Areas of research: 

Microbiome: Characterisation of the microbiomes of model legumes and cereals to determine the impact of host genetics on root microbiota associations. A particular focus of this research is on the rhizobia component of the microbiome that interacts with legumes and cereals.

Bacterial endophytes: Determining the genetic components of bacterial endophytes that allow them to successfully colonise the plant root endosphere. Complex bacterial synthetic communities and large-scale mutagenesis approaches are employed to achieve this.

Rhizobia-legume communication: Rhizobial Nod factor and exopolysaccharide represent two important signalling molecules involved in the establishment of nitrogen-fixing symbiosis. I aim to understand the molecular mechanisms behind their regulation/biosynthesis and the signalling cascades initiated following their perception by legume receptors.

Bibliographical summary: 20 peer reviewed publications (682 total citations and h-index of 13. Google Scholar, April 2020)

2014 - present: Teaching assistant in the Experimental Host-Microbe Interactions course taken by MSc students at Aarhus University. Duties included presenting and assisting students in teaching exercises, introducing students to the experimental component of the course, acting as an advisor for their experimental designs, overseeing their progress in the laboratory and guiding their preparation of written reports for assessment.

2006 - 2012: Senior demonstrator in the Dept. of Microbiology & Immunology, University of Otago undergraduate laboratories. Roles included introducing lab exercises, supervision during lab exercises, marking of final reports.