Research in the Verhoeven group focuses on plant microevolution and adaptation. We combine tools from genetics, genomics and ecological research to explore the capacity of plants to adapt to changing environments. One rersearch interest of our group is in ecological epigenetics: we aim to understand the role that epigenetic variation plays in plant adaptation. Other research interests include the ecology and genetics of biological invasions, and the evolutionary ecology of sexual versus asexual reproduction, and the role of plant-microbiome interactions in local adaptation.
Current group members
Group leader
Project manager of the EpiDiverse Marie Curie ITN project (2017-2021)
PhD student (2018-2022) in EpiDiverse project: Epigenetic contribution to phenotypic plasticity in Populus nigra
PhD student (2018-2022) in EpiDiverse project: Life history effects on epigenetic inheritance
PhD student (2019-2023): Genetic basis and ecological relevance of intraspecific variation in grass-microbiome interactions
Research assistant. Slavica makes sure that all molecular lab work is done properly, and supports all experimental work in the group.
Professor at Molecular Genetics & Microbiology, University of Florida, Gainesville, and NIOO Honorary Fellow and guest researcher. Lauren is a frequent visitor to the lab and collaborates on computational, statistical and experimental design aspects of our work.
Lab alumni
Purva Kulkarni (postdoc, 2017-2018, co-supervised with Dr. Paolina Garbeva at NIOO - Microbial Ecology). Developing bioinformatics tools for metabolomics data analysis. Currently bioinformatics Postdoc at the Translational Metabolic Laboratory, RUMC Nijmegen.
Julie Ferreira de Carvalho (postdoc, 2013-2017). Heritable gene expression and transposable element divergence within apomictic dandelion lineages. Currently a Marie Curie fellow at INRA Rennes, France.
Jun Shi (PhD student, 2013-2016, co-supervised with Dr. Mirka Macel at Tübingen University). Effects of population admixture on plant performance and plant chemistry in the invasive plant Lythrum salicaria. Currently a Researcher at the Ningbo Academy of Agricultural Sciences, China.
Thomas van Gurp (PhD student, 2011-2016). Measuring stress-induced DNA methylation in apomictic Dandelions. Currently a Bioinformatics scientist at Naktuinbouw, Roelofarendsveen, and founding owner of Deena Bioinformatics.
Veronica Preite (PhD student, 2011-2015). Epigenetic inheritance in apomictic dandelions: stress-induced and heritable modifications in DNA methylation and small RNA. Currently a Postdoc at Ruhr-Universität Bochum, Germany.
Maartje Groot (PhD student, 2011-2015, co-supervised with Dr. Philippine Vergeer and Prof. Joop Ouborg at Radboud University Nijmegen). A plant warned is half saved: Effects of non-genetic environmentally induced variation across generations on plant adaptation. Currently a Data scientist at Bayer Crop Science.
Eveline Verhulst (postdoc, 2013-2014, co-supervised with Prof. Kees van Oers at NIOO - Animal Ecology). Coping epigenetically: the role of methylation in animal personality. Currently Assistant Professor at the Lab of Entomology, Wageningen University.
Carla Oplaat (Research assistant in VIDI project, 2011-2014). Plasticity and general-purpose genotypes in Dandelion. Currently working as Plant Virologist at NVWA, the Netherlands food and consumer product safety authority.
