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INVITED SPEAKERS
Alessandra Gentile
Department of Agriculture,Food and Environment (Di3A) – University of Catania
Alessandra Gentile is full professor of Arboriculture and Fruitculture at the University of Catania, Italy, since 2006. She had many management roles in different universities and scientific research centers and has been recipient of "Shennong Scholar" Chair professor of Hunan Agricultural University Changsha, China for 6 years. During her careers she collaborated with different national and international research center among which Department of Plant Genetics of the Weizmann Institute of Science of Rehovot, Israel; Hebrew University of Jerusalem; Instituto Valenciano de Investigationes Agrarias, Valencia; Spain; Hunan Agricultural Sciences, Changsha, PR China. Her main reserch interests are in genetic improvement of mediterranean fruit tree species by traditional and innovative methods, mainly on citrus. She also patented 6 grape varieties. Her research experience includes plant tissue culture, germplasm characterization and gene identification. She also developed traceability protocols for fruit products, along the chain. Professor Gentile has received many recognitions from different Accademies and she is currently President of the Sud-ovest section of the Accademia dei Georgofili, Florence, Italy and President of the International Society of Citriculture.
“Crop Health: a multidisciplinary system approach to reduce the use of agrochemicals”
Carolee T. Bull
Department of Plant Pathology and Environmental Microbiology - Pennsylvania State University
Carolee T. Bull is a Professor of Systematic Bacteriology and Plant Pathology and former Head (2015-2022) in the Department of Plant Pathology and Environmental Microbiology at Penn State, was the Inaugural Director of the Penn State Microbiome Center (2016-2022), and leads their Microbiome Sciences Dual-Title PhD program. Previously, Bull served for 20 years as a scientist with the USDA Agricultural Research Service in Salinas, California. Bull’s research focuses on translational taxonomy to manage bacterial diseases of plants and mushrooms. Bull is a member and served as the convener of the Committee on the Taxonomy of Plant Pathogenic Bacteria for the International Society of Plant Pathology (2006-2022). She also serves on the Judicial Committee of the International Committee on the Systematics of Prokaryotes. Bull received numerous awards for her mentorship of underrepresented students in agricultural science and visionary leadership. She is a Fellow of the American Phytopathological Society and is currently serving in the Presidential lineage of (2023-2027).
Carolee T. Bull is a Professor of Systematic Bacteriology and Plant Pathology and former Head (2015-2022) in the Department of Plant Pathology and Environmental Microbiology at Penn State, was the Inaugural Director of the Penn State Microbiome Center (2016-2022), and leads their Microbiome Sciences Dual-Title PhD program. Previously, Bull served for 20 years as a scientist with the USDA Agricultural Research Service in Salinas, California. Bull’s research focuses on translational taxonomy to manage bacterial diseases of plants and mushrooms. Bull is a member and served as the convener of the Committee on the Taxonomy of Plant Pathogenic Bacteria for the International Society of Plant Pathology (2006-2022). She also serves on the Judicial Committee of the International Committee on the Systematics of Prokaryotes. Bull received numerous awards for her mentorship of underrepresented students in agricultural science and visionary leadership. She is a Fellow of the American Phytopathological Society and is currently serving in the Presidential lineage of (2023-2027).
“Koch’s postulates in a microbiome era”
Saskia A. Hogenhout
Department of Crop Genetics - John Innes Centre, Norwich Research Park
The lab of Saskia Hogenhout focuses on molecular plant-microbe-insect interactions. We investigate how virulence proteins of the insect-transmitted phytoplasmas modulate plant development and resistance to insect vectors. We have developed genomic resources for hemipteran sap-feeding insects, including aphids, leafhoppers and froghoppers, and study their interactions with plants, including how salivary virulence proteins modulate plant processes.
“Building resilience to insect-vectored plant pathogens”
Sophien Kamoun
The Sainsbury Laboratory - Norwich Research Park
Sophien Kamoun grew up in Tunisia where he developed a passion and curiosity about nature. He studied genetics in Paris and Davis, California, before working in Wageningen, Ohio and Norwich, where he is currently a Senior Scientist at The Sainsbury Laboratory and Professor of Biology at The University of East Anglia. He is known for his seminal contributions to our understanding of plant diseases and plant immunity having pioneered genomics and molecular biology methods to reveal fundamental insights into the biology and evolution of eukaryotic plant pathogens. His inventive work in plant pathology has resulted in new approaches to mitigate some of the world’s most serious crop diseases. He is well-known as a champion of open science, including open data, transparent peer review, and preprints to promote rapid dissemination of science. Professor Kamoun has received many awards and recognitions, notably the Kuwait Prize and The Linnean Medal. He was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in 2018.
“Making sense of the NLR immune receptor alphabet soup”