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Welcome to another edition of the Robigalia Roundup!
If you’re new here, Robigalia is your weekly roundup of the latest research, researchers, scholarships, and opportunities in plant pathology globally. Make sure you’re a subscriber to have these opportunities and events delivered directly to your inbox every Monday.
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RESEARCH HIGHLIGHTS
Bucknell et al., Sanctuary: a Starship transposon facilitating the movement of the virulence factor ToxA in fungal wheat pathogens
Pok Man Ngou et al., Systematic discovery and engineering of synthetic immune receptors in plants
Lore et al., Pathogen-Informed Strategies for Durable Resistance in Rice: Lessons from Bacterial Blight
RESEARCH STUDENT OF THE WEEK
Meet Zohreh Ajabshiry
This week, I’m happy to introduce Zohreh Ajabshiry, a Master’s student from Tabriz University in Iran.
Zohreh’s journey in plant pathology began when an undergraduate course sparked her interest in the field, particularly in fungi. This fascination led Zohreh to specialise in mycology, where she has excelled and achieved several milestones, including placing fifth in the national entrance exam for her master's and first in the national mycology olympiad.
Her Master’s research focuses on the control of Colletotrichum coccodes in tomato using various Trichoderma spp. as biological control agents. Zohreh is conducting controlled laboratory and greenhouse experiments, overall aiming to contribute to the development of environmentally friendly disease management strategies for sustainable crop protection.
Zohreh’s short-term goal is to defend her master’s thesis and transition into a PhD program, ultimately becoming an expert in plant pathology. She hopes to contribute to global agricultural sustainability by integrating biological control solutions to enhance plant health and resilience.
Challenges and setbacks are inevitable, but they hold the seeds of future success
To those embarking on their own journey in plant pathology or research, her advice is: “Challenges and setbacks are inevitable, but they hold the seeds of future success. Stay resilient, embrace every obstacle as a learning opportunity, and keep moving forward. The knowledge you gain along the way will shape you into both a stronger researcher and a more determined individual.”
To find out more about Zohreh’s research, you can connect with her via LinkedIn.
OPPORTUNITIES AND EVENTS
New plant pathology opportunities are listed below. For the full list of live opportunities and events, head to my Opportunities and Events Board using the buttons below.
New PhD/Master’s Scholarships
BIOSEPT: Lipopeptide-Based Biocontrol Strategies Against Septoria Tritici Blotch in Wheat, Université de Rennes, France
PhD scholarship in the Integrated Pest Management of Macadamia felted coccid (Acanthococcus ironsidei), University of Pretoria, within the Forestry and Agricultural Biotechnology Institute (FABI). Closes 31st October.
New Jobs
PostDoc, Department of Plant Pathology at Kansas State University, Closes Sept 15th
Plant Biosecurity Officer, Department of Primary Industries and Regions, South Australia, Closes 23rd September
New Events
No new listings today, check out the upcoming events in the events board
MEME OF THE WEEK
THAT’S A WRAP
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See you next Monday
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P.S. Why Robigalia? The name originates from the Ancient Roman festival dedicated to crop protection. You can read all about the history here: