I have developed a multidisciplinary research profile in plant–microbe interactions, with a strong focus on priming, biocontrol, and biostimulants. My PhD at Ghent University (2018–2021) established my foundation in microbial-mediated crop protection by elucidating the biocontrol activity of Streptomyces against Fusarium verticillioides in maize. As a postdoctoral fellow, I expanded my expertise across Europe: at INRAE Bordeaux (2022–2023), I investigated the molecular mechanisms of stilbenoid compounds underlying antifungal and antimycotoxin activity against Fusarium graminearum in wheat; at KU Leuven (2023–2024), I studied fructan oligosaccharides as priming agents against biotic stress in multiple crops; and currently at PSB-UGent (2024–present), I characterize novel metabolites emerging from fungal–tomato interactions. A core strength of my research is the integration of multi-omics approaches—genomics, transcriptomics, metabolomics, and epigenomics—to dissect chemical and molecular dialogues driving plant defense and pathogen virulence. This systems-level perspective bridges fundamental mechanisms with applied strategies for sustainable crop protection. My work has resulted in 14 publications (including five first-author Q1 papers), an h-index of 9, and 235 citations since 2020. My long-term goal is to establish an independent research line developing microbial- and metabolite-inspired priming strategies for resilient crop production in the context of climate change.
I have developed a multidisciplinary research profile in plant–microbe interactions, with a strong focus on priming, biocontrol, and biostimulants. My PhD at Ghent University (2018–2021) established my foundation in microbial-mediated crop protection by elucidating the biocontrol activity of Streptomyces against Fusarium verticillioides in maize. As a postdoctoral fellow, I expanded my expertise across Europe: at INRAE Bordeaux (2022–2023), I investigated the molecular mechanisms of stilbenoid compounds underlying antifungal and antimycotoxin activity against Fusarium graminearum in wheat; at KU Leuven (2023–2024), I studied fructan oligosaccharides as priming agents against biotic stress in multiple crops; and currently at PSB-UGent (2024–present), I characterize novel metabolites emerging from fungal–tomato interactions. A core strength of my research is the integration of multi-omics approaches—genomics, transcriptomics, metabolomics, and epigenomics—to dissect chemical and molecular dialogues driving plant defense and pathogen virulence. This systems-level perspective bridges fundamental mechanisms with applied strategies for sustainable crop protection. My work has resulted in 14 publications (including five first-author Q1 papers), an h-index of 9, and 235 citations since 2020. My long-term goal is to establish an independent research line developing microbial- and metabolite-inspired priming strategies for resilient crop production in the context of climate change.