Gerlinde de Deyn

Prof. Gerlinde de Deyn is a Personal Professor in Soil Ecology at Wageningen University & Research, specializing in soil biodiversity, plant-soil interactions, and sustainable agriculture. Her research focuses on optimizing nutrient cycling, mitigating greenhouse gas emissions, and enhancing crop resilience through plant trait-based approaches. She holds an MSc in Bio-Engineering (Ghent University) and a PhD in Soil Fauna Ecology (Utrecht University). Her work spans global initiatives like the Global Soil Biodiversity Initiative and projects such as 'Spicing up the Soil' to improve soil health. Prof. de Deyn leads research on cover cropping, antibiotic impacts in manure, and solar park effects on ecosystems. She contributes to educational courses like 'The Living Soil' and collaborates on grants addressing carbon sequestration and nitrogen dynamics.

Her projects include NWO-funded studies on greenhouse gas mitigation and soil physical properties. Ancillary roles include editorial board membership for Oikos and involvement with Science Café Wageningen. Research highlights include linking plant traits to soil functions and exploring microbial responses to climate change.