Vera Hesen MSc
PhD StudentTerrestrial Ecology |
Research themes
Research expertiseArabidopsis thaliana Developmental plant biology Molecular biology and techniques Plant-soil interactions Root architecture
Page last updated: 19-05-2020
Education
June 2018 - present: PhD candidate, Department of Terrestrial Ecology (NIOO-KNAW) and Plant Developmental Biology (Wageningen University)
November 2014 - October 2017: MSc Biology at Wageningen University
- Specialisation: Gene Regulation and Molecular Development
- MSc thesis: Plant Developmental Biology 'Functional analysis of TCP7 as regulator of BBM in Arabidopsis embryo and root'
September 2011 - October 2014: BSc Biology at Wageningen University
- Specialisation: Organismal and Developmental Biology
- BSc thesis: Department of Virology 'Formation of tagged Baculovirus PTP2 proteins to study the MAPK phosphatase activity'
Working experience and extra curricular activities
February 2018 - May 2018: Teaching assistant Molecular Biology
April 2017 - October 2017: Participant of Experimental Plant Science (EPS) Graduate program 2017 writing PhD proposal 'Linking molecular biology and ecology: How succession shapes adaptation of natural Arabidopsis and Cardamine populations'
October 2016 - February 2017: Intern at Estelle Laboratory at University of California San Diego 'Characterization of ARIADNE genes and their role in the Arabidopsis ubiquitin proteasome system'
PhD Project
In spite of recent advances in molecular biology and ecology, we still do not understand mechanistically how plant life history strategies are shaped by environmental factors. Here I will study how plant-soil interactions influence adaptation of these strategies. My aim is to unravel how soil development during secondary succession influences the selection of plant life history strategies. I will study natural populations of Arabidopsis thaliana and Cardamine hirsuta and how they are influenced by successional changes in biotic-abiotic soil conditions in a well-described time series of abandoned ex-arable fields. During secondary succession, the plant community shifts from pioneer to later succession species under influence of changes in both the abiotic and biotic composition of the soil. I will test the hypothesis that belowground changes contribute to adaptation of plant roots to their specific soils. Arabidopsis is a well-established molecular model plant and Cardamine is a close relative sharing many of its favorable characteristics. Although closely related, there are key differences between the species concerning appearance in succession and root morphology. Studying sequence variation within and between these two closely related species will allow me to describe selection at the genetic level. Specific gene editing experiments will test and validate roles for root architecture in adaptation. In this research, I will integrate soil ecology and molecular plant biology studying genomes, expression patterns, plant-soil feedback effects and root architecture. These findings will provide fundamental knowledge on root traits of crops adapted to sustainable soil management in agriculture.
This project is a collaboration between Department of Terrestrial Ecology (NIOO-KNAW) and Plant Developmental Biology (Wageningen University) under the guidance of:
- Prof. dr. ir. Wim van der Putten (Terrestrial Ecology - NIOO-KNAW)
- Prof. dr. ir. Ben Scheres (Plant Developmental Biology - Wageningen University)
- Dr. Viola Willemsen (Plant Developmental Biology - Wageningen University)