.

If you want to find out more about Robin’s research, you can reach him via LinkedIn.

🌟 Want to feature your research? Fill out the EOI to feature in Robigalia 🌟 

PhD Scholarships and Jobs

New opportunities below are indicated by two asterisks at the start of the entry **

PhD/Masters Scholarships

• PhD position in Lipopeptide-Based Biocontrol Strategies Against Septoria Tritici Blotch in Wheat

• The digital inspector: using artificial intelligence to identify plant diseases, Newcastle University, UK

• Apply for a scholarship at The Sainsbury Laboratory for a one-year taught MSc in Global Plant Health

• PhD in plant virology with the Mehta lab

Jobs

• ** Executive Officer; Part time (0.5FTE) – Remote working for the British Society of Plant Pathology (Closes 11th April)

• ** Assistant Professor, Tenure-Track in Plant Pathology at Washington State University

• Postdoctoral Research Fellow in Genomics and biosecurity at University of Canberra (Closes 6th April)

• The CCDM at Curtin University are seeking a Research Associate/Fellow to help tackle powdery mildew in wheat (closes 27th March)

• 2-year postdoc position in fruit pathology, with a mixture of field trials and basic molecular mycology in Windsor, CT (no close date listed)

• Short term postdoctoral position in epidemiological modelling of plant disease at INRAE (Open until filled)

• The Eskalen lab is seeking a qualified (junior) candidate to assist with field fungicide spray trials across California

• Assistant or Associate Professor and Extension Specialist - Ornamental Plant Pathology (No closing date listed)

• Research Assistant Professor in mycotoxin fungal biology in the Department of Botany and Plant Pathology, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana (Open until position is filled)

• The Plant Pathology Department at the University of Florida is advertising for a Assistant or Associate Professor in Plant Pathology (Open until position filled)

Other News and Opportunities

New opportunities below are indicated by two asterisks at the start of the entry **

• Australian and New Zealand PhD students and ECRs, don’t miss your chance to apply for a research grant from The Australasian Mycological Society

• Enter the AIPP-IAAS Italia video award “Plant protection in a minute” V Edition

• Register now for the Annual conference of the Oomycete Molecular Genetics Network 

• Register for Plant Pathology 2025 and Early Careers Plant Pathology 2025, the main annual meetings of the British Society for Plant Pathology

• Register for the 20th Congress on Molecular Plant-Microbe Interactions, in Cologne, Germany​

• Save the date for the Australasian myrtle rust conference happening 16th - 17th June 2025 in Auckland, NZ

• 40 travel awards will be awarded to eligible APS Student Members to support their attendance to present their research at Plant Health 2025 in Hawaii (Closing 28th March)

•  The Art in Phytopathology competition is BACK! Showcase your passion for plant diseases through your artistic talents (Closes 1st April)

• Apply to attend the 17th International Cereal Rusts and Powdery Mildews Conference in Vancouver which offers opportunities for early-career researchers to share their research with the agricultural community

• Register for the 8th International Workshop on Resistance Mechanisms and Breeding in forest trees in Canada, June 1-6, 2025

• Register for the 25th Australasian Plant Pathology Society conference in Sydney in May 2025. They are also offering bursaries for ECRs!

• Submit your abstracts by 31st March for the Congress of the Mediterranean Phytopathological Union happening July 6 - 10th in Italy

• Register your interest for the 17th Australasian Plant Breeding Conference in Sydney in June 2025

Meme of the week

Before you go…

• Like or didn’t like this newsletter format? Let me know if the comments!

• Think a friend (or two) could benefit from reading? I’d love it if you could share this link with them.

Until next week,

Alyssa