Dr. Catherine Santaella (Microbiologist and Chemist) has been a senior research scientist at the Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS) since 1991. She earned her PhD in Chemistry and Habilitation to Direct Research (HDR) at the University of Nice Sophia-Antipolis. She began her career in supramolecular chemistry, designing drug delivery systems for targeted therapies and gene transfer. In 1999, she transitioned to environmental sciences, joining the Bioscience and Biotechnology Institute of Aix-Marseille University in the Microbial Ecology of the Rhizosphere team. Her research focuses on plant–bacteria interactions in fluctuating environments and microbiome responses to abiotic and biotic stress, including metals and nanomaterials. She studies molecular, cellular, and functional mechanisms in the rhizosphere. Based on these insights, she develops nature-based solutions using a safe and sustainable-by-design approach to enhance plant resilience and ecosystem health. She currently leads the ORGANIC project (ANR) on nano-enabled plant protection strategies and coordinates a work package in the EU Biodiversa+ RESTORE project on reforestation. Dr. Santaella has authored over 160 peer-reviewed articles or conference papers, eight book chapters, and holds 10 patents.