Geert Smant

Prof. Geert Smant is a Full Professor in the Laboratory of Nematology at Wageningen University & Research. His research focuses on plant-parasitic nematodes, particularly their interactions with plants, mechanisms of parasitism, and strategies for resistance in crops. He leads projects on cyst nematodes (e.g., Globodera pallida), molecular biology of plant defenses, and genomic approaches to understand parasitic mechanisms.

His work includes supervising PhD candidates and postdocs in projects like SMART UP (spatial mapping of root transcriptomes) and WORMVACS2.0 (vaccine innovations against helminths). Key contributions include genomic studies of Globodera species and elucidating effector-triggered immunity in plants.

Prof. Smant has collaborated internationally, presenting at conferences like the 35th Symposium of the European Society of Nematologists and the 7th International Congress of Nematology. He oversees datasets on nematode genomics and plant responses to parasitism, available via public repositories.

His team’s research spans lab-based studies, field applications, and interdisciplinary collaborations, aiming to develop durable resistance strategies against plant pathogens.